Wow you guys had the crazy experiences. Luckily I haven't had anything bad but then again I haven't been doing BPOs for as long as some of you.

I get out of the car too but just leave the car running. How do you guys get street shots staying in the car, getting one street shot is fine, but to get both, I would think its faster to just get out the car and snap snap???

I might start doing these staying in the car after hearing some of your stories.

Keep your seatbelt on. Street scene one way.... sitting in the drivers seat... look out your left window, roll it down, click. Street scene the other way, don't get ahead of me now, roll down the passenger window, click. Address number, zoom, click. That's all the secrets I'm sharing today. I feel I've given away too much already. I sure hope my competition isn't reading this or I'm doomed. Argggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

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Good points Bill. And Deana, are you sure she was drunk? There are many mental illnesses whose behaviors mimic drunkenness. Look at Britney. *throws up a little* And if you could smell the booze, she was definitely too close to the car.

All these agents who come up with clever things to say to the owners are usually violating the clients wishes. Most orders have explicit instructions to NOT make any contact with the owner. This is why they are "drive-bys."

I would definitely not fess up to doing an order on their house if they did ambush me. Always know the area enough to say, "This is 1100 (insert name of next street over), isn't it? Oh its not? So sorry." Then you have bought your way out and have not discussed the order with the homeowner. Win, win.

"This is 1100 (insert name of next street over), isn't it? Oh its not? So sorry."

Good one. I usually don't take time to reply, since I'm already driving off if I see anyone trying to approach. I did have one recently in a good area where I didn't see anyone around, but apparently they saw me from their front window. I was already at my next "photo shoot" about 6 miles away (in a not so good area) when this big SUV drove up and the driver asked why I took photos of their house. I told them I had an assignment from a financial institution and was not at liberty to give any information about it. They drove off, but as they did the passenger started taking pictures of me and my car. That was my laugh for the day, since that was the day I was too busy to fix my hair or put on my usual amount of makeup. It also reminded me to be more aware of who is behind me. When I was single I was always aware of whether I was being followed by someone. I guess after 15 years of marriage I've become too complacent about that.

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I take my kids with me all the time. I don't get out of the car and I don't roll down the window. And I'm out of there before a homeowner can get from the front door to road. I like to say I'm like ServPro....'Like I never happened'. 99 percent of the time I'm not there long enough for someone to notice I'm there.
Now INTERIOR BPO's scare me.....I don't take my kids to those....I used to go alone....now I take my dog.

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Agree to disagree and move on please.

People make their own decisions. Let's just get back on topic. Some crazy stories here. Any more?

When I managed a finance company the corporate AM called and wanted me to look at a property and see if the owners lived there, give an opinion of the condition, and try to collect payment on the mortgage.

Wife answered the door and I went through my introduction, heard the back door slam, and then I heard a chainsaw and within seconds farmer Ron was telling me to get the f off his property.

Funny thing is the next day she came in with cash and made a payment covering the full past due amount. Farmer Ron did not tell Mary Lou he did not pay the mortgage and apparently was intercepting our mail and machine messages. They divorced soon there after.

That is as close to what you do as I can get and as crazy as they come for me.

Yesterday,going on a little sunday drive to take pictures.This house has about 20 miles away in the "country",which is probably different than most of you since you are from bigger cities,The country people you dont mess with.I was taking pictures of the subject and I had to try and get pictures of all the animals and crop a requirement of CC,when I saw someone on a horse go by my car really fast.As I was leaving the neighbors about 1/2 mile down the road where standing in the road almost blocking it,I continued to drive away even though the lady had her hand held out and was yelling to STOP.No way was that going to happen,that scared me enough that I almost hit some one than about 5 min later a car approached fairly fast got my lisence plat number speed away. To make matters worst I then got pulled over when I got back to town because the cops have nothing better to do and they asked what my interest in that property was,I said nothing and I was there for the mortgage company,they acted like I was getting ready to case it for a robbery! I couldnt believe I got pulled over for it!!!