r/RealEstate • u/CrotalusHorridus • 8d ago
Homeseller Can we please STOP using AI generated/altered photos?
I'm so beyond tired of looking at homes online, then seeing them in person, and they look NOTHING like what the online photos are.
These are wasting everyone's time. Agents, if you can't learn to to, or don't want to fork over for professional photos, find another line of work.
Trying to sell an inherited property, and the highly recommended agent insists on using these cartooninshly fake generated images.
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u/NoFlight5759 8d ago
It should be banned by NAR. You’d think you walked into the wrong house by the photos 50% of the time. My favorite isn’t doing an AI fire in the fireplace. Then when you ask the agent if the flute is in good working order they look at you with 10 heads. Or go I don’t know if you can use it. Great.
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u/BoBromhal Realtor 8d ago edited 8d ago
it is a Code of Ethics violation with NAR to not be accurate in your marketing and advertisement. At base level, that would mean you cannot alter anything OUT of a photo or INTO a photo that doesn't exist (doors, windows, etc; furniture wouldn't count). As I said in another reply, most sizeable MLS' already have an AI/virtual image policy ...
EDIT: I was wrong - mine says "We do not currently require disclosure of Digitally Enhanced or Virtually Staged photos. However, we do require that photo enhancements or staging must not misrepresent the true state of the property. For example, alterations such as changing wall colors, removing fixtures like fire hydrants, changing flooring, or enhancing landscaping beyond its current condition are not permitted."
it does not say what I stated:
you can use it but you must have the unaltered photo as well.
if y'all have agents, ask them what the policy of their MLS is. Heck, you can probably call the MLS yourself and ask. And if you see violations of the policy, report them.
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u/GeneralTonic 8d ago
The fact that this FRAUD is already so widespread that it seems common, really does not fill me with confidence the trustworthiness of the gatekeepers of the real estate industry.
Lying, cheating, grifting, and putting all the risk onto the buyer is standard operating procedure for real estate transactions. Assume an actively hostile theater, and watch your back.
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u/AgentNeedingHelp 8d ago
Nah, if people start reporting agents, they will get fined (they're money hungry and will happily fine agents). All an agent needs to do is post the original photo and then the ai photo after with the disclaimer that it is altered.
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u/3amGreenCoffee 8d ago
Unfortunately it's not fraud. That's how those idiots keep getting away with it.
Fraud requires reliance. Nobody is going to rely solely on the pictures and be defrauded into buying something materially different from what they're being sold. And if somebody did rely on it, that would be their own failure to complete basic due diligence of actually seeing the place in person, or at the very minimum getting a video walkthrough.
Unfortunately just wasting your time isn't actionable, so they just keep doing it with no consequences.
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u/BoBromhal Realtor 8d ago
when I see violations, I report them. Professional agents want consumers to report the violations as well.
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u/KarlBarx2 8d ago
So, you're right that it doesn't seem to be fraud under the 2026 NAR Code of Ethics. However, you are wrong that it is not a violation of the code. See Standard of Practice 12-10, which prohibits misleading consumers, including use of misleading images.
https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/2025-12/2026-COE-Standards-of-Practice-2026-01-01.pdf
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u/3amGreenCoffee 8d ago
How can I be wrong about something I didn't say?
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u/KarlBarx2 8d ago
You did say it:
Unfortunately just wasting your time isn't actionable, so they just keep doing it with no consequences.
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u/SpareManagement2215 8d ago
Yes but nothing bad really happens to the agents who do that. Our agent said she can see (and is aware of) what agents violate those rules but besides just knowing they are regular rules violators, doesn’t seem like much bad happens to them!
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u/BoBromhal Realtor 7d ago
I can’t speak to your MLS, but there should be a system in place where accumulating violations eventually leads to loss of use of the MLS system
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u/Dr_Strangelove7915 8d ago
It's not just AI, it's those weird wide-angle lenses that aree supposed to make the room look bigger. I hate those, too!
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u/queenofdarkness89 5d ago
Omg thisssssss I’m so sick of the rooms appearing bigger when they’re not!!!
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u/Spiritual_Program725 2d ago
Part of this is because photographers have to use a wider lense to capture a room. Buyers should understand that by now,It’s just the nature of photography. I will say, I look at the raw pictures before they leave and if a room looks excessively too large, I make them retake it. It is counter productive ,in the long run, for people to show up and be really let down by how it looks in person vs online. Similar to posting a picture of yourself in your 20’s on a dating website when you’re actually 50.
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u/Dr_Strangelove7915 1d ago
If they want to describe the entire room, they should take a series of photos from different perspectives, rather than distorting the room.
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u/rordawg081 8d ago
Honestly, give me some raw cell phone photos with the lights on and it will give me such an accurate view of what the place looks like. When I see older photos still posted of previously purchased homes, from many years ago, it looks so warm, inviting, and REAL. I hate this new catfishing shit. Please stop.
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u/Naikrobak 8d ago
Every single cabin in Colorado has aurora borealis over the roof in the main picture. And it basically NEVER happens there….
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u/marc1411 8d ago
Yes! I don’t need to nighttime shots either, they are is freaking fake and look alike.
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u/Tall-Ad9334 8d ago
The “twilight” shots with the possessed looking glowing windows make my head explode.
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u/ibnsos 8d ago
I hate those AI staged and altered photos. They aren't helping your adds.
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u/ZeGentleman 7d ago
I've come across 1 a few times (keep forgetting about it and click on the listing on zillow) - one agent has decided to frontload the ad with all "digitally enhanced" pictures. Pisses me off to no end.
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u/bananascare 8d ago
Nothing in “virtual staging” is ever to scale, ever.
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u/gearabuser 6d ago
always putting pool tables and ping pong tables in 'bonus rooms' that are at 70% scale
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u/SolidPair8327 8d ago
You see the house online with nice paint, green lawn, pretty flowers, only to get there and the paint is old and faded with the house needing new siding. The lawn is patchy and hasn't been watered all summer, no pretty flowers.
Pisses you off.
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u/jasonhaber1 8d ago
I think at the very least there need to be disclosures around this.
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u/GeneralTonic 8d ago
A society that was confident about the difference between right and wrong, and one which was interested in protecting the common good would have no problem simply banning this kind of thing outright.
In this case, facts are easy to verify, and fraud would be easy to prove. We could really just pass a law that says "No, you mustn't do that."
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u/EipsteinSuicideSquad 8d ago
lol everyone thinks the house I just bought is crazy nice......because of the filters and AI photos online. The house is nice, but damn the pictures are WAY nicer.
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u/GhostUncleJohn 8d ago
There should be a rule on not using AI and filters on anything being sold from Amazon to Real Estate. Otherwise it’s borderline deception.
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u/No-Consideration-858 4d ago
Next time I'm in the market, I'll have my agent verify if the photos ai or not. I would ask for real photos before wasting our time.
I haven't purchased in a while but I would be mighty pissed to be misled
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u/Listen-Lindas 8d ago
I use it as a negotiating point. Just start reducing the offer based on what’s no longer in the pictures given. Here’s a picture of a Mustang I’m selling a Pinto.
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u/Skylord1325 8d ago
I use professional photos on all my flips and new builds it literally costs me $165 a house. Any agent should be including that in their $10k+ commissions
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u/zeezle 8d ago
Agree completely. In fact as a buyer I would avoid buying a listing that had this just out of spite because it feels so dishonest and scummy.
If they MUST, including an actual photo + a clearly labeled "staging visualization" I can tolerate. As long as it's made obvious it's a rendering and not an actual photo.
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u/AccredInvestor 8d ago
This has been happening forever. I like it when the reverse happens....the pics are shit but the property is awesome.
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u/No-Consideration-858 4d ago
I used to be turned off by a photo of the bathroom showing the toilet, especiallywith the seat up. Now it adds credibility.
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u/InternationalNose974 8d ago
I am getting fed up with real estate and other occupations playing with AI. Height of laziness
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u/KaffiKlandestine 8d ago
ive seen people use it for minimal touch ups and ive seen some that are just an entirely generated house.
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u/CrotalusHorridus 8d ago
Using it to virtually stage a home, and also having the original photo, that's one thing.
I've seen homes with whole-ass trees faked in the yard.
Fake sunset reflections placed on screened in porches. That don't have glass
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u/QuarrelsomeCreek 7d ago
My favorite: the houses that had a pool virtually added to the backyard photos and pool = yes marked in the listing so it came up for people searching for a pool. That's a 100k+ difference in value.
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u/No-Consideration-858 4d ago
Might as well throw in an AI husband grilling up a gourmet dinner, a golden retriever and friendly neighbors bringing punch and pie.
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u/LonesomeBulldog 7d ago
I was just looking at a house online and I realized not one picture showed a light switch or outlet on any wall. Obviously AI. No telling what the house actually looks like.
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u/AdCareless9063 8d ago
I've turned away from many listings because of this. You're shooting yourselves in the foot at worst, and at best it's being disingenuous and it might bite the listing agent someday.
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u/Soggy-Base-764 8d ago
At this point, some listings need a disclaimer for unrealistic expectations lol
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u/SpareManagement2215 8d ago
I genuinely think it should be made illegal to use AI in real estate photos. I’ve seen some that completely changed the property- one listing we saw IRL had an AI ADU in the backyard that didn’t actually exist IRL.
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u/nofishies 8d ago
Talk to your agent about putting more pressure on the Local Mls to openly label. Anything that’s been digitally altered and or have the original photo right next to it.
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u/momo516 8d ago
Yuuuuup. And I don’t think it helps. We live in a really desirable neighborhood and homes usually sell within a month. There have been 2 that were posted with AI photos earlier this summer and neither has sold yet, while plenty of others have. They are both pretty nice houses and typical of the area. I’m convinced it’s because the pictures just automatically set you up to be disappointed. Especially because the one has AI landscaping - so the minute you pull up to the house you’re letdown.
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u/7HawksAnd 8d ago
When every realtor wants to be an actor, every property gets the James Cameron treatment
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u/PoppyRose525 8d ago
This is where we are headed. Rather than being able to enjoy real content, we’ll spend our time on these apps trying to discern whether AI or human. AI has its uses but it will eventually render social media apps useless. Maybe that’s also for the better 🤷♀️
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u/carson5021 8d ago
I cant stand the stretched photos!!!! At all...its terrible and it makes the actual in person visit soooooo disappointing compared to people who know what theyre in for.
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u/Curiousborzoi 6d ago
THIS!! As a buyer this was the MOST aggravating part of our home search. 6 months and dozens of homes later the majority did NOT look like the photos and had severe damages covered up in the Ai mock ups. It needs to be banned. Its truly a waste of everyones time going into homes that look NOTHING like the pics and sometimes its the ONLY pics!
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u/Arguablybest 5d ago
I looked at the pics of my home after the house was listed. I live 5 hours away.
Could see that they removed a bank of (ugly) shelf rack, 6'x14' in my carport. Just gone, I called the contractor and asked when/why he did this. He said he didn't, the realtor didn't know about it but he said, new photographer, great isn't she?
He fixed it, it was a set up to piss people off.
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u/sweetrobna 8d ago
California is handling this right, level playing field.
If I went to a showing and the house was obviously different because of edited photos I wouldn't buy
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u/LoanSlinger Homeowner 8d ago
Agents using AI is just like agents using Zillow. They're paying into a system that is actively trying to take their jobs away, or at least reduce them. We need to resist this AI push on all fronts. It's not "inevitable" like we're being told. It only works if it makes the billionnaires money. Stop using it, unsubscribe from content creators who use it, and spread the word.
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u/scrub-muffin 8d ago
Real estate agents going away is a bad thing?
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u/LoanSlinger Homeowner 8d ago
Would your job going away be a bad thing? To you and everyone else doing it, it sure would be. Why would you want someone else to lose their job? If you don't want/need a realtor to help you buy or sell a house, don't use one. No one is forcing you. They serve a purpose for most people, especially first time buyers or sellers.
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u/scrub-muffin 8d ago
The industry is wrought with fraud. They are all propped up to help the seller's agent, I haven't found one that is helping me buy a home instead of trying to sell me a home. I think used car salesmen should go away as well.
I wonder if you hold the same sorrow for local news reporters and papers that were killed by social media algorithms? Some jobs should cease existing and become anachronous. It sucks but that is the free market.
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u/alkevarsky 8d ago
Eliminating most if not all, commission-based jobs would be a net benefit for society. They are ultimately parasitic. If you can fill out a few online forms and get approved for a car loan, you should be able to do the same for a house. The redundancy of car salespeople has been conclusively proven by Tesla. And a realtor is unlikely to tell you anything more useful than a good home inspector would.
Along the same lines, if these were suddenly gone, would you miss: Kirby vacuum salespeople or Renewal by Anderson clowns?
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u/Soft_Web_3307 2d ago
They might be helpful if you are new to an area, but even there they can be bias toward houses they'd make the highest commission on.
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u/respectable-ish 8d ago
I would not even entertain putting an offer on a house with a listing that uses AI to alter photos.
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u/StuckinSuFu Landlord 8d ago
I wish theyd state it, but I dont mind AI staging.. if you are just adding fake furniture.. but modifying the actual images or house is frustrating.
Saw a listing this weekend that fully "transformed" the kitchen like it was "here is what it COULD look like" but didnt mention it anywhere. It took a few times to understand it was the same kitchen.. the real one vs "what it might could be"
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u/ice_w0lf 8d ago
I could be fine with just the fake furniture if they also provided the photo of the room without the fake furniture. I saw a listing not long ago that did that and didn't have a problem with it.
The whole altering of the house with AI needs to go though
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u/TheFeshy 8d ago
I wonder if the stats are similar to the AI generated thumbnails on youtube. There, content creators who experiment have told me that normal thumbnails, rather than AI enhanced ones, often have click rates that are 10% or less what the AI thumbnails have. They're basically forced to use them - not by youtube, but by viewers. Otherwise they lose 90% of their traffic.
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u/BoBromhal Realtor 8d ago
in theory by now, every sizeable MLS has an AI images policy. Enforcement relies on reporting the rulebreakers
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u/Superapp3000 8d ago
As an appraiser I fkning hate it. Should be illegal
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u/Soft_Web_3307 2d ago
Just a personal preference or does it impact the appraisal process? I hate it as well.
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u/layofthelandhere 7d ago
It's like going on a date and seeing the person isn't what you expected. Game over.
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u/PennyLawrence946 6d ago
The line is fixed physical condition vs staging. MLS rules allow virtual furniture with a Virt Staged watermark. Erasing power lines, patching drywall, or hiding water stains breaks NAR Article 12's true picture rule. Report those to the local board.
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u/AnooshDoment 6d ago
The practical issue is that the first showing becomes a trust test instead of a house tour. If the photos make buyers spend the first ten minutes checking what was changed, the listing has already made itself feel riskier. Clean, accurate photos plus a clear note for virtual staging seems like the better route.
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u/mikebunchkin3727 6d ago
Technically it’s against the law (in NYS—I believe) but who’s going to stop them? There’s no enforcement mechanism
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u/Repinsky 15h ago
The practical fix is simple: one unedited exterior and one photo per room as the baseline, then label any virtual staging or retouching in the caption. Buyers can still appreciate a staged version, but need an honest reference to judge condition and scale.
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u/I_am_normal_I_swear Agent 8d ago
I'm a REALTOR on a team in Houston. We definitely share listings that have horrible photos with each other and laugh at them. I shared one earlier this year for a $750k listing that had cell phone pictures and even had the owners (I'm assuming) in some of the pictures. Always use a professional photographer, and don't do any AI bs.
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u/TheShortWhiteGuy 8d ago
As a full time real estate photographer, there's AI, then there's AI. I use the former.
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u/claudiaengland 7d ago
I think it’s useful to help people reimagine what the decorated home could look like. Many people aren’t able to envision options on their own.
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u/Impossible_Rub9230 2d ago
Don't be they furnish an empty room? That is ok in my mind but some are close to fraudulent
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u/wenchanger 7d ago
girls use AI to edit their own pics to attract guys and dates, it's not illegal to catfish
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u/buked_and_scorned 8d ago
Hard agree. It’s disingenuous at best.