Well, it happened again. Another CC clarification on a PI. I stated the subject had missing shingles from the hurricane and uploaded the following picture. They wrote back saying they couldn't see the damage and told me to go take another photo. Can you tell it's missing shingles? Maybe there is a new fad of using blue tarps for roofs these days.

I hear blue tarps are coming back into style!
Or maybe blue tarps are now considered average for the area. They did a nice job with the tarp though.

You know I'm just joking...It's Friday. I sure hope they were looking at the wrong photo.

That's an official issue FEMA tarp put on by our federal government!

Come on, you know that you need to get up on the roof and pull the tarp back to take a photo of the roof with no shingles. Just kidding.

I've had a couple of weird clarification requests from them too lately.

I would not go back. I would take the image blowup the portion with the edge of the tarp and shingles and submit it as the additional photo.

Off the subject but being from CA I am curious. What is the market value of a house like that?

Mid to high 300's.

Ben, Maybe I'm playing Devil's Advocate but you cannot see the missing shingles. Maybe your comment should be subject appears to have damage to the roof as it is covered with a government issued tarp.

lol. I guess I was just assuming they knew what a tarp on the roof meant after a hurricane.

Ben,
I am laughing since I get clarifications from them and sometimes I feel that the people who do the review need to travel to the markets they review to understand them a bit better.

Zoom it in crop it, change the explanation and send it again... give the desk jockey something to do without spending any gasoline.

I cropped it. uploaded it as an additional subject photo and turned it back in. We'll see what happens.

Oops...

This post used to be a smart-alek remark about doctoring a photo... turns out it was in poor taste. "Close to the edge" was meant to be obvious understatement for something that would be obviously over the top.

It was tounge-in-cheek. I don't doctor my photos and I know Ben wouldn't. I don't suggest it. Bad idea. I do brighten them or improve the contrast from time to time and I crop all of them.

My best review call was a terse note demanding that I defend calling a parcel 40 acres instead of 10 and provide documentation. I did provide the documents... the appraisal and parcel map that they had attached to the order when they sent it to me in the first place.

DON'T DOCTOR PHOTOS... and don't post dumb jokes that can be missinterpreted.

P.S. No problem with the folks that called me on it, gentle correction is a good thing.

sounds more like over the edge.

About 95% of mine have to have clarifications. To me, this means double work! I am not sure they are worth it anymore.

I find this one funny (except for the suggestions of doctoring photos to make them look like different ones).

We've had people (edited- NOT CC)call us to explain why we have "wood stove" for heat source or "gravel" for road surface. I guess in some areas, heating with wood sounds barbaric and they think gravel means the driveway (what driveway? you park there where the grass ain't growin'!)

Cool tarp! Maybe they can sell 'em on ebay when they're done...

Haven't had any problem with CC. They have not asked for any additional info on properties condition or value. Have done close to 300 inspection since hurricane. Only problem I have with them is new agent in area has someone sit by his computer all day doing refresh. This is starting to keep me out of the loop. The agent is online here and appears not to know what he is doing, he does not know the market and is always looking for the easy way out.

I've come to expect at least one clarification on every order. However, it is usually quickly 'clarified' and approved. They are very careful, and I guess that's why they do such business, and why we all scramble for their orders. We know they pay and pay quick. I don't mind a question or two.

Me Too!.... I got a clarification to "upgrade the condition!"


"A Diamond In The Rough!!!"--

I thought it was just me, that thought these clarifications were odd...

The way CC broadcasts their orders has only fed a race to the bottom with fee's and quality. They want fast and cheap but don't realize that quality isn't cheap or fast. They now offer $11 for PI's in my area and agents are still chasing them. I turned them down when they were $20, hell I wouldn't take a picture of my own home and e-mail it to them for $20.

If you want to work for CC stay logged into the website and check for new orders as often as it will let you. That's the only way to beat the e-mail system.

Miss Bea, you need to find a better market! LOL! Is this for real? The junker in the front yard is worth more than the house. And the landscaping needs attention!

Target, I wouldn't take a picture of my own anything for $20! Hilarious!

CC-I have never found a way to check for work on their site. Can you actually do this? reps I talked too always said that all orders go thru email only???
Angie

Angie, it (CCs web site) doesn't have a search feature but if you stay logged in or log in frequently, the order pops up on the site before the e-mail appears in your in box. The e-mail takes a little time to make through their system and once out in cyber space your e-mail provider takes a little time to put in in you in box. All the time the order is active waiting for the first person to grab it.

Wow!!What A beauty if all houses looked like that in my area appreciation would be up 20 percent and they would be selling like hotcakes!!
Maybe if they include the car in the sale the buyer would pay closing costs when they buy it.lol

Where I'm from we call those hunting shacks!

lol, that would go for mid to high 100's in my area

Ben, I need a "clarification!" :>)---

Did you read the post "Watch What You Say" in this forum, right above yours? Well, I quess I've cooked my goose with CC!!!

I know there is a CC person who lurks this board and I talk with him. I'm not shy about letting them know when I call that something was ridiculous. Should have heard me when they asked for a clarification on a BPO and the other agent didn't use real comps!

oooooh...maybe that's why I haven't received a request...oh well..to bad.

As a whole, I was enjoying the assignments and I thought that it would be a good sideline. But, then when they stopped sending out the requests, I started registering with other cos., and to date, never heard anything back from them. I have decided that I can't depend on this for income either. It's one thing to be in a competitive business, but this is a bit much. An agent here described how to go to the CC website, and catch the order before it gets sent to your email because you're losing time by catching in the email (seconds??) I need work, true, but I think this process of filling work orders is a bit demeaning. It reminds me of throwing a bone in to a pak of hungry wolves!!

I think I'll find something else to do real estate related for a sideline in between sales.

Any suggestions would gladly be appreciated. Sales are slowwww.

Around here, that would not even qualify as a storage shed

Where I'm from that Hunting Shack / Storage Shed would bring at least $350,000. $400,000+ if it was recorded somewhere as a residence so a fella could remodel it and bring the permit process down from 2 years to 6 months.

As far as the condition upgrade... I can see the MLS now. "Needs a little TLC, some furnishings included"

Diamond In the Rough! How about...."some work has already been started" Or here's one... "newer windows"..."View: panoramic!!!"

Great Investment Opportunity--Sit Back And Collect The Rent! Seller will review all offers!

:>)...all in fun!

I don't know Bea, with a little paint and some landscaping it could look quite respectable.

I am the Clear Capital person who "lurks" on this board sometimes.

Anything you say on this board will NOT change the amount of work you are sent from Clear Capital (except for Ben, LOL). I am not on here looking for "dirt" on brokers, I am just trying to help answer some of your questions.

Now to answer some of those questions.

There is no way to "search" for BPOs on our site.

Yes, the request will show up in your account before you receive the email. Although the email is sent from our system at the same time it shows up on your home page, sometimes there are delays out in cyberspace. Another delay can be how often you have your email client set to check for email. One broker I talked to said he was not seeing the email until 30 or 40 minutes after they were sent and it turned out he had Outlook set to check for new mail only once an hour.

We will not stop sending you work because you submitted a BPO late or had a clarification request. We understand that these things happen. If you have a problem with a BPO or clarification call us and we will be happy to help try and solve the problem.

We are always striving to become an even better company and welcome comments from all of you. All of your comment are taken seriously.

We send out the request as soon as possible after we receive an order from our customers and the due time is based on the time that they need it back.

Bea, you have not "cooked your goose with us". You do good work and will continue to receive solicitations from us. If you do not receive any it is just for a lack of them in your area.

If you have any other questions feel free to call us at 530-582-5011

John

John, Thanks for being here; your information is most helpful.

Hey John! I had a feeling this topic would bring you out of hiding. lol. Tomorrow at work go down to QC and slap them on the back of the head for me will ya? I just got another clarification request because the font of the house number made the number look like a 1 instead of a 7!

Thanks, John--I appreciate your comments.

John you're one of the reasons Clear Cap stays on the good guys list. And they must be hard workers too... I got two orders on SATURDAY, was quick enough to net 'em both, but had to let one go it was my listing. Hmmm...

Maybe it's just luck but I have One Source of PITA clarification requests, and it aint Clear Capital.

They are at it again! I turned in what I thought was an airtight BPO. All comps within 5 yrs old and 50 sq ft. All lots the same, prices within $10,000 of each other and the farthest one was 1.7 miles. Guess what? Appraiser came up with a substantially higher value! I told them the only way I could raise my opinion of value and legitimately defend it is if the owner adds on! I think I'll start asking for the appraiser's name everytime I get a request to raise value. I would like to see if it is the same one or same company.

Ben, I think you have bad luck w/ CC. I never get a clarification request. There have been a few times I actually expected one but have yet to get one. Now, Emortgage is a different story! I think they have me flagged because if any item is questioned they send me a clarification request. Last week I had an order that was difficult to find comps. One comp had no photo, sure enough they sent a request to add photo.

I guess so. I think I only have problems with one of their customers so I'll have to track them a little better.

I think we are following after the same appraisers all the time in each of our areas. Bad appraiser, lots of clarifications.

"Bad appraisers, lots of clarifications"

I'm guessing someone at the bank smelled fish when they read the appraisal, that's why the BPO got ordered in the first place... then they want it to match the appraisal they're verifying.

Circular reasoning anyone???

I have "followed" a certain appraiser in this area a few times, unfortunately, they're mainly on REOs that are not worth anywhere near what was borrowed, and her figures are ALWAYS $400-$700 more than loan amount. Odd coincidence, doncha think? then I was provided the appraisal for an REO listing of mine, that came out about $35k higher than my bpo and the second opinion bpo. I tore it apart- this guy used comps that hadn't sold, falsified info on lot size, square footage, got the wrong tax info and APN, said comps were 3 miles away when they were 20+, made no adj for basements, and one comp couldn't even be found... yet the bank listed the house about halfway between my figures and his. One showing so far, and the buyers said their time was wasted cuz that was NOT the quality of home they expect for that price... So, I get to waste my advertising money (broker won't go to any expense with it so overpriced) trying to sell something so high.... This appraiser is also a Realtor, by the way. Makes me wonder how he conducts THAT side of his business!

Hmmm... zephyr, I'd have to check on the details but it sounds to me if he's a REALTOR(r) real estate professional that you've got grounds for an ethics greivance. 99 times out of 100 it's better to avoid that ugly scene and just quietly do your job... but in this case you might do the local industry a huge favor by pursuing it.

"The only thing that evil needs to succeed is that good men do nothing"

(On the other hand, that much karma'll bite him sooner or later with or withour your help... maybe you just oughta stick to your work???)

Food for thought.

John,
I have a question. We just got a solicitation and I jumped right on it. When I clicked on the "how to accept" line, it brought me to the usual place only on the first line it read that the BPO solicitation was being sent to "Jane Realtor" (another realtor in our area) and if I wasn't Jane Realtor I should "click here".

What's up with that? We've talked before about how to become a preferred vendor for CC, but have been told that the BPOs are just sent out in a first come, first served process. Maybe other agents are getting the same thing with our name on them? Just want to make sure we're not missing something! :-)

D.

Hey! I got a few more! One because a previous agent said the area was surburban and I said rural.

Then another because they couldn't see the subject cleary in the photo. Hmmm... What's the big set of bars across the driveway clearly shown in the photo? Oh yeah, we call those gates. Then about 500 ft of winding driveway through uncleared land. It is hard to see the subject because the owner wanted it that way! I guess I'll break out the bolt cutters, trespass and go back for another photo. Hope the owner doesn't catch me because I can't share info with him.

Ben, I just had a clarification from emortgage like that. My "front" pic was of the driveway. My comments included the fact that the house sits at the back of a lot away from the road, partially behind another home and is unable to be seen from the road. The clarification was to please send a picture of the front of the house, not the driveway.

When I get a gated property, I note that (and of course you do also). I also will go to the latest GIS mapping program for the county/city and capture an image from the aerial photo and upload it as an image. I note the date of the GIS most recent update to the photos. I have had a couple of companies email be back great comments on that and it has resulted in a few listings.

I will definately try the GIS photos with them. I just wish they would give us who have been working with them for a while and do quality work the benefit of a doubt.

Our county has records online including a picture. The last time I did a BPO on a house that I couldn't see from the road, I sent a picture from the county wesite. It was the same picture of the driveway with a big NO TRESPASSING sign that I had sent them.

I just got one approved that I was sure was gonna get clarified... Gate I couldn't get close to the house, so I took a long shot pic. Couldn't see the garage but the county had a record of a 1271 sq.ft. garage (986 sq ft house) but it was on 2.8 acres of horse/ag land so it made sense.

Any way I put in the garage blank "Detached 1271sqft" I was sure some brain surgeon was gonna call me to ask if it was one car or two, but the call never came.

ggwwtre,
We considered doing everything from filing a grievance to speaking to him directly, and decided to wait a bit. He's doing another appraisal on a pre-listed REO of mine and I'm eager to see how this one turns out. I WILL be checking it over (my clients use me for free field reviews rather often, it seems), and if the same problems are evident in that one, then we'll decide how to proceed...
In the meantime, anyone wanna buy a nice $115k house for $135k???