Don't Steal My Photos Man!


Don't Steal My Photos Man!



Those who have worked with me any amount of time know one of my biggest pet peeves....... DO NOT STEAL MY PHOTOS FOR YOUR LISTING!


As a easier way to keep up with my local market, I have myself set up in the MLS's to get daily updates of new listing as they come on the market, like all good agents should, right? This morning I get my usual 5 or 6 emails from the MLS on new listings and one of them has one of my old REO listings that expired in June that was just re-listed. No problems, I expected the bank to assign a new agent as I had that troublesome property for over a year and was ready to get rid of it.


As I was looking at the report I noticed that the photos looked familiar, so I pulled up my old listing and sure enough, they were my original photos..... ALL of them! There is NO description of the house, no private comments other then “See attached documents”..... which there were not any. And other important information was missing like “No Certificate of Occupancy Issued”, etc. (new construction)


Well, I'm still a pretty good friend with the bank's property manager, so I sent her an email. One to check on her to see how they weathered the current hurricane and to let her know that she needs to tell the agent that using photos from another brokerage is against MLS rules, not to mention it's just plain lazy!


Then I looked up the other listing we had of developed building lots. He did a little better there, but I guess he did not like my photos because it looks like he just rode through the subdivision taking pictures of any open space he THOUGHT was a building lot. The funny part is he had 3 or 4 pictures of properties we SOLD last year that the bank no longer owns! The listing has no information on lot numbers that are for sale. And had a nice picture of a STOP SIGN! Lol


New Construction REO's take more research then a normal listing. And I would have gladly given this agent my folder on this property.... before now. But don't steal my work because you are too dang lazy to take a few photos of your new listing!


I want to say to any asset manager who might read this, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE double check your agents! You have no idea how much liability or lost sales these “Lazy” agents are causing! If you do not have the time to do so yourself, hire an agent in that area to “shop” your listing agents. They will tell you real quick if there is a problem! A quality listing agent will not mind at all if they get “shopped”, it helps them stay on their toes! I welcome it any time!

Steve Adkins - REALTOR®
Better Homes and Garden Real Estate Metro Brokers
Residential - Land - Commercial - NFSTI Certified REO Specialist
5886 Wendy Bagwell Pkwy, Suite 221, Hiram, GA., 30141
404-843-2500, Fax 770-439-4848
"Professionalism, Integrity & Ethics Are A Way Of Life!"
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Comments

  • Asset managers and real estate agents that don't do a good job will eventually be without a job! Stick to your guns!!
  • Well, had a run in with the asset manager this morning over this. It wasn't pretty and needless to say I will not be getting any more listings from him. He was not concerned that his lazy agent stole the photos, he was not concerned that his lazy agent was using photos of properties we sold last year, but he was concerned that I was trying to protect myself by requesting him to sign a Termination and Release form 4 months ago on a deal gone bad on this same property.

    Some days you can do everything by the book and people will still get upset. Some days it's just not worth getting out of bed!
  • Nice thing about our MLS, they have a very pro-active compliance department. The "thief" will be without photos shortly after they return to work after the holiday. ;-)
  • Steve - good post - here is what I do - whenever I "lose" a listing or it is sold, etc - I remove all of my pics from the MLS so that the photos cannot be re-used! I only leave one photo showing the front exterior only to assist agents who do BPOs and will use it as a comp photo.
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