I have only done a few limited interiors and mostly alot of exteriors.What i have noticed is the interiors ask for an ungodly amount of information and it takes forever especially if there is alot of damage and you have to explain and upload each pic.

It would seem the 2 to 3 hours it takes for the interior that i would do much better sticking to exteriors at 55 to 65 regular and be done in 30 to 40 minutes instead of interiors at 20 bucks more that take a ton of time to do.

What has everyone else decided and what has been your experience?

I prefer doing exteriors, quick and easy. The companies that I work for the most, I know there forms backward and forward. However, when I do the interiors with a list of repairs and cost, I always feel the need to put a disclaimer due to repairs estimates. What if I missed something during the interior?

"This bpo is not an inspection report and the bpo agent is not acting as a licensed contractor or inspector. Recommend consulation of a licensed inspector for an accurate assessment of repairs."

I still do interiors, but I always look up the home first before I accept. I am not comfortable going in all areas or badly damaged homes. I also like the ones with lockboxes. It can take 3-5 days to get a hold of the borrower and then they like to schedule you a week away.

Hmmm
Exterior are much easier, but if gets a listing I love interiors! I also like them if it gets someone out of paying PMI.
Just makes me feel good to give a little back now and than.

I will take exteriors all day long. I've seen/smelled too much icky, gross, stuff doing interiors. They're almost always bad.

Exteriors! Sometimes the interiors are not so bad if it's for a refi and it's occupied and well maintained. But for the forclosures and such! YUCK!!! I just knew I caught something the other day from a house I went into!!

I take both but I'd rather have exteriors for a couple reasons. #1) Most of the areas I go to are very bad so I have to coordinate a time when my husband or someone else can go with me. #2) When the property is occupied, it can take time to schedule it with the homeowner and then I have to do it in their schedule instead of mine.

I'm not complaining though. I'll take as many interiors and exteriors as I can.

Actually I like interiors better. That way I can actually see what's going on inside and I can give a better opinion of value.
Also the pay is better for just taking a few more pics.

Angie

Exteriors...wham bam thank you ma'am.

Though all the interiors I've done are for credit lines and I've got to meet nice folks and see nice houses... and feel more comfortable about my results. But you burn a day making the appointment and 90% of the time it means a special trip... so the cheaper exteriors are actually more profitable.

Just a note to consider. I did an interior BPO, obvious foreclosure. Metal shavings on threshold where locks were drilled out and replaced, clutter in the house, posting on the door. I noticed a car that slowed, turned around and parked a lot up the street. I suspected it may have been the owner/former occupant, but can't be sure. If you are doing these type of inspections, especially ladies, it may be prudent to lock the door behind you when you enter. I'm not the paranoid type, but I have to admit that it made me uneasy. Safety first. I agree that exteriors are best value for us.

Exterior, by far! Particularily with the interior that I'm trying to still get scheduled(been trying to gain access since the 12th of this month!!!) Pain in the but Investor/Broker/Appraisor is does not want to let me in and still hasn't figured out a way to talk the bank out of it. Guess he'll let me in when he finally realizes that they are simply not going to take his word for it! :-) (Sorry, had to vent a bit!!!) As far as safety goes, I'm all for it. I have been in some rather scary props and have heard the theme to deliverance one too many times(if you can't get a cell phone signal, you can't call for help.) My husband did not like this a bit and to quell his fears and mine as well, I made an investment in protection. I jumped throught the hoops and now have my concealed carry handgun permit and I do not do an interior without my gun. I also carry during my exteriors, because you just never know. I am not being paranoid, but it is always better to be safe than sorry, especially in today's society. I feel for the agents in states that do not permit concealed carry and highly recommend to those that can to become licensed, purchase from a reputable dealer and get some lessons. You never know what $50-$150 can cost you.

That is one reason that I keep my police commission active, even though I do real estate full time! That means that I can carry a gun anywhere in the USA, except for places like the White House. And, trust me, these REO properties are NOT going to get confused with that!

I have only seen a couple REOs where it did not look like hoardes of vandals/crackheads/etc had lived there. What is that stain? Uggh! What is living in that pile of old clothing? Eww! And why does it always seem like the foreclosed folks were pissed at the bank and want to steal the knobs off of the cabinets and pawn the oven and crap like that? It's not the bank's fault that they bought meth with the house note money!

In any case, REOS can mean nasty people and threats to your safety! Always protect yourself. I think that, especially for the ladies out there, a concealed carry permit and an appropriate hogleg is a good thing. This old world can be a rough place! I am bigger than most, and like a good scrap, but most of the smaller and more dainty amongst us shouldn't be put in that position.

And don't forget to get a decent gun, not a $100 pawn shop special! Make friends with a local gun nut and go to the range and shoot some different firearms before you buy anything. (check the police department. You'll find a gun nut!) Make sure that you are trained, and make sure to lock it up to keep it out of the hands of the young'uns!

Exteriors, definitely. I had one where the interior contact was very hard to get ahold of, requiring 3-days worth of phone-tag and extentions. FARVV gives unusual interiors- I called my "contact" who was the home-owner and he had NO IDEA why I wanted to go in his house to take pictures. Talk about awkward. I usually refuse their inteiors, as they are only $50-$60 anyway.

Exteriors, for "Interior" Fee!! :>)

I prefer the interiors. The fee is higher and I feel better about my opinion of value. Crime rate is low here. I am still careful but need some disposable masks.It's not easy to hold your breath while veiwing the interior.

Hi everyone!! I am bringing this back to the top due to an unfortunate incident at one of my properties.

I know we sometimes get on each other's nerves and yell and scream and fight and pout...but then what are friends for???? In some odd way, I care about each and every one of you. I have been doing this for a good ten years and never have had this experience.

I want everyone to know to that really bad things can happen to people in these derelict places.... PLEASE be careful...always take a buddy and if a property appears to be that bad call for a police escort. If I had not done that a couple of weeks ago...I would be dead. I won't go into the details.

I don't know if locking the door behind me would have been the smart thing since vagrants had gotten inside. But, I was followed into the building and behind him was another police officer.

So, please, be careful. Take someone with you. This job is NOT worth anyone's life.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest.

Thanks for your advice but come on, give us the story. We want to hear.

The house is a three story which I bet in it's day was beautiful. Brick exterior, with all new windows. The grand dame of the block. Exterior has marble (yes, really) steps. It had originally been a two family but was converted (badly) into a SFD. Anyway, when I got there with my fiance the door was open. He poked his head around the corner and saw blankets and pillows, so he told me to call the police. Several of his buddies work for the police department.

The cop shows up we go inside and it's a mess. We found a newly opened wall to the second floor (after the copper pipes had been ripped out)and all three of us head up there. I let the two guys to up to the third floor to take pictures up there because they said the stairs were unstable. I waited. When they started down from the third story, I headed down to the first. As I crawled through the hole in the wall, I saw something move. As I lifted my head, it was someone with a gun pointed at my head. Right behind him was another cop with HIS gun pointed at the first guy. I screamed. Shots were fired. My poor honey about lost it. I not quite fainted but I collasped. And when I recovered, the paramedics were over me and the victim was hurt but he will survive. I've never been that close to anyone getting shot.
Anyway, that's what happened. For what it's worth.

Oh my God!! I'm so glad you are OK. You were right to share that with us. I'm pretty careful but it's a good wake up call for me and I'm sure others on this forum to hear your story. Thanks for telling us. I take my husband to most of my interiors but I am going to put it at the top of my to do list to get a gun and learn how to use it this summer. I've been thinking about it for a while. That seals it for me.

I know...my fiance is well trained in handguns. That is what we are thinking as well. His worry is that because I am so short that someone could overpower me and take the gun and use it against me. You know, I don't ever think until that moment that I ever really thought about this job being dangerous. And, it isn't always. But in those situations where it could be, it is important to have a plan. I'm still developing one only because there are so many variables.
Anyone else have any safety thoughts?

Glad you survived. This is a real wake up call for doing interiors. I am not sure I will do any more on vacant homes.

MBRKR - Again, I highly recommend the gun and lessons and practice at your local range. My husband insisted on it for me and I obliged, agreeing that, yes, you just never know-but hearing your story just backs it up. I mean, sure, there are times you may be on an interior that starts to make you think to yourself,"Did I lock the door?" "What was that sound?" I have a little more comfort knowing that I am armed and that I can confidently unload 9 shots within a 0inch to 2 foot radius of my target, in quck draw style, up to 25 yards away. I just figure that it's pretty likely that the assailant will be shot somewhere that will slow him down or worse! I'm not some Rambo-Mom Realtor. I'm short, too(less than 5'4",) but I have quickly grown to enjoy going to the range with my husband and I'm actually getting to be pretty good. This used to be something that he just did with his friends, but now we all do it and it is an enjoyable outing and a great confidence booster. The guys used to tease me about going all Dirty Harry, because I started out by learning to simply walk up, pull and start firing in rapid succession. I told them that safety and protection was my main goal and I certainly wasn't going to ask some meth-addict, crack-head killer to stand still, while I made sure that I was in the right stance and by the way, could he move a little to the right so I could get a better line on him. No, I will learn how to point blank, fill someone with lead and then practice on pinpoint bullseye shooting. You have to have your priorities. Now that I've gone on and on the basic point is, get your concealed carry permit(taked about six to 10 weeks, counting the FBI background check,)pick a gun you are comfortable with(since your fiance likes guns and has officer friends, that shouldn't be a problem,)start with a .22 and go up, until you have what feels good to shoot as well as reasonably carry on your person, practice alot(it will be fun to do it together or as a group of friends)and last but not least, make sure you get in the habit of taking it with you everywhere you go(keep it in the car if you have to go to a school or some other government building-not a good idea to take it with you to the tax assessor's office-even of you really wanted to on those bad days!!! :-) In today's world, you simply cannot afford to risk it all, by putting your head in the sand and pretending that the not-so-nice is not there. You can only hope that you do not meet up with it, again or are at least prepared, if you do.

Have a Good One!!!

Jen

Protect yourself!

Again, I agree with JenM. Shooting is fun, and learning to properly use a handgun can be a fun activity. Again, find the local cop who is a gun nut (there are quite a few) and have him bring a selection of his 100+ guns in his gun safe out to the range and let you shoot them. Find a gun that you are comfortable with and buy something similar for yourself.

Training builds competence, and competence builds confidence. And most of the time, you will not be shooting it out with anyone so much as the presence of a weapon in your control will prevent the bad guy from going any further.

Make sure that you have the mental and spiritual makeup that you could shoot someone. If you can't do this, don't buy a gun as a prop or a toy. Think about it now! As Gunnery Sergeant Hartman meant to say, "If you hesitate at the moment of truth, you will become a dead REALTOR(R), as someone will take the gun away from you and stick it up your... nose." If someone tries to take your gun, shoot them. Do not let it go.

I was thinking about the building search tactics that I learned throughout my years of police work. I guess that it would look funny for me to be acting all tactical in an REO, but I will do that before I will allow someone to harm me! I have shot folks before, in the line of duty, and I slept just fine afterwards. I would not sleep just fine if I ended up in the hospital and could not support my family, and I do not have plans of taking a dirt nap anytime soon.

And, last but not least, GET ATTUNED TO LISTENING TO THAT LITTLE VOICE IN YOUR HEAD THAT TELLS YOU THAT SOMETHING BAD IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN! Do not ignore it! It is there for a reason! Back out, and re-assess!

mbrkr...i am sorry that happened to you, but am very glad you are ok!!! i would be so freaked out at this point!

listening to that story and another recent incident here where a male agent got beat in the head with a hammer and robbed, i think maybe i will start searching the web on gun ranges in my area. although, i never go to interiors alone, that does not matter!!!

thanks guys for your words of wisdom!

OK, you freaked me out!! I would have never thought. When my husband and I do interiors, I just head on in like nothing concerns me. Now I will be more cautious and on alert. That's scary.