# The apartment owner wants to take pictures of my unit. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 25, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642 "2012-08-25T21:52:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/1 "2012-08-25T21:52:49Z")
I live in a nice little apartment in a really gross building/area. I originally lived in a bachelor suite down one floor but when this one came available, I moved up one floor to this one bedroom apartment. The reason it’s so nice is because the lady who lived here before me was a hoarder and destroyed the place. When she lived here the patio was full from top to bottom with crap and you couldn’t see into the windows at all because there was stuff up to the ceiling blocking the windows. When she left they were forced to gut the place, putting in new carpets, linoleum, appliances, bathroom fixtures, walls fixed and painted, new counters. It was like a brand-new apartment. It’s also nice because virtually every piece of furniture in here is new. When I moved into the bachelor suite, I hardly had any furniture and bought the things I needed. When I moved upstairs to the one bedroom, I had a front-room/dinning area so I bought new furniture for those areas as well. While I was at it I decided to buy a new queen’s sized bed and wrought-iron bed-frame. I’m their favourite tenant because I pay my rent, on time, with cheques that don’t bounce! Because I was a good tenant, they gave me a reduced rent rate for the one bedroom. They own a bunch of apartments around the area and I guess they have some vacancies and want to post an add online so they want some pictures to go with the add and my place is the nicest and I usually keep it very clean. Here’s the funny thing, when the building manager came to my door to ask me about the owners taking pictures, my place was a complete and total disaster! I mean a real mess. There was a huge storm here a couple of days ago which took out the power so I had to start pulling stuff out of the storage area (using my phone as a light) to try to find a flashlight. So there’s just junk everywhere. I also had a really bad period all last week and after work all I would do is come home, eat something, clean nothing and go to bed, leaving trails of clothes all around every room. When she came, I had to open the door and then stand in the hall to talk to her so she wouldn’t see my filth. She said the reason they want to use my place is because it’s always so clean and tidy. Guess I’m doing lots of housework this weekend! ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/2 "2012-08-25T21:55:11Z")
Nuttin’ like motivation to clean! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/3 "2012-08-25T22:22:23Z")
I don’t think the managers have the right to photograph your unit. If you really want to show it off, I suggest Chatroulette or similar. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/4 "2012-08-25T22:30:49Z")
Why not just invite her over for drinks and show her your unit? You might not want pics of it to end up all over the internet. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/5 "2012-08-25T22:50:15Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Nuttin’ like motivation to clean! 😃 I’m cleaning like a…I don’t know, something that likes to clean. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I don’t think the managers have the right to photograph your unit. If you really want to show it off, I suggest Chatroulette or similar. But then I’d have to be naked. > [@Quintas](#): > > Why not just invite her over for drinks and show her your unit? You might not want pics of it to end up all over the internet. They want photos to go with the online add at various rental sites. I don’t have anything in my apartment that would identify just from photos of rooms. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/6 "2012-08-25T23:11:23Z")
I don’t get it. Is the landlord a friend or something? Do you owe her a favor? Some landlord can wait until you’re ready to sell her property, or deal with an untidy apartment. Not your problem. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/7 "2012-08-26T00:57:52Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > Why not just invite her over for drinks and show her your unit? You might not want pics of it to end up all over the internet. I’m glad it wasn’t just me thinking this :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/8 "2012-08-26T01:08:55Z")
Dang, I wanted to be first. Great minds think alike! ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/9 "2012-08-26T01:18:45Z")
Wait I think I missed something. Are you guys saying “unit=penis”? I think it got lost on me because I don’t have one! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/10 "2012-08-26T02:21:36Z")
Yes, unit can be slang for penis. Which is probably going to get this thread a lot more more clicks than it might have attracted otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/11 "2012-08-26T03:15:03Z")
Unit ensues. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/12 "2012-08-26T04:44:01Z")
If you lived in squalor, the thread title would be “The apartment owner wants to take pictures of my junk.” ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/13 "2012-08-26T15:18:04Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > Wait I think I missed something. Are you guys saying “unit=penis”? I think it got lost on me because I don’t have one! ah! now we are all clear. well, that was fun. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/14 "2012-08-30T18:52:16Z")
Kinda dishonest that they’re using the only renovated unit for the ad. ☹ If the other units don’t look like yours that sucks. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/15 "2012-08-30T19:48:12Z")
Why don’t they take pictures of the actual vacant units? ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/16 "2012-08-30T19:56:28Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Kinda dishonest that they’re using the only renovated unit for the ad. ☹ If the other units don’t look like yours that sucks. The other units do mostly suck. I’ve been in a couple when they were empty. > [@LionelHutz405](#): > > Why don’t they take pictures of the actual vacant units? I don’t know why they didn’t. They ended up not coming but I think if I am asked again, I’m going to find out why they don’t just take pictures of an empty one, or why not take pictures in the managers unit. I was glad they ended up not coming, I started feeling weirded out by it. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/17 "2012-08-30T21:35:21Z")
They need to take actual pictures of the actual units for rent. It’s dishonest otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/18 "2012-08-30T22:10:47Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > Wait I think I missed something. Are you guys saying “unit=penis”? I think it got lost on me because I don’t have one! Detachable? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/19 "2012-08-31T00:15:08Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > They need to take actual pictures of the actual units for rent. It’s dishonest otherwise. Well, maybe a little. No more than the food pictures in restaurant ads. Most apartment ads showed a furnished unit, even though very few are actually rented with furniture. Presumably the picture of the nice unit gets people to come out and look. They’ll presumably see the actual unit they are going to rent before signing a lease. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642/20 "2014-11-27T01:11:43Z")
Update: Today at work someone mentioned Walkscore and I thought I’d punch in my address to see what sort of score I got. “Oh hey, there’s my building” I thought…“ummm, there’s my kitchen! and my bathroom!!”. WTF?? I then remembered that two years ago they came to take pictures of my apartment and though I thought they didn’t end up doing it, obviously they did and my apartment is the one they put on the walkscore site. I’m slightly annoyed but I guess I don’t care enough to say anything to them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-apartment-owner-wants-to-take-pictures-of-my-unit/632642.md?page=2)