Is anyone else annoyed when people who work on your home post photos online without asking permission? Does it matter if the pictures are of their work or just random pictures of your home and property? If I’m being unreasonable, please tell me so and I’ll try to dial back my expectations.
A couple of years ago, while searching for a cleaning service to use while I recuperated from surgery, I ran across the Facebook page of a young woman who worked for a local franchise maid service. She had posted pictures of the interior of quite a few houses, along with some colorful commentary.
Recently, a guy who did some painting for me posted before and after pictures of the area he painted. He gave our neighborhood name but not our address. I would have preferred that he ask first, but wasn’t too annoyed. What upset me was that he also posted a photo of a recent project that he had nothing to do with and accepted accolades for it. He removed that photo at my request and apologized, but I don’t plan to hire him again.
Today, some guys working outside spent at least 30 minutes taking pictures of our house and view. Nothing they photographed had any connection to their work. I told the owner of the company that I prefer they not post those pictures online, but doubt it will do any good.
I understand businesses wanting to show off their own work, and I just ask that they not give our name or address when they post pictures. Some people apparently don’t care when identifying information is used in marketing a company they’ve hired, or maybe they don’t know about the photos being posted online. Is maintaining privacy a lost cause?
I have been asked twice for permission to use our house as a model by a roofer and by the firm the installed our wood floor. We gave permission to both of them, as they did great work. I didn’t think to ask them not to provide our address, but it has been over a decade or two and we haven’t had any issues. I don’t think either of them have a website. I’d be VERY annoyed if anyone used our house to falsely claim they were involved in work they had nothing to do with and might consider reporting them to BBB or Consumer Protection, but at least you were able to get them to remove the improper photos.
I guess this goes to show that you should SPEAK with former CUSTOMERS and ask about scope of work and other details before blindly believing what is posted and said by these “puffing” contractors. Sheesh!
I have things posted that have the town name. So it will say something like “Scarsdale Kitchen Remodel”. I supposed someone could object and I’d take it down.
Interesting topic - our local paint store (which is a small chain) has a decorator that I’ve used before (who is very good, but annoying as all get out). We recently repainted our family room/kitchen, got some new window treatments, reupholstered a large chair and a half, and got new accent pillows for our couch, as well as new chair cushions for our breakfast table chairs, and bar stools at our kitchen island. I had vowed I’d never do any business with her again (for several reasons), although again, she’s pretty good at what she does.
Then a few months ago the store got bought out and the new owners want to create more of a web presence; they asked their decorators to come up with a list of the clients they think would represent some of the more visually appealing work the decorators have done. And she asked me if I’d be willing to have a professional photographer stop by and take some picture for their website (well, her words to me were, “When they asked me this, you were the first person that came to mind.” Yea, right). Of course, that was over two months ago, and I’ve not heard a word from her (nor has she followed up with a quote for the new valance above the kitchen sink she recommended about three months ago), so I don’t know if it will happen or not, or now, whether or not I should do this or not. Anyone have any opinions on what they would and would not allow if I decided to do this? I definitely do NOT want any identifying information out there.
“A couple of years ago, while searching for a cleaning service to use while I recuperated from surgery, I ran across the Facebook page of a young woman who worked for a local franchise maid service. She had posted pictures of the interior of quite a few houses, along with some colorful commentary.”
Wow. Unlike a contractor, does she have a claim that it is her work? Imagine that she posts the photos with enough identifiable info to find the house. The house looks modest on the outside, but inside it has nice decorations, state of the art audio, collectibles, expensive rugs… I would not want the world to know what I have in my home!
Interesting topic… Contarctors’ rights to earn a living v your privacy. Pick one or the other!
The two are at odds. Keeping past customers happy leads to referrals, and being less than above board only leads to resentment. If this could be an honest discussion with less identifying information in the photo, would you feel ok about it? The homeowner should have the authority to set the parameters for level of publicity.
We do ask realtors to post photos of the insides of the houses we hope to unload… but not the houses we intend to live in with our private belongings easily visible.
Years ago, contractors would bring a photo album to an estimate appointment to show off pictures of past jobs. I don’t remember ever seeing any identifying information for those pictures, and they were only shown to potential customers and not to just anyone with internet access. I never minded those sort of pictures being taken when we had work done.
Real estate photos are a necessary evil. I hate having pictures of our home out there whenever we sell, but I understand the need. (I just wish Zillow would remove the photos when a listing is no longer active.) I do wonder about criminals checking out listings. It may be coincidence, but we had an attempted break-in the last time our house was on the market plus dh found a guy wandering the property who claimed to have been in negotiations with the builder when we bought the house (he was lying.)
I don’t want to be an old curmudgeon about photos, but they feel like such an invasion of privacy. I’m trying to find a reasonable balance. Lately, I’ve been talking to contractors upfront and telling them it’s okay if they want to post pictures of just their work as long as they don’t use our name or address, or show the exterior of the house (other than, for example, a door they refinished or replaced.) I did refuse to allow one guy to return to take pictures after a project was done because I ended up spending several weeks and too much money completing work his company failed to finish and correcting things done poorly. He’d posted photos on Houzz of a friend’s home (inside and outside) without asking and she was steamed.
@silpat - You must have a lovely house if so many service people are wanting to show it off. I would not like it if they did not ask first. We had some built-in cabinetry done (our design, his work) that the cabinetmaker wanted to include in his portfolio, but he asked permissions first.
If I had the experiences you’ve had, I would include a stipulation in future work contracts that photos not be taken and/or displayed without prior approval.
My expectation would be that a reputable contractor would ask my permission before taking any photos of the work done, and certainly not post on line without my permission. In the old days, before widespread websites, we did a lot of work renovating our house, and anyone who wanted a picture, asked if they could take one for their portfolio or whatever. I don’t like it if a contractor leaves a sign on my property without asking. If a contractor wants to use me as a reference, he should get my permission. If you sign a contract, you need to read it and see if you are giving permission to use photos etc.
Years ago, a friend had a special audio cabinet unit built, and the company used it in their display advertising. No mention of where the unit was or who owned it. I assume permission was granted and the friend even showed the ad to people. However, this is not like showing the outside and inside of your house so that thieves know where to come to steal.
A cleaning service posting pictures of the inside of homes would seem like an invitation to thieves. Besides, how can you tell if it is clean - neat maybe but clean, I don’t think so.
People do not have a legal right to post pictures taken inside a house. In other words, it’s illegal though I haven’t researched how it’s covered in various states.
Places that are in “public view,” such as views taken from a public road are NOT places that folks have a “reasonable expectation of privacy,” which is one of the reasons Google goes around taking it’s street views and doesn’t have to get releases. On the other hand, a good case can be made that people DO have a reasonable expectation of privacy within their own homes and can require written releases before anything is photograghed or published or use from inside their homes. If you want the hassles, a successful lawsuit MAY result in recovery. I think the best policy is to establish clear rules with contractors/workers if you hire them BEFORE they being work.
I’m guessing that the law is pretty clear – it is not OK to post photos of the inside of your house without your permission. As a preventative measure, you can also inform your contractors that they do not have such permission unless they get it from you in writing. Best to do this via email so there is no confusion, I’d guess.
I can’t imagine taking legal action on such photos, unless perhaps someone used them in advertisements that included my name and address without permission. Even then, it wouldn’t be my first response.
What I’ve noticed is that older individuals (around my age) have asked permission first and are quick to reassure me that our privacy will be respected. It has been the younger workers who think nothing of pulling out their cell phones and texting/posting pictures or doing other things that just boggle my mind. We’ve had several young guys drop by a week or more after their work is done and take friends to our back yard to see the view and/or eat lunch by our fire pit without asking if we mind. When I’ve talked to the people who do this stuff, they really don’t seem to understand why I have a problem with it.