How to Remove Listing Photos from NWMLS (Seattle & Bellevue) | Get Happy at Home
- Ryan Palardy,
- October 14, 2025
How to Remove Your Home’s Photos from the MLS (Seattle & Bellevue)
Last verified: October 14, 2025
Worried about privacy after you buy a home?
In the Seattle–Bellevue area, listing photos live inside the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) and are widely syndicated. Good news: you can usually have the interior and “additional” photos taken down after closing. The primary exterior photo typically remains under NWMLS rules.Important up front: when you submit your request, state a reason. In practice, simply saying “privacy concerns” is clear and sufficient. You don’t need to share personal details—keep it simple and direct.
The Fastest Path: Ask NWMLS to Remove “Additional Photos”
Who to contact: Photos@nwmls.com (NWMLS Photo Support)
What to include (and how to phrase it)
- MLS number (e.g., MLS #1234567)
- Property address
- Your name(s) as current owner(s)
- Your reason (use: “For privacy concerns, we request removal of additional photos.”)
- A clear request: “Please remove all additional photographs and retain only the primary exterior photo.”
What happens next
NWMLS will typically suppress all additional photos from display on member firms’ public websites. The primary photo will remain (the default under NWMLS Rule 192). Propagation isn’t instant—expect a few days for updates to flow through broker sites.
Example (condensed): “NWMLS will remove the additional photographs of MLS# [xxxxxxx] from publication on member firm public websites. The primary photograph will still be displayed. It may take a few days. If photos were provided directly to other third-party sites, NWMLS cannot remove those.”
Copy/Paste Email Template (Owner → NWMLS)
To: Photos@nwmls.com
Subject: Removal of Listing Photos – [Property Address] – MLS #[Number]
Hello,
We are the current owners of [Property Address] (MLS #[Number]), and—for privacy concerns—we request removal of all additional listing photos. We understand the primary exterior photo will remain per NWMLS policy.
Owners: [Your Full Name(s)]
Best contact: [Email] / [Phone]
Thank you,
[Your Name]
Zillow & Redfin: What Happens After NWMLS Updates?
Once NWMLS suppresses your additional photos, Zillow and Redfin usually refresh automatically via their feeds. If a site received images directly from the listing brokerage or a vendor (outside NWMLS syndication), you may need to contact that site with a short removal request and proof of ownership.
- Typical flow: NWMLS suppression → brokerage sites update → Zillow/Redfin refresh shortly after.
- If you still see interiors: Confirm whether the listing firm uploaded to a photographer’s portal, virtual tour host, or microsite and ask them to remove those copies.
- Search-engine leftovers: Clear stale thumbnails using “remove outdated content” tools after the source pages update.
Why the Primary Photo Stays
NWMLS rules require a primary photo for off-market, customary uses and allow continued use by NWMLS and its members (see Rule 192 and the Photo Policy). Practically: you can remove the interior set but should expect one exterior image to remain visible.
What NWMLS Can’t Do (And How to Handle It)
- Third-party websites: If the listing brokerage directly provided photos to additional sites (beyond NWMLS syndication), NWMLS can’t pull those down.
Action: Ask the listing brokerage which vendors/portals they used (e.g., photographer galleries, virtual tour hosts, one-off landing pages). Contact those sites individually with a brief removal request and proof of ownership. - Search engines: Even after removal, image thumbnails and cached pages can linger.
Action: Use each search engine’s removal tool (“remove outdated content”) once the source page updates. - Public records: Owner names, sale price, and loan instruments come from county public records, not NWMLS. Removing photos won’t change that data elsewhere.
Step-by-Step: A Clean Removal & Web Hygiene Plan
- Email NWMLS (template above).
- Loop in your broker (we do this for clients). Confirm the listing firm removes photos from photographer portals, virtual tours, and any one-off landing pages.
- Track propagation (2–7 days is common). Re-check major brokerage sites, plus Zillow and Redfin.
- Search your address on Google/Bing. Screenshot stragglers.
- Submit removals to any remaining sites (simple “privacy concerns,” plus proof of ownership).
- Clear stale search results using search-engine “outdated content” tools after the source page is corrected.
- Re-check monthly for the next 2–3 months—syndication can have a long tail.
FAQs
Is “privacy concerns” really enough as a reason?
Yes. You don’t need to provide specifics—a concise privacy statement is generally sufficient.
Can I remove every photo everywhere?
No. The primary MLS photo typically remains; some portals or old marketing pages may require extra follow-up.
What proof of ownership should I send?
A recorded deed (or a redacted closing disclosure showing address + buyer names) usually works.
Do Zillow and Redfin update automatically after NWMLS suppression?
Usually yes, via their data feeds. If interiors persist, the site may have received photos outside of NWMLS (e.g., via a vendor). In that case, contact the site or ask the listing firm to remove the external copies.
Can tenants request removals?
Generally not without owner or listing-firm authorization. Tenants can request specific privacy edits (e.g., images showing security systems).
Pro Tips (Seattle & Bellevue)
1. Lead with privacy: Put “for privacy concerns” in the first sentence of your email—it speeds things up.
2. Minimize exposure in future sales: Avoid photos that reveal security gear, panel schedules, safes, or identifiable kids’ spaces.
3. Swap the primary if needed: If the primary photo shows more than you’d like, ask your broker about replacing it with a less revealing exterior that still complies with NWMLS rules.
4. Keep a private archive: Save your listing images locally before removal for insurance records or a future sale.
Want a hand removing your home’s photos?
We’re local to Seattle & Bellevue and happy to manage the process—quickly and discreetly. Get in touch
TL;DR
- Email Photos@nwmls.com and explicitly state “privacy concerns.”
- Ask to remove all additional photos; the primary exterior photo remains.
- Allow a few days for updates to propagate across brokerage sites, Zillow, and Redfin.
- Chase stragglers on third-party sites; clear search caches.
