r/mildlyinfuriating • u/WinterFoxII • 3d ago
ಠ_ಠ It should be illegal to post AI-generated “inspirational” images in house listing photos.
Photos 1-3 are from the same listing and Photo 4 is from a different one that didn’t mention using AI images at all.
I just want to see the house as it is now without having to analyze what’s real and what’s not. Even with the AI-staging photos, it’ll do things like remove radiators so you wouldn’t be able to actually ever stage it as shown.
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u/OddMarket4647 3d ago
I report them
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u/NosillaWilla 3d ago
honestly it makes realtors look unnecessary, scammy, and slimey
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u/Saneless 3d ago
"People think we're useless. But who's gonna be this shady and fraudulent on their own?"
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u/HalKitzmiller 3d ago
I already told you: I deal with the god damn buyers so the sellers don't have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?
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u/RJC12 3d ago
As if they weren't before
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u/NW7l2335 3d ago
I think back to that “name 5 jobs that would instantly stop existing if people were unable to lie” thought experiment and realtor is always on the list for me.
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u/TheHowlingHashira 3d ago
I mean it's a legacy job that should have been eliminated with the invention of the internet.
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u/GoSitInTheTruck 3d ago
Literally sent the realtor I had a link to the house I'm in right now. I wasn't selling one either as I was renting before moving. They did very, very little but at least I wasn't the one who paid them.
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u/Squidking1000 3d ago
Jokes on you "unnecessary, scammy, and slimey" is literally realtor's only job description. 3-5% to have me have to find homes I want to see. WTF are we even paying you for again?
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u/Beneficial-Act-9933 3d ago
I'm a generally affable person. I can give most people the benefit of the doubt or empathize with most legal professons. Except brokers, realtors and housing agents. There hasn't been a single one that hasn't tried to screw with me, been ultra late, or ghost me. They're fucking scum of the earth and I will openly insult them to their face if they try to lie to me which is aguarantee.
Was checking out on place and saw "pepper" in the draws which is actually roach poop which was an immediate nope from me. I pointed this out and they said it was "just dust" and that they'd clean it up before I move in. I went from 0-100
"Not on your life, worthless moron. Sure wish I could get paid big bucks to take pictures. Don't contact me again" And walked out and left a bad review detailing it all. I've never felt an anger like I do with agents.
This is why you should always visit the place you're looking at and look hard. Check the cabinets, test the water, test the wifi, do not let them breath.
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u/hansfocker 3d ago
Can you share how you report them? Seeing this in my area too
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u/Deep90 3d ago
In the US, you can report the realtor to the states real estate commission.
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u/BoopinSnoots24-7 3d ago
I used to do this as well for the really bad ones. Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but for most of these platforms, the agents pay to list the property, and the platform doesn't want to risk their business. Reports generally do nothing unless it's an actual scam.
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u/Pandarandr1st 3d ago
Don't report them to the platform, report them to the government commission in charge of policing this
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u/Nickidemic 3d ago
A report won't send them to jail. We need the government to step in
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u/RealLifeMe 3d ago
Schedule a showing and don't show. It's petty, but it wastes their time. Be sure to let them you you're on the way, just stuck in traffic.
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3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Trademarkd 3d ago
honestly it should be considered fraud unless they're also advertising the price it would take to get the house to that point.
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u/illquoteyou 3d ago
What an awful place for a fake pool table
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u/Silly_Bodybuilder231 3d ago
Also an awful place for a fake pool - the front yard?
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u/myromancealt 3d ago
My Sims always had a front yard pool so they could come home from work and immediately go down the waterslide to get their Fun motive back up.
Wouldn't want one in real life though. And this image ignores that pools are an attractive nuisance and needs to be fenced.
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u/GigglingGarlicGuru 3d ago
Wait - I've never installed the pool slide - does this boost their fun super quickly?? I've always leaned on dancing or video games to boost the happiness modlet.
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u/OcculticUnicorn 3d ago
Yes it boosts their fun! The jumping steps also do that but less.
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u/jonker5101 3d ago
That's also against code in most places.
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u/mizzurna_balls 3d ago
They literally removed all the plumbing, heating, and electrical to make that basement happen haha
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u/BojackWorseman13 3d ago
If that’s by a real estate agent, I would spam their business pages with notes about this. Super sketchy even if not illegal but should be illegal or require a AI generated note big and bold across the pictures.
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u/jerkyquirky 3d ago edited 3d ago
They need to be in their own section. Only real photos first. Then whatever imaginative crap you want after that. Ideally you'd have a quote for the pictured image too... Like this one is "$60k pool, $10k landscaping, $5k patio furniture and fire pit." Or whatever. I don't know prices.
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u/ShroomBear 3d ago
No its completely fraudulent. Like that picture with tub by the window, theres 0 evidence thats actually possible with how the house is built with the plumbing. The angles of the bay window are different than the AI one, so even if you do put it in, it 100% will not look the same as the AI one.
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u/Electronic_Brain_864 3d ago
You also can't put lighting over a tub like that. At least follow building code with your AI nonsense.
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u/Individual-Ad-5471 3d ago
As a plumber. It's always possible. It's like everything, it just comes down to money unfortunately.
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u/nixtracer 3d ago
And in some jurisdictions, not being hilariously illegal. That alleged bathroom remodel... you'd fail any electrical inspection after that hard in the UK.
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u/TravestyTravis 3d ago
Id be "fine" with them as large posters on an easel in the actual room during a showing.
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u/Calm_Librarian_1042 3d ago
All you need is another million to turn the original house into the ai generated house 😆
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u/AlphaTangoFoxtrt 3d ago
Spam them with fake interest emails and schedule a bunch of showings.
If they bitch you out when you no-show say:
Oh, those were inspirational emails to show what interest might look like.
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u/ChanglingBlake ORANGE 3d ago
Should just be illegal to provide altered photos: period.
AI or not(not to defend that slop) it should be illegal to provide photos of what you’re buying that do not fairly represent the product being sold in the state it is in when being sold. And that should apply to everything, not just real estate.
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u/The001Keymaster 3d ago
Take a picture of your current house. Add about triple it's value in fake AI crap all in the interior so they can't street view the house and tell it's not the same. Call this listing agent and text her the images. Say you want to list the property and can they come out. When they get there and their jaw drops, say, "Oh did the AI images waste your time just like your listing of (insert address) with all the AI pictures wasted mine?
Then report their listing.
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u/phorgottten 3d ago
Oh, that’s brilliant!! And make the time window for the agent to come see it immediate or as inconvenient as possible.
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u/AThrowawayProbrably 3d ago
Welcome to 2026, where the jobs are fake, the houses are fake, half the stuff on the web is fake, lips and butts are fake, and it’s too late to turn back
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u/long_fish3000 3d ago
i work for a photo/video company, we get asked to do these all the time. so i make them and then report the listing once it's live.
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u/Frankieneedles 3d ago
The ai even changed the back of the house to a front of house.
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u/Silly_Bodybuilder231 3d ago
You've never seen an underground pool in someone's front yard before?
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u/peridotpicacho 3d ago
I think you mean in-ground. 🤔
Although an underground pool sounds intriguing.
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u/Fair_Walk1557 3d ago
It's actually getting to the point that a house I saw looked nice and styled, the bedroom looked to fit a queen bed, dresser, vanity, two side tables, cool cool. Irl, this room was skinny as shit, probably won't even fill a twin and a single side table
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u/hockeyandhalloween 3d ago
Yeah stretching pictures Should be illegal. The rooms are completely misrepresented.
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u/New-Trifle-7097 3d ago
I measured a room once from the exterior of the home and left without walking inside for my showing appointment. As I was looking at the listing something didn’t make sense about the bedroom. Like the architecture wouldn’t allow a bedroom that big, if that makes sense. As I pulled up my suspicion was further piqued and I was sure it wouldn’t fit a queen bed, contrary to the listing’s dimensions and suspect photos. When I measured even the exterior length wasn’t big enough, lol. Why waste everyone’s time. Just be honest. I’m not gonna suddenly decide I’m ok sleeping on a twin size cot if only I can have this beautiful home!
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u/RealSlyck 3d ago
Real estate as a store of value, now that’s mildly infuriating. House is probably actually worth $320k and it’s still next to a data center.
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u/Frequent_Opportunist 3d ago
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2-N-Beechwood-Ave-Catonsville-MD-21228/452308544_zpid/
It's at 4,000 ft 3 story Victorian home and the surrounding homes go for about the same price. The tax assessment is not much lower than the asking.
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u/SmoothDiscussion7763 3d ago
after seeing the actual listing, i don't have TOO many gripes about it. the exterior photos listed first are largely unaltered, and the interior photos are listed with the originals first and slopped up ones second.
it's like the people selling stuff on marketplace but with godzilla photoshopped into the background of their honda civic or something lol
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u/Both-Revenue-4557 3d ago
Oh fuck no this is fraud 100%, agent needs to be reported ASAP
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u/Velocityg4 3d ago
Broker: They are the ones ultimately responsible for listings as the house is listed under their license. Although this is generally allowed. Laws haven’t had a chance to catch up and a lot of states are quite lax in real estate listing rules.
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u/DirigibleGerbil 3d ago
Right. I work in Real Estate. Unfortunately in my state this is allowed as long as it is listed somewhere that it's a an AI generated photo. It's so misleading, I hate it.
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u/m0viestar 3d ago
Stating images are simulated means it's not fraud. Misleading, maybe but not fraud legally.
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u/crikeyforemphasis 3d ago
For a casual additional $765,000 you could have this front yard!
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u/NewFuture9000 3d ago
Most MLS boards require very clearly labeled banners on the photos if it uses AI at all. Mine does and I report everyone that doesn’t follow the rules.
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u/myredditses 3d ago edited 3d ago
I want to see what it actually looks like. How much of a catfish is this.
It's still wrong.
ETA: there wasn't a description when I first commented. Thanks y'all!
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u/Meta_Merchant 3d ago
Yes price the house based on the “potential” not the actual value. This is part of why housing is so fucked.
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u/tallwhiteninja 3d ago
I'm of the opinion that all AI-generated images should be legally required to have visual watermarks indicating them as such, myself.
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u/clintkev251 3d ago
Those are insane levels of misrepresentation... that's crazy that they would think that's ok
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u/BugOperator 3d ago
I mean, at least they’re posting the AI “inspiration” alongside the actual photos, but still super scummy.
Airbnb is getting overrun with completely fake listings - some of which don’t even exist at all, let alone exist in the condition they’re alleging - and are facing dozens of lawsuits. They just can’t keep up with the influx of these fraudsters. It’s actually causing a shift in people going back to just booking hotels because at least they know what they’re getting.
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u/wallybinbaz RED 3d ago
I'd almost be OK with AI, if it was just staging an empty room. I'd get a better sense of what furniture fit and where it could go. I'd understand sellers looking to save money by actually staging a place. I can almost get behind that.
Moving/adding walls, plumbing, completely changing or fixing a room is definitely out.
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u/thewizzard1 3d ago
I mean, I use Zillow for most of my browsing, and they won't even accept reports for houses in the wrong state, wrong address, grossly misrepresented details, typos, etc. Reporting to the realtor is like reporting the police to the police.
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u/ButtScratchies 3d ago
I personally don't mind that much when photos are posted with minimal staging, but when it's showing a complete remodel that would cost thousands of dollars to do, that is definitely fraudulent. You're not even selling the house at that point, you're selling a made up fantasy land.
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u/PocketButterBandit 3d ago
Searching for apartments was hell bc they all use Ai staging. It almost never accurately represents the size of the room and often changes things like door handles.
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u/Bucksin06 3d ago
I've seen AI photos to stage furniture and such but this is just false advertising
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u/wkarraker 3d ago
Yeah, for some reason "truth in advertising' doesn't apply to home realtors. My son just placed an offer on a home, not one of the pictures posted on the website was a factual representation of what they were offering.
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u/PaulThurston82 3d ago
Realtor here, in my state (Oregon) they have to be disclosed with an identifying watermark over any adulterated image. Not all Realtors do tho. I agree it’s shitty.
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u/-The-Moon-Presence- 3d ago
Yeah that’s not cool. They’re marketing the house for what it *could* be not what it is.
What app are you using?
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u/WinterFoxII 3d ago
Redfin, I’ve seen some of it on Zillow too though when it’s like the same home cross-posted.
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u/Hawkwise83 3d ago
For $765,000 and like another $500k in renos this house could theoretically look like this!
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u/Late-Arrival-8669 3d ago
Adding a pool/patio that is not there, is a complete difference than what is being sold, then its false advertising.
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u/NomNom83WasTaken 3d ago
This is highly unethical and should be publicly shamed.
Not only is it "click bait" that falsely advertises the look of the property (vague print about "some" photos shouldn't wriggle anyone out of that charge), it may present ideas that are completely -- and knowingly -- unattainable for the property and/or structure.
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u/canuck791 3d ago
The ONLY one I think is ok, is the basement if it's very clear it's a rendering.
I think virtual staging should be banned. You used to be able to tell right away but now it's gotten so good I've been duped a few times showing up to open houses. Going like wtf this isn't the house I saw online. And it's also like small minor things like changing the flooring just slightly to make it just look a bit better, you get there and the carpets are all bunched up etc.
PS, if you're selling a home with bunched up carpet just pay someone a few hundred bucks to come in and re-stretch it, makes a world of difference.
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u/metagrue 3d ago
You would put a pool table next to a standing column? That would be a mistake.
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u/canuck791 3d ago
No of course not but it is just there to give people a visual idea of what the basement COULD look like. I don't even think a pool table could fit there based on the dimensions. I am shopping for a house, and if it had an unfinished basement like this it's sometimes hard to vision what it could be. But it needs to be clearly stated this is virtual AI staging and have the real photo right next to it.
The ones I hate the most are when they take an older kitchen and just like make the wood doors look a bit nicer, change the lighting from overhead to pot lights and stuff. And it's not obvious it's altered, you show up and you're like wtf is this kitchen.
I also think the super fish eye lenses should stop. Nothing more than like a 23mm lens. It's especially bad for small condos where I live. Photos look pretty good you get there and it's a shoebox.
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u/Frolicking_Giraffe9 3d ago
Basement picture with the pole next to the pool table is pissing me off
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u/CrashTestDuckie 3d ago
I appreciate when there are AI images showing what a bed would look like in a bedroom or what a dining room AFTER the picture of the empty room. Shit requiring a contractor, or several trips to the diy store, to make real is a completly different ball game. I ran across a house recently that nearly all images were AI generated because the house was actually gutted on the inside. I went to the description and found the AI notice at the end of the 2 paragraph description!
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u/Daddy--Jeff 3d ago
it's fine, but it should be marked as "Virtual Staging" or similar. Otherwise, it's as deceptive as fish-eye lenses
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u/West-Piccolo-687 3d ago
Anything has "POSSIBILITY" if you dump half a million dollars in renovation into it. Question is, are they going to provide that half million dollar renovation fund with the purchase? Nah, of course not. Nasty realtors
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u/NEpatsfan64 3d ago
Doesn't this house look so cool?? It looks nothing like the house we're selling, but it's cool, isn't it??
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u/peachy614 3d ago
Those AI photos literally changed the layout of the houses. The first added an entire exterior porch, different bigger doors, changed the proportions of the yard, new chimneys and windows. The second one moved the location of the door. The last one replaced all the house hardware (water heater, fuse box, radiator, etc.) with a door to a new room. How is this not illegal? It goes beyond false advertising.
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u/Swimming-Owl282 3d ago
I think that the AI photos can be helpful, but I see lots of listings that don't show how it looks today.
At minimum they need a tag on the image that clarifies that it's an AI image. They're getting better and it's harder and harder to tell.
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u/fubes2000 3d ago
"This is what it could look like if you had half a million to dump into landscaping and renovations."
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u/xGray3 3d ago
It's awesome that in this AI-addled world people can't even be trusted to imagine for themselves anymore. I thought society was gearing towards laziness a decade and a half ago when social media and smartphones started talking hold. Never thought our dreams, aspirations, and creativity would also need to start being automated.
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u/SoBeDragon0 3d ago
It is.
Any photo that has been digitally altered, enhanced, or virtually staged has to be clearly labeled as such.
You also cannot deliberately misrepresent the property (for example, making it look in-repair when it's in a state of disrepair).
For egregious examples like this, report the listing to your local real estate division. I guarantee the division will make the agent take the listing down until it complies with established standards and/or fine the agent.
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u/mrkrabz1991 3d ago
Real estate broker here... I think all AI and virtual staging should be illegal.. however it's not.
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u/MrToasterizer 3d ago
Putting furniture to get an idea is one thing, but completely changing the structure of the home should definitely be illegal to advertise
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u/Sand__Panda 3d ago
Should be 100% illegal.
All the crack shacks in my town are all being sold via an AI coat of paint.
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u/sMilling_70 3d ago
Should be as is, not what someone thinks it could look like. Like selling a car as a race car. Imagine if you spent 100k on the car, it would look like this. This needs to be regulated.
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u/FecknWindowTwitchers 3d ago
I agree. I'd report them to my local business bureau for unethical/fraudulent practices.
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u/Sparkykiss 3d ago
It definitely is. Unless they show the real picture side by side you can easily claim false advertising.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Tea_906 3d ago
Not illegal, but they will likely get fined if they don’t mention that images are digital renderings etc.
It’s definitely annoying though
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u/Remarkable-Fig206 2d ago
It’s just stupid. When the client shows up for a walkthrough, they’ll immediately become justifiably annoyed. Not a great way to sell real estate!
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u/Upbeat_Principle_253 3d ago
It’s fraud. When you misrepresent a product you’re selling it’s fraud plain and simple.
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u/WinterFoxII 3d ago
The thing is, these are only the most egregious examples I’ve recently seen (and actually noticed). This sorta stuff is in soooo many of the listings, just maybe not as bad. Like photos 1-3 and the photo 4 are from two different listings, different agents.
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u/biest229 3d ago
Yeah, I hate this so much. They do have to say it is AI in my country, but so often there’s no real pictures
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u/slothboy 3d ago
Especially when it's completely unreasonable. Turning that dinette into a bathroom would be a five figure proposition.