I am 6' 3" and I weight train 3 times a week.

I do not always dress like a real estate broker when I am taking pictures.

I know that my presence at a delinquent borrower's property is not welcome.

I feel like a vulture circling in for the kill.

When I examine my pictures at the office, sometimes I can see that the homeowner is peeking out from behind the shades.

I did a BPO on a $740K house (highest end of the market in these parts). The homeowner came marching out immediately. When I asked her if I could take a picture of the rear of the house, she said to come back Monday. When I said I would tell the bank that the homeowner would not allow me a rear view, she exploded, took down my license number and said she was calling the police.

She treated me like I was the hired help. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Do the banks really need all of these BPOs or are they used as another way to pressure the borrower's?

Most of us BPO providers are a bit more circumspect in following instructions from clients.We cruise the area, identify the subject,note condition FROM THE STREET, IN OUR VEHICLES!!! and avoid contact with the occupants/borrowers.[unless of course it is an interior]. So I hardly think the banks are harassing the borrowers when they should not EVEN KNOW that the BPO agent is in the area.

I would never trespass on an occupied property. Even if a BPO may call for a view from the rear of the property, if it can't be done without trespassing, I don't do it. Read the instructions provided with your assignment. It will indicate if it's all right to call the homeowner. IF it is all right to call the homeowner, you may request permission to take a photo from the rear. If no contact info is provided or your instructions are to NOT contact the property owner, I try to get a view from a different angle. Trespassing is never appropriate.

In many cases, the property is listed. Sometimes I can take a rear view over the fence. I agree, though, I wouldn't go onto a property without trespassing. Often the occupant will let me in when I tell then I'm using the photos for marketing comparables for the bank.

It is not my intention to harass the homeowner. I am not getting combat pay and I do not wish to get shot.

I try to be as discrete as possible and I dread getting assignments for isolated properties that are hard to take pictures of unnoticed.

That said, at $3+/gal of gas, I am going to take several good pictures and I will not be rushed. I do not want to make the drive again because of sloppy picture taking.

The lady in my last post confronted me in the street. I was not trespassing. She knew the purpose of my visit before I told her. I was very polite. She was not.

I guess it is the multiple BPOs on one property in a short period time that I question.

When the BPO was for a refi, the homeowners smiled if they noticed me. They have not been smiling lately.

Dude, just stay in your car and learn to take photos like a spy.

I take pictures from my car and take off. I get very good quality pictures and if I saw someone coming out of their house I would take off.....I don't get paid enough to put my life on the line

Really. Most explicitly state "Do not contact the homeowner or occupants." !!!!

I guess they want multiple BPOs because they want to make sure that the value is in a tight range. As someone on this site once said, they can get ONE opinion [appraisal]for $350 or MULTIPLE [7 BPOS] opinions for $350.Being in the BPO business, I am reluctant to complain...

See this is exactly how I feel. I even go so far as to take my pictures through the car window without rolling it down. I have tinted windows and it's just less conspicuous this way. The photos can be lightened very easily later.

When I was brand new to BPOs, I got out of my car to take pictures and got noticed. Not gonna do that again!

No. There are many reasons why a BPO may be requested, and some aren't even for possible foreclosures. I'm not as stealth as my husband is at taking photos, but I can still get these shots very quickly. I take the street sign and street scene before I approach the house; as I approach the house I get the first side, front, address #, and then second side. I rarely get a back shot unless the house is on an ally or backs up to a street. I take all these photos, even if they are not requested, so I have them for my file if there is a QC question. It takes practice, but you really can get good photos without taking much time to even stop the car. On the few times the occupant has noticed me, I just keep going. I takes them more time to get in a car and follow me than it does for me to get out of the neighborhood.

Yeah, they're used to harass the homeowner... To pay their mortgage!

Ok, sarcasticness (is that even a word?) aside, why would you even speak to the owner? I see anybody approaching me, I'm getting the hell out of there. I work in some tough areas, and do not need drugs, hookers, stolen items, or to get shot, let alone, talk to an irrate owner who's pissed off cuz they're losing their home.

Yeah, getting out of the car is not advised! Most of the time my requests specifically state not to discuss with anyone, especially the homeowner- so I would rather not be in the situation where I have to explain myself. I have gotten really good at taking the street scene while driving! My camera has a huge screen on the back so I just set it on the steering wheel, zoom a bit so the hood doesn't show and take the pic. Makes for a quick getaway. I don't usually even roll down my window either. My camera is pretty good, so I haven't had an issue. My husband doesn't understand why I want to be so discreet- I tell him it's because I'm female, live in CA and am therefore not allowed to carry a gun (legally). I don't want to get chased down by a crackhead- there are alot in my area.

Today my car was in the shop so I had to drive my husband's Jeep which has REALLY loud exhaust. So much for being discreet.

^^ LOL - same sort of thing happened to me - I had an 8am deadline to do an interior so I had to do the photos before sunrise (long story) but the neighbors were very curious to find out what I was doing, lurking about looking for a lockbox in the dark with my truck's engine running and it's lights on so I could see!

Anyhoo, found out that my dh was getting out of his car and photographing my bpo's from all angles - lol - I said "OMG - you're not supposed to do that! Cue the 'Mission Impossible' theme and be a spy!"

This will take a little planning, but get yourself a few copies of The Watchtower, and keep them in your car.

Then, next time an occupant comes out to see you, tell her that you are with the Jehovah's Witnesses, and that you would like to talk about her spiritual condition for the next four hours. Hand her a Watchtower.

She will forget about your camera, and run the other way like a scalded dog!