Posted by ILsigning on 8/21/07 7:02pm
Msg #206886

Anyone know anything about Lisa Thomas's site Paid for Pics?

I can't find anything on not rot using search.

Reply by C_in_OKC on 8/21/07 10:45pm
Msg #206901

I do not recall if the paid for pics site I looked at was from the person you mentioned but here's my take on what I found if it'll help you. The site I saw offered to sell a book on how to get into the business of providing digital pictures to companies that have properties in foreclosure. Lots of promises for very little performed work: snap a few photos as requested by the company and then upload or e-mail them to the company. The website I saw even had a link to view scanned check stubs the website owners had received for doing it (big money). When I checked the scans, lo and behold, there was the spread-winged eagle logo of a company familiar to many notaries. So I went to that companies website and checked the links they had available on foreclosures and loss mitigation. That company does offer property management companies opportunities to act as their agent in foreclosures, notice postings and clean-ups (changing locks, weatherproofing houses, replacing windows and the like). Nothing was mentioned about just taking photos or how to sign up to do so. I went back to the scanned paystubs and sure enough they were made out to a property management co. I did not buy the book (If I recall correctly it was selling for about as much as a lowball signing from a title company) so maybe there is an opportunity I'm missing out on, but it didn't seem to fit in with my business plan.

Reply by Becca_FL on 8/21/07 11:01pm
Msg #206904

Re: Anyone know anything about Lisa Thomas's site Paid for P

I too, came across a website/brochure for the eagle company advertising loss mitigation services. I guess they want to get you coming and going.

With the title business being scrutinized as it has been, it doesn't hurt to diversify. Shoot, the eagle people have their hands in every aspect of the business...From title insurance, certifications, credit, asset verification, all the way through to mortgage loss mitigation. Can you say DIVERSIFY?

Lesson learned.

Reply by C_in_OKC on 8/21/07 11:33pm
Msg #206909

Re: Anyone know anything about Lisa Thomas's site Paid for P

Becca as always your analysis is spot-on. It was that diversification you mentioned that led me to consider looking into the picture thing. There just wasn't any info on the eagle folks website concerning photos that I could locate. To pay anyone like the website mentioned in the original post to learn a business reminds me of my one year membership mistake in the XYZ so long ago.

As far as property management of foreclosures goes, knowing the eagle folks stinginess with a dollar made me think that if I went into that side of the business I would have to front the money for the replacement windows, weatherproofing, new locks or even re-activating utilities to work on the foreclosed property. The work would have to be inspected and probably then an invoice could be submitted.

Floating the eagles a 30 to 45 day loan on my services each month is hard enough on me, I can't fathom being into them for thousands of dollars for supplies and equipment. Ugh.

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/22/07 8:59am
Msg #206947

Re: As I recall the "eagle people" require

quite a bit in E&O insurance to take these photos...not Notary E&O, I might add. So, how many of those 10-15 photos would it take to pay for $1MM business E&O policy, I wonder?

Reply by DogmongerCA on 8/21/07 11:15pm
Msg #206907

This is a legetimate opportunity

http://www.fastsnap.com/index.php


PS... I have no affiliation with this company, just lending a hepin hand:-)

Reply by Margaret_FL on 8/22/07 8:04am
Msg #206927

Re: This is a legetimate opportunity

I checked out the paid for pics website and recognized the pay stub. It is possible to make that kind of money, I have been doing it for years. The check stub you see is from www.nvms.com National Vender
Management Services. You can gets tons of work from them and also www.fastsnap.com and www.clearcapital.com. A few years ago when we had the three hurricanes within two weeks I did $7,000 in two months (working sunup to sundown 7 days a week) I was even turning down loan signings because I could make more doing inspections. Everything has its ups and downs. I now do closings, drive-bys (pictures only) and pre-foreclosure inspection, foreclosure inspections, process serving. I have been diversified for years because I do not want to go back to a "Job". I have been self employed for 15 years doing things like selling on Ebay, Amazon.com, etc. I even today am a Trading Assistant on Ebay, I sell other peoples big ticket items such as cars, boats, motorcycles, RV's etc.

Get good with your "Google" skills, I have found all my opportunities from the Internet. I have found work on Craigslist.org working for a Personal Injury Attorney. I was hired by an Attorney as an Investigator. When the Attorney can't meet with a potential client he calls me and I go to their home with the client forms, contracts, medical release forms. I get copies of ID, they sign 2 medical releases that have to be notarized. I also gets copies of accident reports and talk with the client about the accident. I have to tell them, I am not an attorney and that if they have any questions I can't answer they need to talk to the lawyer. I am an independent contractor for the attorney, we set up my fees and did a contract. I charge him $75 base fee with $1.00 for round trip mileage. I only get the calls he can't do but I do several a month. I had one case where a little girl was hit by a car after getting off the bus. She was OK, but I made sure that she got the names of all the witness's. Most were other parents that were waiting for their kids to get off the bus. I love doing this work, the times are flexible on my schedule.

I got this job off of Craigslist and had to do a "Interview" with the Attorney. After talking to me he hired me on the spot. He had interviewed many people before me but instantly liked me.

Please do not bombard me with emails about how to get into this work.

Reply by Brenda Stone on 8/22/07 8:46pm
Msg #207106

Re: This is a legetimate opportunity

Margaret, awww c'mon and tell us all MORE. Take us by the hand and lead us. LOL.



You hit the nail on the head. Get GOOD with Google. AND, learn to recognize opportunity.

Reply by Elizabeth/MN on 8/22/07 8:19am
Msg #206931

Re: This is a legetimate opportunity

I looked into the Lisa Thomas deal, but didn't go so far as to actually purchase the books....I'm so afraid of being burned on scams.

I did sign up at this fastsnap place. Question(if you are willing to answer); I have absolutely NO idea what sort of fees this type of work would be. Anyone willing to throw a number out there? (PM ok) I've done pictures for inspections before, but not for foreclosures. The email from fastsnap said that I need to let them know my zip code coverage and fees. I'm guessing as the need for mobile notaries goes down and the fees we are being offered are also going down, maybe the fees for taking pics of foreclosed properties will go up, since that is in demand.

Reply by Templin on 8/22/07 8:32am
Msg #206935

Re: This is a legetimate opportunity

Is it possible to start a list of companies the we can do inspections for or digital photos? I did sign up with a few companies, but I am having a tough time finding them.

Reply by Margaret_FL on 8/22/07 8:41am
Msg #206936

Re: This is a legetimate opportunity

Go to www.sofi.us and sign up for a Yahoo email that you get daily. These are companies needing to hire
inspectors for various things.

When doing your inspection reports, use spell check before submitting, they frown upon reports that
they have to correct before sending to the client. I have spell check in my browser. It just always amazes me when I see the spelling skills on the Internet. I just saw a part-time work ad on Craigslist that
the poster had a misspelled job title and misspelling throughout the job description. When I used to hire people I saw a lot of spelling errors on people's resumes.

Reply by Templin on 8/22/07 9:41am
Msg #206954

Re: This is a legetimate opportunity

I am actually already receiving them. But there is not a lot in my area. I did one for Clear Capital awhile ago, but nothing recently. I am currently doing searches on google and just signed up wtih Fast Snap. If anyone knows any others please let me know. We don't get alot of hurricanes in Pennsylvania, flooding yes, but not very often.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 8/22/07 8:43am
Msg #206940

Re: This is a legitimate opportunity

I just signed up as well. If you go to the "Order Photos" tab on the FastSnap website, you can type in your zip code and see how many photographers they have in your area, as well as the lowest fees offered. My experience working for Clear Capital is that it needs to be really close for $15, such as 5 miles or less. Of course, with CC, you also have to write up a short report. Not sure if that's required with FastSnap.

Reply by ToniK on 8/22/07 8:47am
Msg #206942

Re: This is a legitimate opportunity

Isnt this called "Field services"? You can google field services and there is about 200 copanies that pop up that need this type of work done. As for sofi.us I am on that yahoo group and the most I see come across is $15 for photos. Unfortunately for me all the jobs are in rural areas and I refuse to drive 50 miles for $15.

Reply by Margaret_FL on 8/22/07 9:00am
Msg #206948

Re: This is a legitimate opportunity

I only do these $15 drive-bys within 10 miles and I usually go right by these places daily.

Reply by Margaret_FL on 8/22/07 8:58am
Msg #206945

Re: This is a legitimate opportunity

No description or write up is required with fastsnap. Clear Capital has changed, they used to send out the orders and the first person to accept it got the order. Now they send it to one inspector and you have about 2 hours to accept.

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/22/07 9:05am
Msg #206949

Re: This is a legetimate opportunity

I've never gotten a job from FastSnap -- they go to the lowest bidder. The photo inspections I do only make $$ if you can do volume & get several in the same area -- not usually possible. I do them to pay for gas in the tank, leaving more profit from notary activities (at least on the books). You really need to have a business plan in place to see if this will help or hurt your overall business picture. In and of itself (at least in my area) I don't see how anyone can really make much $$ from these after expenses. However, if they complement another business activity you're already involved in, it may work for you.

Reply by Margaret_FL on 8/22/07 9:18am
Msg #206951

Re: This is a legetimate opportunity

I get a lot here in Florida, insurance companies have started getting annual photos for their file, banks also need an annual picture for their portfolio. I get a lot of orders right after a storm, all in the same neighborhood. I did 20 inspections in less than 2 hours and I made $25 for each inspection. All done from 7am-9am. I have 24 hours to submit and most of the time I am on my way to a signing appointment. This is not the case in all areas of the country but it has worked for me. I made $70,000 last year and I am ahead of last years fiqures.

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/22/07 9:32am
Msg #206952

Re: This is a legetimate opportunity

I'm hoping for a hurricane or at least some good flooding, then. Actually, I've been doing CW photos & expect occ verifications in the next few months -- hopefully. I do the ins. co ones also, but notary work still pays more!

Reply by Margaret_FL on 8/22/07 9:58am
Msg #206956

Re: This is a legetimate opportunity

I do foreclosure inspections that pay $75 and they take 10 minutes. Usually in same neighborhoods. If you count 1 hour driving to a signing, 1 hour there, 1 hour back. I do make more doing inspections plus they are my schedule. I have 2 signings this afternoon, both Reverse Mortgages that pay $200 each. On Monday I did 10 foreclosure inspections from 9am-11am and made $750 before noon. I get my foreclosure assignments and I have 10 days to complete, so I group them by zipcode and do so many each day. Last month they needed rush inspections out of my zipcode area and I charged $150 each.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 8/22/07 10:07am
Msg #206957

Re: Do you need a license to do foreclosure inspections?

Margaret, I went to the National Vendor Management Services website and it looks like you have to hold some sort of license to do inspections for them. Is that the case?

Reply by cassiewi on 8/22/07 10:18am
Msg #206961

I was wondering the same thing although

They let me sign up with no info in those spots. But now it's at select services, I have no idea what to put there. So now I'm looking up training. Also, and please just tell me if you don't want to answer this Margaret, but I've been looking at craigslist for a week trying to determine which jobs are legit and which are not, any suggestions on how to tell the difference? And again, I completely understand if you don't wish to.

Reply by Charles_Ca on 8/22/07 10:20am
Msg #206962

Some activities like BPOs require a real estate license n/m

Reply by cassiewi on 8/22/07 10:25am
Msg #206964

I'm not filling in anything yet..thanks Charles n/m

Reply by Templin on 8/22/07 11:21am
Msg #206978

Re: Some activities like BPOs require a real estate license

Refresh my memory, what is BPO?

Reply by Charles_Ca on 8/22/07 11:24am
Msg #206979

BPO = Brokers' Pricing Opinion n/m

Reply by M/VA on 8/22/07 4:10pm
Msg #207048

Re: Do you need a license to do foreclosure inspections?

I found a site that has TONS of information on foreclosure inspections and many other types. That's how I found this site. I obtained the ebooks and am surprised by the different kinds of inspections there are out there and the huge differences in the rates of pay. The foreclosure inspections (and many others)don't need licensing but there are some that do. Its at inspectionstartingpoint.com. I noticed that National Vendor Management is one of the companies listed.

Reply by MelissaCT on 8/22/07 12:30pm
Msg #206992

Re: Margaret, I know you're REAC, etc. certified

do the foreclosure inspections fall under that HUD certification? I would imagine that at the pay rate you receive, more formal training would be required than a simple drive-by type.

Reply by Cynthia Furgason on 9/17/07 9:32pm
Msg #211654

Re: This is a legetimate opportunity

can you pass on the foreclosure company info? I am not in your state. Thanks!

Reply by Charles_Ca on 8/22/07 10:26am
Msg #206965

An activity that pays very well is doing virtual tours of

properties for real estate agents so that they (or you) can upload them to the MLS sites. However MLS listings in many areas need to be IDX compliant and some virtual tour software is not compatible with either the IDX or some of the other formats. Typically virtual tours take about 30 minutes to shoot and configure and pay $125 to $175 depending on complexity but if you market well you can get several a day from various agencies in your area.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 8/22/07 3:29pm
Msg #207041

Re: An activity that pays very well is doing virtual tours of

Charles, I didn't realize that real estate agents don't do this themselves - this sounds like an interesting opportunity, I just don' know anything about how to do it!

Reply by Charles_Ca on 8/22/07 7:40pm
Msg #207090

I do it myself but I know a number of photographers who

make good money at it including my daughter. I've always enjoyed photography but virtual tours are different than just taking a few snapshots of the home. If you browse Multiple Listing Services you will see those listings that have 360 degree views of homes and some even have a map attached shwoing the location of the camera. When you place your pointer on the picture you can rotate the image and see all around you in the room and then literally click on a target in the doorway and be taken to another room wher again you can rotate the image. Virtual tours allow one to actually take a tour of a home without being there. Recent statistics show that 35% of buyers have viewed their prospective homes on the web.

Anyway to make a long story shorter you can approach real estate agents with these tours which give them a competitive edge in listing presentations over those who do not use virtual tours. Just think that if you were selling yoru home you would want the best exposure and so you would want your real estate agent to utilize the latest technology to show off your home. I don't sell homes but I like to use many of the same features including things like interactive 800 numbers and talking signs. A typical example can be seen here:

http://www.c360.ca/prescott/sa/

There are anumber of tools to make these and if you are interested I'd rather chat off the site about what is involved so that it takes up less room here: e-mail of PM me.