I try not to be noticed, but I have been chased twice and yelled at more than once. I have started taking street scene first, as others mentioned. Those crazy photo requirements that we sometimes see now put us in real danger--subject front, both sides, up street, down street, across the street.

The most frightening chase was once when I was on a gravel, county road in the middle of the day, trying to locate a property when there were no mailboxes or markings.

Since I'd driven so far, I decided to take photos of several of the properties (single wide trailers and cabins that mostly looked uninhabited). I heard a vehicle approaching from behind so I jumped back in my car and started moving (I was out of my car shooting a photo through a weed-infested fence row--BAD IDEA). Sure enough, the guy was after me. Apparently, he had seen me taking photos of his cabin back down the road. I guess he had to get dressed or something, because I was certainly on about my business by the time he caught up with me.

Looking in my rearview mirror, I could see that he was shaking his fist at me and trying to get around me. I stayed in the middle of the road and floored it. He followed me until I got on a paved road and finally stopped. My plan was to drive to the nearest town and straight to the police or at least call for help as soon as I got a cell phone signal.

Eventually, I got a photo of the subject property from the vendor and cross-referenced it with the courthouse. I did have a photo of the residence in question. When I enlarged the photo (I always shoot high resolution), parked in front of the cabin was the truck that had chased me.

My broker said the place could have been a meth lab.

Do them early, and not on weekends. Take the photo’s from your car; I had one chase me on the freeway!!! I will always take the picture no matter what, I will never drive back to a location, since gas is high and my times is valuable. Always point your car to an exit, not a dead end or one car wide alley.

what we have to go through to bring home a check....a lot of times if the door is open ,or people in front of the house i will get out of my van and tell them im with the mortgage co, and need to take some pictures. to update the files.....never had a problem....even the dope guys will stand to the side so that i can take a pic....LOL ..half of the time they know what you are doing there since they havn't paid the note.

Mybe this tread should be posted as a sticky. It might make new agents think twice about getting involved in the BPO business. I don't think that newbies understand how stressful and/or dangerous it can be, and all this just to make $50.00.

Kolah, that is a good idea. I get asked about them all the time and I tell my chase stories, and they think I am crazy and never ask me again. I didn't have ANY clue about the dangers of doing these until I read of incidents on here.. We did BPO's for 2 years before we had any incident at all, but the one we had really messed with my head. Im definately more aware of my surroundings, and I don't go to these alone anymore.

By the way, I agree- don't take your kids, it's way too risky.

Great advice. I thought it was a nice chance for some alone time with dad on a nice little ride. I never realized I was literally risking my life for these people for so little money. I too snap the street scene from my car a few houses down so as not to attract attention. The front pic is usually pretty easy too. It is the BS address verification close-up that takes the time to zoom and where the risk comes in. To me it seems like they are saying they don't beleive that we will actually take a pic of the right house so they want a close up of the address, if there even is one on the house. But keep the responses coming and I agree that this should be a sticky subject.

There is another thread, forget the name right now that talks about the tricks and tips for the Address Verification. Basically u can nail two birds with one stone......

I believe the thread was "Address Verification Photo Tip" or something like that.....

As far as address verification - BEFORE I take the photo of the house (camera on my lap) I quickly look to see if the number is on the house itself. If it is, then I take just one front photo knowing I can zoom in and crop on my computer when I get home.

Kolah, another good idea...making this a sticky. My area is generally safe. Here is what I do, just in case. Takes about a second.

I write the address on a piece of paper, but change the street address a little bit. For instance, instead of Robinhood, I could put Robinway. If someone aproaches me, I can show them the sheet and say that I was hired to take pictures at this house for a siding company quote. The homeowner will then point out to me that I am on a different street. I can apologize and leave--safely, I hope. It's just another option.

I doubt if I will ever have a situation like some of you deal with regularly. Good to know you have the street smarts to take care of yourselves. Imagine handing my little sheet of paper to a really bad guy and trying to sell him on the siding quote story. Where should I wire your flowers.

One thing for sure--our clients do not want us to endanger our lives in any way, or irritate the homeowners. They just want us to do the best we can, and it sounds like we have all been trying to do that.

Don't forget the "hood phone network." The bad guys all have cell phones. I went to do an exterior in a bad part of town. Since there were people in the front yard, I waited for a few minutes about a block down. When the folks finally drove off, in a BMW with flashy rims,I went down there to take my photos. There was someone across the street, and apparently my activities attracted their attention. This person got on their cell phone. As I was getting done, that BMW came careening down the street, and I beat it out of there. A couple of quick turns, and I was out of sight. And yes, all for a $55 eterior.

The same thing happened all the time when I was in police work. You stop a car, and go to arrest somebody, and here come all their family members driving up, all mad. And how did they know? My arrestee did not call anyone, and I sure didn't - it was the Hood Phone Network! This works well in REO land where nobody much works for a living, and most everyone is just sitting around on the porch or in the house all day long, and everyone has a cell phone.

Be careful out there!

I have this situation right now and am on the fence on what to do. I took an interior in a not so nice part of the city because I had 4 other exteriors in the same direction. The AM was suppossed to mail me the key. So I waited for the key until the last day I could in order to get the other orders in on time,no key. So while I am out in the area I figure I'll drive by and take the exterior and street photo. Well I got chased and while I was driving away(it was a one way street) some lady was in the middle of the street steering her shopping cart. NO WHERE to go!!! I tried not to panic and made no eye contact. One man approached my car and started banging on the car window. Well the lady finally pushed her cart aside and I was out of there!
So then I get back to my office and email the AM and explain my safety concerns and all she emails back is "Let me know when you get the key". So this week passes and Saturday the key arrives but I am terrified to go back.
Now if I ask to reassign, will they not send me any work? will my score go down? I do not know what to do, any suggestions?
I do alot of work for them and am afraid I will jeopardize my relationship.

If you are that concerned about your safety then I would ask to have it reassigned. Nothing that we do is worth your life and health, if you ain't got those you ain't got anything. Just tell them the truth and move on. If they are going to try and force you do it even though you have legit concerns then perhaps you may be better off without them.

On a side note, I had to do the same things months back. When I was noticed dashing out of the house during the shootout I told them "Sorry, the house was a deathtrap if I stayed and if my photos of what I had are not good enough you'll have to reassign it."

Very understanding of the situation and I have not lost my business with them. If you have a family to think about it is all the more important that you think on this. Just my 2c.

I say get out of this type of work if you cannot handle the stress and possible dangers of the industry. You committed to doing the job and have the key in hand. Go to the home early in the morning and take the pics or don't do anymore jobs again because you are too afraid. Imagine if you became a police officer and the first time you got shot at you decided its not for you anymore. That doesn't happen because generally you should be prepared for all the dangers your job has. If you are not willing to take on the all the responsibilities then as I said, get out of this side of the business.

When I am approached by the occupants, whether friendly or hostile, asking why I am taking pictures of their house, I would tell them that their lender is selling the note and the new lender/buyer wanted pictures of the property. This works every time. If they are in default, they seem happy that some one is finally coming to their rescue, and this gives them a false sense of hope.

I always use the "lender is probably selling the note" explanation, even if I suspect/know it is in foreclosure. Though I try to avoid any contact at all, sometimes I have asked a neighbor to verify a location when no addresses are visible.