Pitfalls of Retouched Real Estate Photos in Poland

Published on September 29, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

In the current context of the Polish real estate market, one of the well-hidden tricks involves the excessive use of retouched photos to promote properties. These images, seemingly attractive at first glance, can often give a misleading impression of the actual condition of properties for sale or rent.

While technology makes sophisticated editing tools accessible, potential buyers and tenants risk discovering disappointing realities during physical visits, far from the promises enhanced by these snapshots.

Understanding Real Estate Listings in Poland

Real estate listings in Poland typically feature a standardized structure highlighting essential elements for potential buyers or tenants. Here is a detailed overview of typical components, the vocabulary used, and precautions to take when reading these listings.

Typical Elements of a Polish Real Estate Listing:

Element	Description
Living area	Expressed in square meters (m²), often under “Powierzchnia” or abbreviated as “pow.”
Number of rooms	Indicated as “Liczba pokoi,” sometimes abbreviated as “pok.”
Location	Exact address or neighborhood, frequently mentioned in the title
Property type	Apartments (“mieszkanie”), houses (“dom”), studios (“kawalerka”), etc.
Floor	Often noted as “piętro” (e.g., 3/5 = 3rd floor out of 5)
Year of construction	Specified under “Rok budowy”
Availability	Date when the property is available

Common Terms and Abbreviations:

• m² – square meters
• pok. – rooms
• kawalerka – studio (one room)
• M4/M3 – M followed by a number indicates total number of rooms (e.g., M4 = 4 rooms)
• balkon/loggia/taras – balcony/loggia/terrace
• czynsz adm. – monthly administrative fees
• do remontu/gotowe do zamieszkania – needs renovation/ready to move in
• winda/parter/poddasze/piwnica/garaż/miejsce parkingowe/ogródek/klimatyzacja/ogrzewanie miejskie/c.o./internet/wspólnota/spółdzielnia
  • Elevator/ground floor/attic/basement/garage/parking space/garden/air conditioning/city heating/central heating/internet/homeowners association/cooperative

Some terms can be confusing, for example:

• “Pokój” refers to a room but does not include the kitchen or bathroom.
• “Piętro” starts at the ground floor (“parter”), so a property on the “1st floor” may be above the ground floor.
• Mentions of “do remontu” can hide significant renovation work.

Presentation by Agencies and Owners:

Retouched Photos

It is common for listings to use heavily retouched photos, taken with wide-angle lenses, visually enlarging interior space or altering lighting to make the property more attractive than in reality. Some images also show modern furniture not included in the sale/rental, which can mislead about the actual condition of the home.

Exaggerated Descriptions

Descriptions often emphasize strengths (“bright,” “ready to move in”) while downplaying potential flaws (“needs refreshing,” a euphemism for requiring renovation).

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Practical Tips for Deciphering a Polish Real Estate Listing:

1. Systematically verify all numerical data (actual vs. advertised area, exact number of rooms).
2. Always ask if the furniture visible in the photos is included.
3. When a listing mentions “do remontu,” plan a thorough visit and anticipate a significant renovation budget.
4. Be wary of overly perfect photos; request more showing each room from multiple angles.
5. Check the cadastral plan if available and verify the legal status with the land registry (“księga wieczysta”).
6. Prefer visiting several similar properties to establish a realistic comparative basis.

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⚠️ It is essential to adopt a critical approach when examining Polish real estate listings—never rely solely on images or superlatives used in their description!

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Summary Checklist:

• Verify each technical detail (area, actual number of rooms)
• Inquire about inclusion/exclusion of presented furniture
• Demand more than three representative photos per property
• Always conduct a physical visit before any decision

How to Avoid Scams Through Retouched Photos

Image editing technologies, including artificial intelligence and specialized software, allow for deep modifications to the appearance of real estate properties presented online. They can adjust brightness, color saturation, remove flaws, or even virtually enlarge a room. While minor visual enhancements are acceptable (contrast or exposure adjustments), any modification that alters the reality of the property—such as hiding a crack or falsifying proportions—is considered misleading and illegal.

Risks Associated with Retouched Photos in Real Estate:

• Misleading presentation of a property (exaggerated spaces, hidden defects).
• Artificially vibrant colors not matching reality.
• Altered lighting ambiance giving a false impression.

To Avoid Scams Related to These Practices:

Common Signs of Retouching	Explanations
Abnormally perfect straight lines	Walls appear without any irregularities or distorted angles.
Overly saturated colors	Vibrant green for an average garden, bright blue sky even in bad weather.
Suspicious reflections in mirrors/windows	Objects absent or inconsistent with the actual room.
Complete absence of imperfections	No signs of wear or minor visible defects on floors/walls/furniture.

Practical Checklist for Protection:

• Always visit the property: compare every detail with published photos.
• Request additional photos, taken from different angles and at different times; this limits the risk that only advantageous images were selected.
• Check metadata (date/time): ask the seller/agency if possible for original files containing this information.
• Analyze with digital tools such as Google Images to search if the photo has been used elsewhere; use TinEye to detect reuse; employ FotoForensics to identify certain types of manipulations through ELA (Error Level Analysis).

Example Integration into the Process:

1. Retrieve all available images of the real estate property.
2. Run each image through a tool like FotoForensics to identify potentially modified areas.
3. Cross-reference these results with a reverse search on Google Images/TinEye to exclude any obvious fraud related to the origin of the photos.

It is essential that this verification always accompanies a physical visit before any financial commitment.

Tips for Verifying a Real Estate Listing

Photos in Polish real estate listings are frequently retouched to make properties more attractive. Common techniques include adjusting brightness, contrast, color correction, removing unwanted objects, or even virtual staging (digitally added furniture). These modifications can sometimes give a misleading impression of the property’s actual condition.

Table of Main Retouching Techniques and Their Detection

Technique Used	Desired Effect	Signs to Watch For
Brightness/contrast	Make space brighter	Overexposed or too white areas
Color correction	Whitened walls, vibrant colors	Unrealistic or saturated colors
Object removal	Hide defects/annoying furniture	Visual distortions/anomalies
Virtual staging	Add furniture/decor	“Floating” furniture, absent shadows
Day-to-night conversion	Create different ambiance	Inconsistencies in exterior light

To spot these manipulations, observe carefully:

• The consistency of shadows and reflections
• Unusual repetition of patterns
• Objects that seem to “float” or have an artificial rendering

Online Tools to Verify Images:

• Google Images: reverse search to check if the photo is from another listing.
• TinEye: identifies where an image has been used before.
• FotoForensics: analyzes potential digital modifications (suspicious areas in the shot).

Lighting and shooting angle play a major role in perception. A wide angle can artificially enlarge space; photographing in very bright weather sometimes masks certain defects.

Tips When Contacting Agents/Owners

• Request additional photos from different angles
• Demand a recent video (virtual tour)
• Ask specific questions about non-visible defects (plumbing condition, windows…)
• Verify that all mentioned rooms are illustrated

List of Relevant Questions to Ask:

1. How long ago were the photos taken?
2. Do they accurately represent the current condition?
3. Have there been any recent renovations? If so, which ones?
4. What elements are not shown in the images?

A physical visit remains indispensable to compare the actual property with its digital presentation and avoid any disappointment due to excessive retouching.

Finally, it is essential to compare several similar listings in the same neighborhood/segment to obtain a realistic view of the Polish real estate market and detect any glaring inconsistencies between different similar offers.

Be vigilant about overly perfect listings—systematically cross-reference digital information with on-site observations.

The Importance of a Realistic Virtual Tour

A realistic virtual tour, faithful to the real estate property’s reality, offers numerous advantages to potential buyers in Poland:

• Total immersion and facilitated projection: It allows interactive exploration of the premises. The buyer can move freely through each room, observe details, and imagine themselves in the space. This immersion provides an accurate perception of volumes, layout, and the property’s general condition.
• Reduction of unpleasant surprises: A faithful rendering strongly limits the risk of discrepancy between the online presentation and reality during the physical visit. Expectations are aligned with what the property actually offers, reducing disappointments related to hidden or embellished elements.
• Creation of a trust relationship:
  • The seller or agency offering honest content more easily inspires trust.
  • Perceived transparency reduces fears of being deceived by advantageous but misleading photographs.
  • This fosters a climate conducive to serene negotiation.

Comparative List: Realistic Virtual Tour vs Retouched Photos

Criterion	Realistic Virtual Tour	Retouched Photos
Fidelity	Very high	Low (risk of enhancement)
Projection	Total immersion	Limited to certain angles
Risk of surprise	Low	High
Transparency	Maximum	Often low
Trust	Strengthened	Weakened

Limitations of Retouched Photos:

• They often create false expectations, as they hide defects, actual proportions, or the property’s true brightness.
• The buyer may feel a sense of deception upon visiting—which directly harms customer satisfaction.
• Such a practice can negatively impact the professional reputation of the seller or real estate agency.

Impact on Customer Satisfaction and Reputation:

An honest experience durably increases the recommendation rate as well as positive reviews.

• Fewer cancellations after physical visits
• Higher rate of serious offers from first contact
• Customer reviews valuing “transparency” and “seriousness”
• Marked competitive differentiation

In conclusion:
Offering a realistic virtual tour is not just a modern service; it is a strategic choice to durably establish trust, customer satisfaction, and a solid reputation among real estate buyers in Poland.