One of the questions we often get from our clients is why we don't photograph the exterior of the property. As a real estate agency that operates by the principles of the profession that are standard in all developed countries, we have several reasons for this practice.
We always explain to clients that this is in line with our business policy, but that it is in their best interest not to show the exterior of the property or the exact location until the on-site presentation takes place.
There are several reasons why we do not show the exterior of objects in our presentations:
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Owner privacy – This is the first and foremost reason why we never photograph the exterior of a property, even if the owners feel we should. In this way, especially in smaller areas, it is very easy to get to the exact location of the real estate thereby endangering the privacy of the owner. All clients who entrust the mediation of the sale and rental of their real estate to the agency should be protected from any harassment.
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Safety – another but equally important reason why properties should not be photographed from the outside is for the safety of the owner as well as the property itself. In this way, unnecessary attention can be attracted, especially if there are valuable objects in the house, apartment, or business premises. The real estate agency's job is to minimize every possible risk, including this type of risk.
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The legal aspect is something that should not be overlooked. In some cases, it is against the law to photograph property without the express consent of the owner, especially in situations where real estate is photographed from the air. In this way, some objects that are not subject to sale or lease can be recorded, so you should take care of that. The advice is to always ask for the express consent of the owner to film the property from the outside. In developed countries
that have a regulated area of real estate brokerage and rental, it is a practice that real estate that is exclusively assigned to an agency can be photographed from the outside.
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Quality of presentation – it may happen that the exterior of the property does not best show its full potential; therefore, exterior photography is avoided. Focusing on the interior and the quality of that presentation can be a much better option to bring potential buyers closer to what kind of property it is.
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Competition – Publicizing the exterior of a property can attract the attention of other agencies. If a contract on exclusive mediation in traffic or rental of real estate has not been concluded with the clients, then the opportunity is opened for the takeover of the real estate by another agency. Healthy competition is always desirable because it encourages us to provide better service, but in the context of business in Montenegro, real estate agencies generally represent
unfair competition.
As for potential buyers and tenants who are interested in the exact location of the property, they should take into account that the agencies should record their interest so that they can inform the owners of the fact that these clients obtained information about the property through the mediation of the agency. This is exactly the essence of the work of real estate agencies—connecting two parties, and this is not possible if we do not know who we are talking to. That's why we ask clients for
their first and last names every time, even though it's a matter of general culture to introduce yourself.
The goal of this text is to contribute to better-informing clients and establishing standards in the field of real estate brokerage and rental in Montenegro.
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
