In our area, home photos are on the public records, so I don't see why posting a photo should be a problem. Also, all of our homes are on Google Earth, right?

Mike, I agree with you and so absolutely no problem with taking photos of homes.  If in that rare occasion an owner or other agent asks for it to be removed, I'd do so promptly.

At some time every house is going to be someone else's listing.  As long as you're not offering to sell the home in your blog and simply using it as an example of the home styles in the neighborhood, I can't see any problem at all publishing the photo.  (A disclaimer in the blog stating the intent of the photos might be a good idea though.)

Post photos f homes, they are in the public domain, if you drive by you can see the home right.

Take care!

RJH

I agree with you 100%.  I often photograph neighborhoods and have been asked what I'm doing and I tell them right out, I'm working on a neighborhood profile and wanted to gather photos of a cross section of homes from the community.  I've never been asked to stop, often I've been asked to share the photo with the home owner.  And, a few times I've been asked to list the home.

As I stated in Mariam's post, I have uploaded 598 photos to localism.  I would say 500 of those are street scenes that I took from bpo street scenes.  Everyone knows what vegas looks like and quite frankly, most of the folks who are living or want to live here are NOT attracted to "the strip."  In fact we dread it!

People narrow down what subdivision they want to live in and google it.  People google the subdivision they live in when they are ready to list.  Knock on wood but I have had ZERO gripes about my street scenes, in fact I get invitations to list, sell and rent homes in those neighborhoods on a daily basis.  People are APPRECIATIVE of the fact that there is a real estate agent out there who has actually BEEN in their neighborhood and gives the impression that they KNOW the neighborhood!  Even though, quite frankly with 20-50 bpos a week, it gets to be all a blur ;)

Al,

I'm on Earth???   Thanks!

Brian,

Agreed, and Thanks.

Don,

Thanks.  Also, I have a disclaimer, and need to be more diligent in inserting it.  "These photos are meant to give the reader a taste of the flavor of Mildew Downs.  I do not currently have a home listed For Sale in the neighborhood."

Robert,

Thanks, and obviously we are in agreement.

June,

Doing it straightforwardly is helpful to residents.  Thanks for coming by.

Renee,

Show them what they want to see!

Mike, I have been watching that post too and t agree with all of our points completely.  People are craving this information and if they want it I will give it.  I too would take down a photo if someone objected but I have never had a problem whatsoever. 

Good Job, Steve.

Thanks for dropping in today.

I too wrote a blog about this.  I thought the initial blog about legality was waaaay over the top. Could anyone imagine how difficult it would be to get each homeowner's permission to post specifically?  No one would do neighborhood profiles if that were required.  It sounded almost as if the poster wanted only listing photos to be used - which would heavily restrict newer agents from doing such profiles. I agree - for those who are not local and thinking of moving - they literally crave the information that neighborhood profiles offer.  Right now I am writing a disclaimer to each homeowner and offering them a free picture. That way I can cover myself and do some marketing at the same time. 

Hi, Mike - I don't see any reason not to post neighborhood photos.  Toward the end of the comments string she said the reason she was asking was because someone had been taking pictures of a clients house and it was freaking the owner out.  Understandable, but it could have been folks doing BPO's. 

Your photo take from a public place can be use however you desire. Do keep in mind not all streets are public. A satellite photo of a house in a gated community is not a problem, because it is taken from a public vantage point. A similar view of a house taken from a street in the community would be from a private vantage point and thus be restricted in its use.

Hi Mike - Every home is unique, so essentially the number of photo ops we have is unlimited. And as you stated, as long as they are taken from a public place, we're OK. It's difficult to capture the real flavor of an area with just a couple of street scenes, so the more photos we can provide, the better!

Ruthmarie,

Well, customs vary from location to location, too.

Thanks for commenting!

Jesse & Kathy,

I wonder if she is in a high-crime neighborhood?

Greg,

Private streets are a consideration.  Cary does not allow gated communities, so we don't have that issue.

John,

I like my photos, as they show what one will see when they come to town.  That's why I call myself a "ham and egger" photographer.  No gloss or veneer, or impossible shots.

Um....the initial blogger was from my location....I was turning possible objections into a marketing method.  That's all. 

Ruthmarie,

I think it is a very creative marketing approach.