How To Delete Public Photos Of Your Home From Realtor Apps Like Zillow

Whether you have bought a house recently, years ago, or are looking to buy, keeping safety in mind is crucial. Immediately, we think about checking if all locks secure properly, if the fire detectors work, or if the large tree in the backyard is a safe distance from the roof. But, one of the biggest threats to our safety lies in the public information that is constantly accessible to strangers. Once a home sells, it is typically not taken off listing websites and can still be viewed by anyone and everyone.

Zillow currently has more than 800,000 sold homes listed on their website on the East coast alone. Given that these listings show intimate details of a house's layout, location, and home value, it can be a considerable safety risk to let this information sit idly on the internet. While it is not the easiest job to have these photos taken down, it is possible with some diligence on your end.

In an article for USA Today, Kim Komando explains that when a house is listed for sale, the home is uploaded to a Multiple Listing Service that distributes all the necessary information to websites like Zillow and Redfin. The number of websites your property is sent out to can be overwhelming and meticulous to track down. So, the easiest way to remove your home's listing across the board is to have your licensed agent or broker do it for you, as they are the only ones who can access the Multiple Listing Service.

Let's say your agent has been slow to respond or is so busy they have just not had the time to complete this for you. There is a way you can do it yourself, but it will require accessing every website individually. While each website will differ slightly, they all have a similar variation of the process that starts with verifying property ownership. Using Zillow as an example, you can claim ownership by locating your home's listing, clicking the verify ownership option, and answering the series of questions it asks. Once that has been completed, select your profile icon and Your Home from the menu options. Load the property page by clicking on the tile for your home and then proceed to the Edit Facts from the owner's viewpoint. You can remove each photo individually and save your changes once finished.

Unfortunately, more than just photos of your home are made available to the public. According to Komando, a county assessor's site holds an immense amount of information on your property. To start, the assessor's site can list who owns a property and how much was paid for it, along with all payment history, including taxes paid or taxes still owed. It often lists the real estate company and the realtor who helped you buy your home as well.

The name and address of the bank and other mortgage creditors are available, and so are the property's square footage. Even your signature can be out there for others to access, as property records, deeds, and other essential documents with your signature could be listed. There isn't a clear way to remove data like this from a county assessor's website, but understanding what information is out there can help you to avoid scammers who claim to have important knowledge of your property.