Don't know what to think...

[jacqued]

This evening I was looking through the classifieds of my local paper. I noticed under the Homes for Sale that the person who built my home has a house for sale and in the ad was a web address. So I checked it out. Lo and behold there's my house on his web page. I clicked on another link and there's pictures of the interior of my home too. I don't know what to think. I wasn't aware that he took any pictures in my home. He must of taken them while here to take care of some repair work. Would you be upset about this? Should he of asked before he posted these? It doesn't bother me too much. I just wish he would of said something. I probably would of given him access to take more pictures. (The ones he posted are in just one area of the house and are not very good in my opinion).

I'd like other people's opinions about this. Do you think he overstepped his bounds?

 

[MCunningham]

I'm confused... is this your home AFTER you moved in? So you're saying he trespassed inside your home AFTER you moved in and took pictures and posted them on a website?

If that's the case, then, yeah, I'm fairly sure there's something wrong with that.

MC

 

[Runcrazy]

So is this (your house) a model he builds in the community? Whether or not, I think he should have asked you. But do you think you may have signed something that allowed him to do that when you purchased your home? Sometimes they do that (ask you up front).

Jo

 

[jacqued]

I'm confused... is this your home AFTER you moved in? So you're saying he trespassed inside your home AFTER you moved in and took pictures and posted them on a website?

If that's the case, then, yeah, I'm fairly sure there's something wrong with that.

MC

MC- Yes, those pictures were taken after we moved in. We've been here for 2 years now. During those 2 years he's been here several times to take care of warranty issues. He must of taken them one of those times without my knowledge.

I'm going to ask my husband about this when he gets home tonight. Maybe he gave him permission to take the photos.

 

[Amy Steppe]

You have a beautiful home! How lucky you are!

Yes, I would be very annoyed if this builder took photos - especially of the interior and posted them without your knowledge.

 

[jacqued]

So is this (your house) a model he builds in the community? Whether or not, I think he should have asked you. But do you think you may have signed something that allowed him to do that when you purchased your home? Sometimes they do that (ask you up front).

Jo

Jo- yes and no. There are no other homes like mine around here. I live in a small rural area. He buys land and builds spec homes to sell but they're all around the area and not in one particular place. Does that make sense? He hasn't built any others as large as mine. I think it was too much of an undertaking for him to do again and there's not much demand for larger homes here. I'm pretty sure though that we didn't sign anything upfront. I think his website is a pretty recent thing and wasn't in existence when we bought our home.

Thanks for your input.

 

[jacqued]

You have a beautiful home! How lucky you are!

Yes, I would be very annoyed if this builder took photos - especially of the interior and posted them without your knowledge.

Thank you Amy. I think I'm more surprised than annoyed at this point.

 

[morningstar]

This evening I was looking through the classifieds of my local paper. I noticed under the Homes for Sale that the person who built my home has a house for sale and in the ad was a web address. So I checked it out. Lo and behold there's my house on his web page. I clicked on another link and there's pictures of the interior of my home too. I don't know what to think. I wasn't aware that he took any pictures in my home. He must of taken them while here to take care of some repair work. Would you be upset about this? Should he of asked before he posted these? It doesn't bother me too much. I just wish he would of said something. I probably would of given him access to take more pictures. (The ones he posted are in just one area of the house and are not very good in my opinion).

I'd like other people's opinions about this. Do you think he overstepped his bounds?

Hell yeah, he overstepped his bounds! I would contact him immediately, tell him to remove the pictures or you will report him to the BBB. If he had your permission, that's one thing (although I wouldn't give it for security reasons) but to take pictures of someone else's house and then put them online, that is not only unprofessional, it's scary.

 

[dss62467]

Look at your contract and see if there's anything in it that gives him permission to do so. If not, call a lawyer. You should demand he remove the photos or at least give you payment.

That is an invasion of your privacy...even if nobody knows it's your house. Of course, some people will recognize it as your house. What if that person recognizing your home sees something he wants? Sorry...I just woke up from a really creepy dream of this huge guy that kept proving to me that the locks on my doors were no barrier to him.

 

[Liann]

Taking those pictures after you were moved into your home without your permission was a major violation of your privacy. I would be PO'd!

 

[atiman]

Whoa!

I would call and say something.

Are there any personal pictures that show up on the pics? Like any with your kids? I would be really bothered. It's not his home to this without your permission. He was being sneeky.

 

[dss62467]

So...what's the url? I want to check out your digs. Ha ha...just kiddin.

 

[dani21496]

That's really strange. I think he should have asked you first. That would bother me too.

 

[kathryn]

I would think he would most defiinitely need your permission to post photos of the inside of your home, showing your furniture and personal belongings.

 

[NY25]

I don't have kids, but if I did I would NEVER put their photos on the web. Too many creeps out there. I've even seen articles about people who put those bumber stickers on their cars showing stick figures of their families with their names on them. So, you've given out your license plate and the names of everyone in your family. Identity theft is on the rise and you make it easy for the culprits that way. I would be very cautious about what you put on the web as it relates to yourself or your family. Better to be safe than sorry.

(oh - I also think it's very dishonest of this guy to do this; you bought the house, so it's not his to advertise any longer; I would ask him point blank why he would do this - it may not even be legal)