Wondering what happened to that Georgian Colonial house that I showed you yesterday? I loved that post because I enjoy houses that are a little unusual or interesting like that one, but I heard the homeowners weren’t so pleased by the attention.
When another blog — For What It’s Worth — linked to my post and showed a few of the photos from the MLS listing, the homeowners had an attorney threaten him with legal action unless he took them down. It seems they weren’t happy with the comments being made about their house. The letter stated that they felt the post would make it more difficult for them to sell it.
The other blog still has some of the photos and the original post about mine if you want to see it there, or read about the drama that has unfolded as a result on his site. He is fighting it and has championed my right to post the photos, as well. Rather than argue with attorneys or upset the homeowners, however, I decided to respect their wishes and voluntarily took the post down today.
If you’re one of my readers, then you know I try to maintain a friendly site, so I felt that removing the photos was the best decision for my blog. Thanks for understanding! -Julia
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No reason not to take it down. You did the right thing.
I totally think you did the right thing Julia. I hope that family isn’t mad at you at all!
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I would have thought a bit of free advertising would help the sale!? You can please some of the people some of the time….
It’s your blog and I’ll support whatever your choice. It’s too bad the homeowners felt that way. I’m sure they had a lot more hits than expected…you never know who is looking for what. As far as the house itself, it was a little over done (decor wise) for my taste but decor is easily changed. If a home has good bones/structure it will sell. This is a very challenging market and getting traffic to see what’s available isn’t always easy to get. I hope all works out for them (homeowners).
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I would have done the same thing. Some people, geez!
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If I’m thinking of the right house the owners should know if people on a blog are making some derogatory comments, then people viewing their home on a listing or viewing it in person are making some of those same remarks. They should be grateful to you and re-dress the house to a more neutral tone, it’s dressed now for the comfort of one particular family, it was definitely not decorated with re-sale in mind.
You did the right thing though by removing the pictures from your blog.
Oooo, exciting.
I would think that being on the MLS is as public as it gets, but to each his own.
It was nice of you to take it off.
duchess’s last blog post..Let’s go on a picnic
Good stuff Julia! Maybe I can contact them and help them with staging! LOL! Just kidding….
~Misti
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You *would* think that getting publicity would probably help the sale of the house. ::shrugs::
those of us with google reader can still see it;)
The ONLY reason that house won’t sell is because of the ‘imagnative’ decor. Because most people can NOT see past other people’s taste, something I just don’t get – (what do I care what people have painted or decorated with? I always rearrange any house I go into – with MY ideas – not the owners!) But many realtors say that most people just can’t picture their own things in a house with other people’s over abundance of personal items and decor, i.e. keep it neutral if you’re wanting to sell. And when you have a house such as this, with eye popping colors and such I’m afraid that most people won’t even consider it. The owners are being very emotional about their house – fair enough. But with the attitude they have shown about pictures being posted, well I’m afraid that a year from now they will still be living there. *and by the way Julia, you weren’t wrong in any way to post it here and you took the higher ground in removing it asap when you knew there was a fuss about it.
Julia,
I agree with Karen. The moral high ground is always a safe place to stand!
janet’s last blog post..HOUSE TOUR
I guess I’m in the minority here, but I don’t think you should have removed the post. I was able to see it through the other blog, and you didn’t say anything derogatory about the house. Even the comments I read (I didn’t go through all of them) weren’t mean or hurtful. Most people had something positive to say.
But, you have to do what you feel is right. And if you feel that the right thing to do is remove it, then that’s cool.
Kelly @ DesignTies
DesignTies’s last blog post..Newel post dilemma
They should take your readers comments & realize that’s what most people are going to think when they look at their home. It is a beautiful home on the outside & VERY over the top on the inside. Just imagine the personality behind that decorating!! Wow.
I think they were being a little over sensitive threatening legal action. My husband is a an IP attorney (patents & copyrights), I checked with him. He said, whoever took the photos has the legal right to them. He said, “Usually people don’t care, unless they are being total douc#ebags” (pardon the NY lawyer talk). It seems this is the case this time. Sorry, you did the right thing & did not make fun of their house. You merely had it on your blog. They overreacted big time.
You rock Julia!!
That was nice of you to take down the post for them. I thought the house was refreshing to see such a bold use of color. It was very interesting and really a lovely house. I would tone things down if I were the one living there, or if I were the one trying to sell it to the masses who expect neutrals.
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Ditto what Karen said. They should know that the people who are touring their home are probably thinking the same exact things, and possibly have a list of changes written down already. You did the right thing.
Amanda @ Serenity Now’s last blog post..High Fashion (?)
Well, isn’t that something? Hunh.
Holly’s last blog post..Thrift Store Thursday
I think you did the right thing. Why turn it into a nasty battle. But I hope they printed out the comments first. They’re going to need them to sell that baby!
Shannon’s last blog post..The Girl Who Cried Wolf
Julia, I totally respect your decision and understand your position. (I’d probably have done the same). My, you’re wielding some power aren’t you!
Ironic, that instead of opening their eyes and seeing all the negative comments as a detriment to the possibilty of a sale, they don’t instead take them as a red flag to change something. Someone is very thin-skinned indeed….
With that being said, I’ve watched HGTVs “Designed to Sell” and all the others enough to know that a space that personalized will have to jump through a three ring circus of hoops to sell. ….Come to think of it, that’s what it looks like!!! A three ring circus!
I’m sure you don’t need the drama in your life. I would do the same thing.
~Kim
Kim @ Everything Etsy’s last blog post..DIY Craft Studio Desk
ouch !! you poor wee thing – this kind of attention was undeserved – for you I mean – you are nothing but sweetness and light – and I admire your professionalism to the nth degree – my best le
le’s last blog post..Lovin’ LinkWithin
Julia, I think you did the right thing. Let them fight it out…you did nothing wrong. That’s house wasn’t that bad…or maybe it was. Anyway, we’ve got your back.
Puna’s last blog post..Pearly Whites
I am from around Greenwich, CT and let me tell you, they define the words snooty and snobby. You did the right thing by taking it down. The last thing you want to do is get some attorney involved. Keep up the good work!
jennifer’s last blog post..
Oh brother. They should listen to some of the things that people are saying about their house, and they should make some changes. The negative comments are not going to keep them from selling their house, their “interesting” decor is. Jeesh.
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If I was thinking of purchasing the place, I would be more weary of the sellers immediate use of a lawyer because a few people who have no intention of buying in the market, let alone the house in question, post some perceived disparaging comments. It seams to me just a little quick on the attorney trigger. A note form the owner would be best, followed by the listing agent.
Although I might grow weary of them, I would first be WARY of them.
Sometime spell check is not our friend.
I give up no more typing today.Ther is a tile sau callng my name.
It was the higher road to remove the photos per their request. However, as pp said, it is more free advertising and our comments here aren’t going to kill a sale. True buyers will walk in and say the same things we did here. Or, a person may have passed it onto a serious buyer. Real estate is very emotional but hopefully the sellers will take some comments to heart and make some more neutralizing changes. And I thank them for the idea of making a Parchesi rug!
Nan (Playful Decor)’s last blog post..Hooked On Moving (not!)
I for one am grateful for the kerfluffle over this house. I found your blog through a link at CF’s blog. I LOVE your site and am busy browsing all the beautiful paint colors people have chosen. I’m in heaven!
Some things are worth fighting for, and one of them is free speech. Unlike most of the people here that would rather just get along, I think you should not have taken the post down. Will you take down every post that offends one person somewhere on earth? Those people were simply bullies, and the only way to stop that kind of behavior is to stand up to them. They had no cause of action, and they knew it, but apparently they knew that the mere mention of an “argument with attorneys” was enough to stifle your speech (and there are attorneys that do nothing but defend free spech on the internet, for free). Most unfortunate.
I’m an attorney and I am offended that you took down the post. I hereby make demand that you put it back, or I will file a lawsuit against you for offending me.
Okay, I can’t actually do that. But, my ersatz legal demand above has about as much foundation in the law as the moronic demand letter that scared you into taking it down in the first place.
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Thanks to everyone who took the time to weigh in on this. I appreciated all of your comments. For me it was a personal issue rather than a legal one. If the homeowners didn’t want me to post their photos, then I felt I should respect their wishes. -Julia
Oh, how silly of the homeowners! Anyone with an ounce of sense knows that when you put photos on the internet of your home people are free to post and comment as they like. Jeez. A lawyer? That says to me that there is something more going on with this house than simple photos. Let’s hope who buys it has a really good home inspector.
Julia – good for you for sticking to your principals.
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