Protecting Seller Privacy

RET Staff
Published: 06/13/2012
Posted by: RE Technology

Perhaps what’s even worse than making mistakes about your own privacy is violating someone else’s. This is particularly true when you’re trying to build a trusting relationship with the person, as is the case between agents and their clients. However, protecting privacy has become particularly challenging as our industry becomes more concentrated on the Internet. Let’s take a look at a few of the ways you can protect your sellers’ privacy online.

Property Photos
Don’t kid yourself – once you’ve posted something online, you can never guarantee that it’s gone forever. Sure, you can delete the article, Web page, picture, or social media post; but how do you know that someone hasn’t already taken a screenshot or otherwise pulled the content. That’s why you should be extra cautious about the property photos you post for your listings.  The main things you should watch out for include:

1. Photos that show a car in the driveway with a readable license plate.
2. Photos that have people in them, particularly children.
3. Photos of the child’s bedroom inside the house.

Your MLS, broker, and/or Association may have specific guidelines related to property photos. So definitely read up on those and see if they have any additional rules for photography.

Explaining Privacy Implications of MLS vs. Syndication
We also recommend you go a step further. Have a conversation with the seller explaining that, in the digital age, privacy management is not easy. Then, discuss the privacy implications of the various online marketing channels that are available.