LESSON 7: BASIC PHOTO REQUIREMENTS Flashcards
Property Inspection requires at least 7 Core photos and 2 occupancy supporting photos if occupied for a total of 9 photos.
Some clients may indicate fewer photos based on the instructions)
Core – Front, Front/Left and Front/Right Core – Address Number Core – Street Scene – Both directions Core – Street Sign Two Occupancy Indicators (if occupied).
*If the work order states that only 1 photo is required or that no photos are required, disregard and take a minimum of 6 photos.
Front
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ADRESS VERIFICATION:
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STREET SCENE
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The (2) two required occupancy photos can be of anything that you see at the property that leads you to believe the property is occupied. For Example:
Lights turned on (Exterior light, doorbell light, porch light, etc.)
Trash cans set out along with everyone else’s trash cans
Car in the driveway (Worst occupancy indicator. Neighbors often park their cars at vacant houses to make the house look occupied.)
Pets in window
The (2) two required occupancy photos can be of anything that you see at the property that leads you to believe the property is occupied. For Example:
Personal property
Volt stick photo at the front door (if available) showing electric is on
Vehicle tracks in mud or snow
Holiday decorations
Kids toys
Dog outside
Anything else that helps to prove the property is occupied
Important Considerations:
The photos we provide our clients must be clear and sharp.
Your cell phone must be set to the correct date and time.
Take photos with your cell phone held sideways to enable broad view photos. (Landscape)
MISSING ADDRESS AND MISSING STREET SIGN
On InspectorADE as well as the NMFS.com website in the Back Office there are two photos provided that you should download, print, and place back to back in a plastic protective sheet.
Throw it in your vehicle to snap a photo of it if the property does not have an address or if the street sign is missing.
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ALL PHOTOS MUST BE IN LANDSCAPE MODE!
*Make sure Auto - Rotation is turned on at ALL times!
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Full picture of front of house:
When taking front photos make sure you take the full front. Take a photo that covers the entire front roof line. Make sure there is at least 5% air space on each side. That way your clients can see the entire width of the house.
Unacceptable Picture :
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Unacceptable Picture :
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Blurry photos are unacceptable :
Although some companies in the industry call our inspections “Drive-by” inspections, do NOT take the phrase literally.
Photos like the one below are NOT acceptable. Blurry photos, fingers in your photos and cockeyed photos are never acceptable.
NO CAR PARTS IN THE PHOTO… EVER! Photos that have car parts will generate a Follow-Up which requires that you go back and take better photos.
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Do NOT take pictures through vehicle windows :
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Make sure your cell phone has the correct date and time set. InspectorADE uses your devices time settings and imprints this onto your photos. No need to set your camera to print the date and time on the photos. InspectorADE does this automatically.
Every photo you take contains an Exif file for information about the photo. This is where the GPS, date and time stamps are picked up from.
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NEVER REUSE PHOTOS:
Never use photos from previous inspections!
Never use photos from Google Maps or any other mapping program.
Never use photos from realtor sites.
NEVER REUSE PHOTOS:
All photos taken must be from you at the time of the inspection. Some inspections are repeated month after month. There must be a new set of photos each and every time.
Never try to crop a previous photo or alter previous photos to make it look like a new photo. This is grounds for immediate dismissal by any client you work for.
Don’t be stubborn or bull-headed about your front photos. If there is a big tree or other obstacle blocking a front shot, move to the left or right to get a clear photo of the front of the house.
UNACCEPTABLE PHOTO:
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When taking photos be cognizant of what the photo will look like after you snap the shot. Be careful of house windows and glass patio doors that will reflect your image back to the photo. Even taking photos of your shadow indicates an amateur inspector.
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TRY NOT TO CAST SHADOWS:
Some forms require printing like Vacancy Certifications, Insurance Loss forms etc. Holding your camera directly over the form without casting shadows in important. Blurry photos are unacceptable. You can also scan the completed form as a PDF which is the preferred method. Get close to your form and keep the shot inside the edges of the paper.
Correct way to Snap a Photo of a Form:
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ore photos to include on every inspection are: (Except if the instructions say fewer)
Front, sidewalk, roof line and fence
Front, cars, driveway and street sign
Front, front left, front right, address, street sign, neighborhood in each direction, and photos to show what you are looking at that makes you feel the property is occupied.
Front, left, right, middle
Front, front left, front right, address, street sign, neighborhood in each direction, and photos to show what you are looking at that makes you feel the property is occupied.
In addition to the 7 core photos there are 2 other occupancy photos showing…
That the property is occupied.
That the property is vacant.
That the property is in good condition.
That the property is for sale.
That the property is occupied.
Photos supporting occupancy can be holiday decorations and a porch light.
True
False
True
Photos supporting occupancy can be the occupants themselves.
True
False
False
When taking the front photo it should show…
The middle half of the house only.
Either the left half or the right half.
The entire front roof line of the property with 5% airspace on the sides.
20% Roof line and 80% neighborhood.
The entire front roof line of the property with 5% airspace on the sides.
Landscape view is when you turn your phone sideways.
True
False
True
All photos must be in Portrait view or Selfie mode.
True
False
False
Any photo with part of your vehicle showing is okay as long as it is not blurry.
True
False
False
Side mirrors are okay to be in the photo if no other photo can be obtained.
True
False
False
Photos through your car window is acceptable as long as it has been at least a week since you last washed your windows.
True
False
False
Acceptable photos can be those taken from…
A realtors website.
Previous inspections
Google maps but not Bing maps.
Your own camera at the time of the inspection only.
Your own camera at the time of the inspection only.
If something like a car or a big tree is obstructing your photo you should re-position yourself to take a better photo.
True
False
True
A photo showing your reflection on a window or storm door is acceptable.
True
False
False
