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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think not putting kitchen photos on selling particulars would put viewers off?

346 replies

Blankspacehere · 13/05/2023 11:26

Unfortunately, I'm not willing to put photos of my kitchen online.

But we're looking to move house, so just pondering through the process.

I'm concerned that not putting the kitchen photos in the particulars may put off buyers.

It's a nice house, couple of estate agents have viewed abd said that it should sell quickly as it's a desirable type and location.

Would I be reducing potential buyers?

Yabu - yes of course you will be limiting your audience.

Yabu - people will come based on the photos of rest of house and the written blurb on the kitchen.

OP posts:
YetAnotherSpartacus · 13/05/2023 14:31

Oh, OP :( Flowers

User90900 · 13/05/2023 14:31

So... you believe the kitchen company is following when you put the house on the market so they can snap photos and put on their website?

chairmug · 13/05/2023 14:32

Maybe you could get the EA to put a watermark over the kitchen pic?

Dente · 13/05/2023 14:34

That is absolutely shocking. I’m so sorry that happened to you.

Roundandnour · 13/05/2023 14:34

I would go, with a 20k reduction in my mind and make sure I have a proper look around even if the kitchen was amazing, to work out where the £££ was.

If it was a famous one, unless I signed a nda I would be telling everyone guess who’s house I visited today

Maddy70 · 13/05/2023 14:35

Gosh that sounds horrific I would watermark the picture

Pluvia · 13/05/2023 14:36

Yes, get the EA to put a watermark or similar over the kitchen photos.

You can also, if you have copyright of the photos (so suggest you take them yourself) demand they take them down or insist they pay for them of they do use them.

daisychain01 · 13/05/2023 14:38

That sounds like a horrendous, frustrating and stressful experience @Blankspacehere

can you explain the full situation to your estate agents and get them to help you market the property incl kitchen photos in a less public way than online, so the cowboys don't benefit from the images, if that's your main concern. Quite a few agencies still do paper versions of particulars for people who don't have ready access to a computer.

im sure you just want to be rid of the nightmare and the selling process is a massive stressor. I hope you get it sorted and can close that chapter of your life Flowers

CrotchetyQuaver · 13/05/2023 14:38

Well I can understand why you're sensitive about your kitchen after going through something like that, but I don't actually think the kitchen company would trawl through rightMove looking for photos of it? Are they based very local to you and likely to see the for sale board up as they drive past?

monsteramunch · 13/05/2023 14:38

appletreeyard · 13/05/2023 14:31

watermark it with 'not for commercial use'

Absolutely do this OP, that way you aren't damaging your selling chances because of some cowboy bastards.

Dustyourselfoff · 13/05/2023 14:40

Rewis · 13/05/2023 13:54

I'd assume a full kitchen reno needed. If i liked rest of it and the price was low enough, I'd view it.

Why? If the description makes clear that it’s been beautifully renovated and all other photos of other rooms are lovely?

Ellmau · 13/05/2023 14:41

They can't breach copyright willy nilly, so even if they do spot your particulars online they can't just steal the pictures for their own use.

Sorry for your pain re the kitchen fitting though, it sounds horrible. But it does sound as though it will actually help sell the house, which is to your benefit now. Ask the agent not to include the brand of kitchen or fitter though.

LemonSwan · 13/05/2023 14:43

Definitely put the pictures on and watermark them.

Dustyourselfoff · 13/05/2023 14:45

We tried to start the court process but they "changed ownership" but carried on trading almost as before but still wouldn't take our phone calls etc.

This wouldn’t be possible as still liable. Otherwise every cowboy in the land would do this.

Did you actually get legal advice OP?

Toomanylatenightprogs · 13/05/2023 14:46

I doubt very much a kitchen company would scour the internet for photos of “ their” kitchens. You could ask the agent to watermark the photos ( is that still the term?)

Dustyourselfoff · 13/05/2023 14:46

Your LE on home insirance would have picked this up no problem. Needs a 51% chance of success and given you had admission of liability at the outset… very straightforward

Conkersinautumn · 13/05/2023 14:47

Unless it is being sold as in need of renovation then buyers have to decide if THEY can move in and live there before refoing the kitchen. It's hugely significant to see what the kitchen is like for most buyers

Daffodilmorning · 13/05/2023 14:47

I wouldn’t view a house without seeing photos of the kitchen (I wouldn’t trust the write up and would assume there was something really wrong with it for it not to be included).

Could you ask the estate agents to use a watermark to prevent the kitchen company using the photos?

Blinkingheckythump · 13/05/2023 14:47

Sounds like you've been through hell and back. But why would they even know that you'd put your house up for sale to even consider stealing your pictures?
Personally if there was no kitchen pictures I wouldn't even consider viewing

Original poster
Blankspacehere · 13/05/2023 14:49

The watermark idea is absolutely wonderful thank you all so much.

The kitchen is a beauty and the 2 EAs both said that it would be what sold the property.

It was just 3 years living with a 40 year old oven on a tressle table in a dining room (including through lockdown) with a family of 6 was very very hard mentally to deal with. So I feel such animosity to the company I'm incapable of thinking rationally of the situation.

And yes, I think That Man keeps tabs on the customers he shafted.

Above was a very brief precis of all that went on.

But to give an example, a group of customers with ongoing similar experiences joined together in a private Facebook group to share experiences. He got one of the director's daughters to infiltrate the group, posing as another shafted customer to see what Intel she could glean.

They immediately blocked anyone in social media who said anything negative, even just asking to be contacted.

Trust pilot reviews were more telling but after the "change of ownership and minor name change" they were able to take down reviews as it didn't relate to the new company.

So yes, I wouldn't put it past the new company (new directors have links with old ones).

OP posts:
Dustyourselfoff · 13/05/2023 14:49

Daffodilmorning · 13/05/2023 14:47

I wouldn’t view a house without seeing photos of the kitchen (I wouldn’t trust the write up and would assume there was something really wrong with it for it not to be included).

Could you ask the estate agents to use a watermark to prevent the kitchen company using the photos?

if in your ideal location, perfect number of bedrooms etc and all other photos were beautiful and the description said the kitchen reno was stunning?

i would just presume it was a marketing tactic

Original poster
Blankspacehere · 13/05/2023 14:50

Dustyourselfoff · 13/05/2023 14:45

We tried to start the court process but they "changed ownership" but carried on trading almost as before but still wouldn't take our phone calls etc.

This wouldn’t be possible as still liable. Otherwise every cowboy in the land would do this.

Did you actually get legal advice OP?

Yes extensive legal advice taken.

Husband deals with similar situations in his work. It was going nowhere.

OP posts:
Weedoormatnomore · 13/05/2023 14:51

I would presume there was a problem with the kitchen from lack of pictures if house was nice enough and good value for money might look at it.

Dustyourselfoff · 13/05/2023 14:51

I can’t understand why

a) you don’t name the old company given you have proof of their admission of liability

and

b) why the heck you didn’t pursue this legally. The fact they changed ownership is not an obstacle. Otherwise this tactic would be employed by all cowboys!

Dustyourselfoff · 13/05/2023 14:51

Blankspacehere · 13/05/2023 14:50

Yes extensive legal advice taken.

Husband deals with similar situations in his work. It was going nowhere.

Show quote history

You had a written admission of liability