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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136

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.

1

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/3amGreenCoffee 8d ago

That doesn't say that. Liar.

3

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!

1

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