Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Properties by Richa ("https://propertiesbyricha.com"). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website or use our services, including our integration with Instagram and Facebook services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you:

• Fill out contact forms or request information about our real estate services
• Subscribe to our newsletter or marketing communications
• Use our real estate tools and calculators (mortgage calculator, home valuation, etc.)
• Create an account or sign in using third-party authentication (Google, Apple)
• Communicate with us via email, phone, or other channels

This information may include your name, email address, phone number, property address, and any other information you choose to provide.

Information from Social Media Platforms

Our website displays content from Instagram to showcase our real estate listings and activities. When our administrative users connect their Instagram Business account to our platform, we access the following information through the Instagram Graph API:

• Instagram Profile Information: Username, profile picture, follower count
• Instagram Media: Photos, videos, captions, and timestamps of posts
• Facebook Page Information: Page name and ID (required for Instagram Business account access)

Important: We only access Instagram data from accounts that have explicitly authorized our application. We do not collect Instagram data from website visitors.

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information, including:

• Device information (browser type, operating system)
• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation paths
• Referring website or source

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Provide Real Estate Services: To respond to inquiries, schedule consultations, and assist with buying or selling properties
• Display Social Media Content: To show Instagram posts on our website, providing visitors with up-to-date content about our listings and activities
• Improve Our Website: To analyze usage patterns and enhance user experience
• Communicate With You: To send updates, newsletters, and marketing materials (with your consent)
• Comply With Legal Obligations: To fulfill legal requirements and protect our rights

Instagram and Facebook Data Usage

Our use of Instagram and Facebook data is limited and specific:

• Purpose: We use Instagram data solely to display the real estate agent's Instagram feed on our website
• Data Storage: Instagram access tokens are securely stored and encrypted. Post content is cached temporarily (up to 1 hour) to improve website performance
• No Data Selling: We do not sell, rent, or share Instagram or Facebook data with third parties for their marketing purposes
• No Data Modification: We only read data from Instagram; we do not post, modify, or delete content on behalf of users
• Revocation: Users who have connected their Instagram account can disconnect at any time through our admin settings, which immediately removes their access tokens from our system

How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Service Providers: With trusted third-party vendors who assist in operating our website and services (hosting, analytics, email services)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or governmental authority
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
• With Your Consent: When you have given us explicit permission to share your information

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of sensitive data in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest
• Secure storage of authentication tokens and credentials
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Access controls limiting data access to authorized personnel only

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law. Specifically:

• Contact Information: Retained while we have an ongoing relationship and for a reasonable period thereafter
• Instagram Tokens: Retained until the user disconnects their account or the token expires
• Cached Content: Instagram posts are cached for up to 1 hour and then refreshed
• Analytics Data: Retained in accordance with our analytics provider's policies

Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal requirements
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time
• Data Portability: Request your data in a portable format
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing where consent is the legal basis

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• The right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
• The right to delete personal information held by businesses
• The right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
• The right to non-discrimination for exercising your CCPA rights

We do not sell personal information as defined by the CCPA.

Third-Party Links and Services

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services, including Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: