Okay..Is it just me or are you guys frustrated with the increasing photo requirements that these companies are putting on us. I feel that my quality is probably lacking a bit because I do not have time to actually look at the subject. I am too busy trying to get a front photo, street (sometimes both directions) sides, address verification, etc. It is hard to get all of that on an occupied property without them noticing you out there. I have been doing this for almost 9 years now and I miss the days of just a subject photo, maybe a street scene. Uggh..Okay I am done venting.

Yes, frustrated and increasingly leery of hanging around long enough to get them all. I made the mistake of doing several drives down the street to get enough photos. Got noticed on third drive-by a couple of times and chased, so now I snap as fast as possible and get the heck out of there.

If I park and sit streetside among other parked cars sometimes am not noticed and can discreetly do the photo snaps.

Got any suggestions on getting required photos while acting invisible and hoping that mind over matter protects me...maybe I need a "beam me up" electronic doohickey to get me outa there fast!

Ok, I understand front and street it's easy to take without being noticed. But how could you take an address verification picture that fast and without leaving your car? Do you all have 100+X optical zoom on your cameras?

i never get out of my car...whether its for address or whateve..when they ask for a drive by, i take them seriously!

Not 100x... 12x OPTICAL zoom and it's plenty (sometimes I wish I had more, but I don't need a big bulky camera). If you have less than 6x you need a new camera.

We've discussed this, but it has been a while... here's my plan...

Take a photo of the street sign, that seperates my pics for me. If it's on the same block, I take the street view from the corner.

Start driving... if it's on the left I start watching and stop 2 houses early and get first side shot. Notice where the damn house number is. If it's on the right I just find it and drive past.

If on the right, drive a couple houses past and flip a u-ey. If I need to, take the street scene while I'm doing my u-ey. Stop a few houses before and take side. and find number again

Drive right in front, pull over to right. Take front shot, zoom in for address. I always zoom in for address, but if I forget, or if Big Momma comes out with her rolling pin, I can crop an address out of the front shot... that's why I always take hi-res 5MPix shots. Always.

If I can, drive a little past and take the otherside back over my shoulder (well out the window, but pointing back.

Wham bam thank you m'amm.

If someone comes out yelling, roll up window and move on. If someone's in the front yard, depending on circumstances, I usually just tell 'em I need photos for the bank. 9 times they say fine. 10th time I put the camera down, apologize and drive on... to the corner where I get a picture with that 12x zoom.

LOL!!!

"if Big Momma comes out with her rolling pin..."
Hilarious!

and if they ask why the bank needs a photo? Tell them "you think their mortgage is being sold again." That always brings a smile on their face. 'Then snap, shot and get the dickens out of there'

I love this Real Estate Paparazzi work. I think I need help!

Ron, thats a good idea, except the people I always find in front of their homes don't speak english.

That could be problematic! Have you tried pressing [2] on your digital camera?

Ron, Ok I don't get it. Maybe I've been sitting in front of the computer too long today.

When you place a call and you get voice mail, it generally goes like this... Press [1] for English Press [2] for Spanish etc..

por espanol, marque dos...(that should ring a bell)

Here are some helpful phrases for you.

¡Hola!
¿Cómo está?
¿Habla Ud. inglés?
Discúlpeme por hablar tan mal el español.
¿Podríais decirme adónde puedo comprar un poco queso, por favor?
Gracias, ¡Que tenga un buen día!

I hope that helps.

My camera has a button number #3! I think it is for Chinese language!
It is only 10X zoom!
I wish when i spent money i bought 14X zoom as there are some homes further from road and then i have to leave vehicle and take chance of being shot at in rural areas!

OK, That is funny.

Amplet, I know the first three, the rest aren't going to get me shot are they?

Too funny Ron!
ps - press 1 for english

Discúlpeme por hablar tan mal el español. Excuse my poor spanish.
¿Podríais decirme adónde puedo comprar un poco queso, por favor? Can you tell me where I can buy some cheese, please.

Gracias, ¡Que tenga un buen día! Thank you, have a good day.

Wont get you shot, but they sure wil look at you funny and probably let you go.

amplet-you speak Spanish like a Mexi-fornian. Not bad for MN.

You'd make a killing here with the first time buyers!

I speak spanish very poorly. 4 years of Spanish and I can only write a few phrases. My Minnesota "long O's" get in the way.

Beleive it or not, but we have a very large Hispanic population here. 200,000+ persons identifying themselves as Latino. Not CA numbers, but enough for the Feds to notice, and start deporting. Actually we are quite a "melting pot", current estimates indicated MN has a 15% non-white population. Can you tell I just finished a Cultural Real Estate CE course?

Um, yeah. Anyways, the term Mexif-ornian relates more to Spanglish rather than Mexicans speaking Spanish.

I was referring to this silly Gringos (like myself) who are lumped into the 'Hispanic' marketing demographic because my Married last name is Hispanic sounding rather than my Maiden name, plain ol' Americana, Adams.

I get by with-

Donde esta el sanatario
Piso majado
Uno Mas, por favor

Isn't San Diego Spanish for a Whale's Va Jay Jay??

I'm a native San Diegan, and I think that you might be right. Actually, I have no idea, but it's so dang funny that I'm gonna back you up anyway. I only know enough Spanish to order dinner and drinks. Unless I've had too much to drink, then miraculously I can become partially bi-lingual.

I used to get into confrontations all the time but now I just pretend that I don't hear them.

Even if they are screaming, I just do my thing and get outta there.

I don't answer questions and I refuse to acknowledge them.