stranger just photographed my house

[bailey]

We moved into this house one month ago. Today I just happened to look out our window and saw an unfamiliar car driving slowly passed our house. He didn't actually stop, but he did take a picture of our house as he drove by. Should this concern me? Could this be an assessor?
Thanks,
bailey

[j.griff]

Odd. Maybe there was something about the front of your house he likes, and wants to imitate? I really have no idea though. That would be a bit unsettling.

[BamaTanya]

Hmm. I don't know about an assessor. Did you buy the house? Wasn't an appraisal done *before* you closed? Hmm.

Maybe he used to live in the house. Maybe he wishes he'd bought the house and wants to find one that looks like it. Maybe he's sending the picture to a friend/relative who used to live there and wants to know if the tree they planted is still in the front yard. Maybe he's trying to pick out the colors to paint his house and he likes the combination on your house.

I wouldn't be concerned unless he gets out and peeks in the windows.

Blessings!

[Scarlett]

Could be an assessor. Or could be someone like me wanting to copy a color scheme or landscaping. I've taken pictures of houses lots of times. Of course I am odd. One time I had a couple stop and ask if they could photograph our brick mailbox so they could copy the design. I was flattered.

[Marie in Oh]

In my county, there is a website and a picture of every house in the county. When it changes owners and the tax value changes,a new picture is taken.

It could also have been a realtor publishing a brochure of recently purchased homes.

[Whisperlily]

This happened to me about a month after we moved into our last house. We determined that it was an assessor, or local realtor, and they were taking pictures to determine current property values.

I posted this exact thing here, and got the same response. :)

[Unicorn]

If you bought the house and just got homeowners insurance, it was probably the insurance co. They usually stop, though, and take pic's from across the street. Weird.

[partyof5]

This is most likely for an appraisal of ANOTHER house that is in the process of selling. Appraisers need to find "comps" which are comparable homes to the one they are appraising. The only other homes they can use are ones that sold recently. Both times we moved, I noticed photography prowlers doing the same thing and when I asked, this is what we were told. Makes sense, because our appraisals also had comps listed in them (complete with recent photos) to explain the reasoning for the appraisal value of our home. This is, in my opinion, the most likely explanation. :)

[Linda in NE]

If so, the county often posts a picture with the relevant data about the house (sq. ft., # of bathrooms and bedrooms, etc.). In fact, there's a picture of my house on the net through my county's website. I'd bet, since you just bought your house, they are updating their information on your house and took the picture for that purpose.

[Kate in Arabia]

Omg, this happened to me about a month ago. I was walking around the side of our guesthouse and there was this flash in my eyes.. but in my case it was a tourist!!!! Some guy was stading in front of our house, and his friend was taking his picture, lol!!!

I really appreciated how people might feel when tourists poke around taking pictures without asking.

Actually, something similar did happen once when we were visiting Doha. I was outside in a grassy area waiting for dh while my kids were running around. This man (obviously a foreigner) started taking pictures of us from a distance. I'm sure he thought we were an ideal "indigenous peoples" shot, I really wanted to walk up to him and say in my best American accent, "How you doin'?!" lol

[Jennifer in NH]

When someone asks for a market analysis of their house a realtor will drive around to houses that have sold recently that are similair and take pictures. last summer we bought a home in maine and about a month later the same thing happened. it freaked me out at the time. i went to talk with one man doing this, and then talked to our realtor...so I wouldn't be concerned. if it happens 8 months from now...then I'd be concerned.

[Scarlett]

if it happens 8 months from now...then I'd be concerned.

Why? Just curious why anyone would be bothered or frightened or concerned by someone taking a picture of their house from the street? Maybe I should stop doing it. Shrug.

[Kate in Arabia]

I guess I see my house as kind of an extension of myself. I'm not really comfortable with people taking my picture without asking, and I feel the same way about things I have, like my kids, my house, my car. I guess I feel odd about it, like what are they wanting to do with the pictures, that they can't just come up and ask me for permission, kwim? It just rubs me the wrong way.

[Jodi-FL]

She's an interior designer, and had a ton of pictures of other people's front houses. Do you happen to live in OR? that's where she was from.

I wouldn't worry unless you see it happen again, or if they stay parked out front.

[Mrs Mungo]

A few years ago my husband was deployed and one of my sisters was visiting. We are night owls and were getting ready to go to bed at 2 in the morning. We were walking around the house, chatting while I locked up and turned out all the lights. We were standing by my dining room window (which faced the front yard) when a white car pulled up and someone took a picture. It was totally weird. I called the police, they came and drive around the neighborhood a bit but didn't see the car.

[Jennifer in NH]

Why? Just curious why anyone would be bothered or frightened or concerned by someone taking a picture of their house from the street? Maybe I should stop doing it. Shrug.

I just get really leery about the safety of my kids...that's all. Besides, I've never lived in a house that I thought was nice enough to want to take a picture of.;)

[Scarlett]

A few years ago my husband was deployed and one of my sisters was visiting. We night owls and were getting ready to go to bed at 2 in the morning. We were walking around the ouse, chatting while I locked up and turned out all the lights. We were standing by my dining room window (which faced the front yard) when a white car pulled up and someone took a picture. It was totally weird. I called the police, they came and drive around the neighborhood a bit but didn't see the car.

Ok, that would freak me out too. I've never taken a picture of anyone's house at 2:00 a.m.

[Colleen]

The reality is, we live in an age in which our homes can be located via mapquest, photographed via satellite, etc. Just the other day, I took a virtual walk around a friend's neighborhood in Boston.

[Mrs. Readsalot]

When houses have sold real estate agents will use it as a comp for houses on the area that people want to sell.

[Melora in NC]

Could be an appraiser getting pictures of comparables (homes similar to the property they are appraising which have recently been sold). I did this for several years, and taking pictures people's houses for use as comparables was one of my least favorite parts of the work. Occasionally someone would ask me what I was up to, and I would explain, but I did feel funny about it. It Was the best paying job I've ever had, though!

[NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too]

He lives in a nice area and I just love the house designs. So, I take lots of pictures and keep them in my dream home folder.



Could be an assessor. Or could be someone like me wanting to copy a color scheme or landscaping. I've taken pictures of houses lots of times. Of course I am odd. One time I had a couple stop and ask if they could photograph our brick mailbox so they could copy the design. I was flattered.

[Mx5]

We moved into this house one month ago. Today I just happened to look out our window and saw an unfamiliar car driving slowly passed our house. He didn't actually stop, but he did take a picture of our house as he drove by. Should this concern me? Could this be an assessor?
Thanks,
bailey

Real estate appraisers are required to submit photos of any recently sold homes they use in their comparable sales analyses. Since you recently moved in, I'm assuming you recently purchased the home, so many appraisers in the area will be using the public record of your sale to help them determine the value of similar homes in the area.

Nothing to be concerned about at all.

[JFS in IL]

and out house turned out to be one of a mere 100 featured in a book with old and new photos of area homes. We got to see what our house looked like in the 1909 photo that appeared next to the "new" photo in the book.

[bailey]

I wasn't especially freaked out by the photographer. Just wanted to make sure I shouldn't be worrying. And of course it doesn't help that my husband happens to be out of town today!
I appreciate everyones response.
bailey

[Jeanne in MN]

It was the home we brought our firrst baby home to and i wanted a picture for her baby book. Never got a full picture of it while we lived there. I took a picture out the window as I drove by though-tried to be discrete. :)

[K&Rs Mom]

This happened to us one time. A car pulled up in our driveway, and a lady got out and started taking pictures. :eek: I went out to see what she was doing, and she told me she used to live in our town. We have huge rhododendron bushes out front, and she knew the lady who had planted them (like 40 years ago), and happened to be back in town so she wanted to stop by and take a picture of how they had grown.

[nancypants]

We had this happen once. It was a realtor. Later he came back with a "fancy" magnet featuring a picture of our house and how much it would probably sell for, trying to convince us to sell. I was so mad! Apparently it's not too uncommon a tactic. Emphasis on TACky, not to mention rude and presumptuous.

[Scarlett]

We had this happen once. It was a realtor. Later he came back with a "fancy" magnet featuring a picture of our house and how much it would probably sell for, trying to convince us to sell. I was so mad! Apparently it's not too uncommon a tactic. Emphasis on TACky, not to mention rude and presumptuous.

Hmmmmm........see that just wouldn't bother me. I think I must be weird.

[Uccnorsworth]

I absolutely LOVE taking pics of houses I find attractive. I am often struck by the architecture, the symmetry, the color scheme, or the landscaping of the prospective pics. I have even, on occasion, knocked on a stranger's door to determine whether it was ok to snap :-). I have had a couple of strange looks, but I have never been refused!

[LoneStarMama]

Maybe it was someone from Google. They were in my area a few months back taking pics of everything. Now if I type in my address on Google Earth, a pic of my house shows up.

[EKS]

It could also be the utility company. In our area they read the electric meter remotely with a device that could be mistaken for a camera.

[Alana]

I used to work as a contractor for mortgage companies performing occupancy inspections. If your house was previously owned by someone who was behind on their payments, the mortgage company could have ordered an "occupancy" inspection. This entails a contractor driving by your home and assessing if the house is occupied and in good condition and they must have a photo of the property to prove they did the inspection.

[Mom 2 3]

If your neighbor is having their house appraised the appraisor will take photos of the neighboring house. I don't think it is anything to worry about.

[WendyK]

I have no idea, but I recently moved to a historic district. The houses are so gorgeous. I thought about taking pictures, but then I didn't want to freak people out. Although maybe they are used to it. **shrug** Do you live in a house someone would want pictures of? :)