Do you think it is acceptable to use another agent’s photos as part of a property listing? The head of Oyster Properties in north London certainly does not seem to think so.
Niraj Shah, the firm’s director has vented his fury at Connells for allegedly using his pictures online.
Whilst searching through one of the main property portals yesterday he discovered the duplicated photos, which as many agents will know, is not uncommon. But Shah is not happy.
He said: “I am disappointed and angry to see that Connells as a brand has joined the bunch of cowboy agents who lazily copy other agents photos to list a new property.
“Have some professional courtesy and morals – we know your management is too busy expanding – but this is wrong.”
Connells has now removed the images on the Rightmove listing.
Shah decided to write to Connells to express his displeasure, but how can other agents deal with this issue?
The portals generally do not like agents watermarking their pictures, and so what is the solution? We would be interested in your thoughts.
Comments (15)
For sure it is lazy. Is it a big deal?
Every sympathy for Mr Shah,
Personally i have in the past watermarked photos and never had a complaint from a portal but its a faf to do and does cheapen the advertising.
I thought i would leave the following here as has been bugging me about portals for sometime.
1, Why can we not put our office number for things like fs on details
2,Why can i not have a link to review sites on my details.
3, Why will they not embrace true virtual tours
4, Why can they use my pictures after completion for marketing
5, Why do they promote competitive services such as fs
6, why can i not request my data on listed / sold properties is removed.
7, Why do they censor personal branding photos on a listing
8, why are some agents allowed an ‘admin office’ and not pay a subscription and others are not allowed.
These are just a number of issue i have (along with the crazy fee structure) i would like addressed. Anyone would think they are our customers, as opposed to us being theirs,
Well frankly I think that that is awful lot to expect from an industry provider who get a mere pittance from the agents they serve.
If it’s been bugging you i’d suggest calling and asking them. Here’s the answers I know about:
1, Why can we not put our office number for things like fs on details
To stop fraud. If someone were to get into your systems and add a mobile number to a listing without you noticing, then users of the website could call up and pay deposits to that person, even though its nothing to do with your office. You likely wouldn’t know your listing had been compromised until too late, and rightmove would have no tracking on that number as a lead so you wouldn’t know how many people had been conned. But your brand would be irreparably damaged.
2,Why can i not have a link to review sites on my details.
Same as above, and also because unverified external links could contain harmful viruses etc.
3, Why will they not embrace true virtual tours
I can see matterport tours and the like on listings. Virtual tours mean lots of things, not sure what type you mean?
4, Why can they use my pictures after completion for marketing
To make your sold listings stand out, show how well presented they were etc, all good for your brand. If you don’t want them to you can just call up once its sold and ask them to remove them, it’s not hard.
5, Why do they promote competitive services such as fs
What is fs?
6, why can i not request my data on listed / sold properties is removed.
You can, you just call them up. They can remove all the detail of an old listing, and also de-link listings from sold price data.
7, Why do they censor personal branding photos on a listing
Can you image for a second being a user of the website and landing on a page of 25 search results and seeing nothing but brand logos all over the page in a giant mess. It would drive people to distraction and just makes everything look a mess and make it harder for users to get to what they want, the property photos, not your brand logo.
8, why are some agents allowed an ‘admin office’ and not pay a subscription and others are not allowed.
Don’t know enough about this. Suggest calling and asking.
I’m no David Bailey but……
It’s not acceptable – it’s lazy…..
Mr Shah should be more concerned that his company failed to secure a buyer for their client, who in due course has had to seek the help of a second estate agent. If his company had done their job correctly this issue wouldn’t have occurred.
Bit harsh.
We all take on properties we fail to let or sell for one reason or another.
The use of others photos is sloppy at best theft at worse. No excuse for it.
Bit harsh indeed, plus its actually TO LET!
LOL
Surely with a company of Connells size they supply their staff with their own cameras … obviously NOT!
Doing so is intellectual property theft – breach of copyright. Might some education in the law, and in morals help?
Those pictures are such good quality, surely the question is…why haven’t more agents copied them?
Because most agents have half a brain and a passion to deliver their own marketing.
Would you use another agents photos?
The portals actually don’t mind watermarking as long as it’s within their guidelines regarding the location, size and opacity.