Did you know someone could be casing your property via Google Street View? Did you know the view into your backyard could be available to anyone with an internet connection? All this is possible via Google Maps, and all that is needed is your address and a web browser. Learn how to blur your house on Google Street View.
Now don’t get me wrong, Google Street View is a fantastic tool as it allows us to go around the world from the comfort of our home. We can go to different cities and countries with just a mouse click. It is super simple and so easy to use. People use it to plan their travel trips or familiarize themselves with the area and neighborhood before moving.
Before we proceed, one very important note: This article is only showing you how to blur your house on Google Street View, which might be just one step of many to stop a stalker. If you have an actual person stalking you, you might want to connect with the local authorities. The above image is for illustration purpose only, if you want to see how an actual blurred house looks like, please have a look here: Google Street View Blurred House
THE ISSUE
As good as Google Street View is for us to discover the world virtually, it is also a tool that might get used by burglars or stalkers to check out your property. If you haven’t done yet, go to Google Maps and type in your own home address and have a look at your property from street view and satellite view. You might be surprised what you can see, and that is indeed public available to anyone. Criminals are able to figure out specific entry and exit points or where to hide, etc. There is just so much that those images might be giving away.
In a very small amount of cases, you were able to look through the windows of a property which indeed becomes then a privacy issue.
Thankfully, Google is giving property owners an option to get their property blurred from Google Street view.
IMPORTANT TO KNOW
Before we go into the process of submitting the blur request, here are three very important things to keep in mind before moving forward:
- Blurring your house IS permanent
Google makes it very clear, once the property has been blurred, they won’t be able to unblur it. - This affects only Google Street View
Your property will be only blurred from Street View; it will still be visible from the Satellite view of Google Maps. As of now, only sensitive locations like military installations or prisons, etc., are getting blurred from the satellite view as well. - This is only for Google
You have to submit similar blur requests to other providers like Bing if you want your property to be blurred there as well. There is no single request that covers all providers.
In addition to the above points, here are a couple of downsides you should pay attention to as well:
- Some vendors or companies are relying on Street View for first quotes. A landscaping company might need access to Street View to give you a quote before driving to your property. The same might be true for construction, pressure washer, and maintenance companies.
- Selling your house might get more problematic because it can’t be viewed via Street View on property listing websites. A lot of sites are integrating Street View as a way of representing your property. That won’t be possible with a blurred property, and it might drive potential clients away.
- It could have the opposite effect and might be drawing more attention since some people might want to know what could be so special about that blurred property and now want to see it for sure.
Blur your house on Google Street View
After you have considered all the up and downsides, please follow the below steps:
- Go to Google Maps and enter your home address
- Enter into Street View mode by dragging the small yellow human-shaped icon, found in the bottom-right corner of the screen, onto the blue line on the street in front of your house
- With your house in view, click “Report a problem” in the bottom-right corner of the screen
- Center the red box on your home, and select “My home” in the “Request blurring” field
- Write down the reason why you want the property to be blurred. Example: You are concerned for your safety
- Enter in your email address, and click “Submit”
After your submission, all you can do is wait. It shouldn’t take longer than a couple of weeks for the change to appear on Google Street View, so make sure you keep checking. In some cases, you might get a notification from Google with a request for more details.
CONCLUSION
Blurring your house makes definitely sense if you have any safety or privacy concerns. However, it comes with a couple of downsides as well. You’ll have to figure out the best solution for a situation as this is, as mentioned, a permanent blur.
– Stay safe!