Getting started

[William M. Corbett]

I have been doing periodic jobs for a Co. called Metro Labs out of VA.
A couple of pics, 20 ?'s, and a quick illustration of property nets $175.00.
The three I've done have taken about 1.5 hrs. plus another 1/2 hr. uploading the pics. No complaints. Well they are a little slow to pay. About 30 days after invoice.

[Richard L. Bennett]

What does a service tec of any trade charge to come to your home and fix something?

What does someone charge you to change the oil on your car for 15 mins of work??

Please do not under charge for your services --

That is one of the main problems of this profession

rlb

[Steven C. Waskewicz]

Looking for opinions on "Clear Capital" and their inspection requests?
I got two of them today, but they were already accepted by someone
else I guess, but what strikes me is the amount they list for their fee...

Here's a paste from the one I just got (that was already taken)

"Hello Steven,
Clear Capital is looking for an agent or inspector to complete a
Property Inspection (Please note that this is not a BPO). This
solicitation may have been sent to other local agents. This
assignment will be granted to the first person to accept this
request on ClearCapital.com (instructions below).

Property Inspections ORDER DETAIL:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Property ID: 869328
Property: 1098 PRICKLY PEAR PLACE COLORADO SPRINGS CO 80921.
Due by: 1:00 PM PST on Wednesday, September 20,2006
Fee: $15.00
Type: Property Inspection
Photos: Digital photos are required.

Photo Instructions:
1. One current, original photo of the front of the SUBJECT.
2. One ADDRESS VERIFICATION photo.
3. One STREET SCENE photo looking down the street.
4. One close up photo of any DAMAGES present.


Special Instructions:
*********************************
***--ADDRESS VERIFICATION PHOTO AND PHOTOS OF ANY DAMAGES REQUIRED.**
*********************************
--ACCESS TO GATED COMMUNITIES MUST BE OBTAINED- Please view a listing in the community if you are a broker. If you know anyone in the community please have them buzz you through the gate. If you cannot gain access please ask the security guard if any damages occurred to the home.
--Please provide detailed descriptions of any damages present.
--Property Inspection Only. No comps required.
--Please Do Not Accept if you cannot complete by the above due date and time.
--Please do not approach the occupants or owners.
--If the subject is in average condition, please place it in 'Good'. Thanks!

HOW TO ACCEPT THIS Property Inspections:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Go to this address: (Make sure you copy the whole URL.)
http://www.clearcapital.com/?sid=520445715-40891437
AOL Users Click Here: <a href=" BPO</a>


2) Login to your account and click 'Accept' next to the property
address.

3) Complete and submit the BPO using the simple online tools!

Thank you for using Clear Capital!

NEED HELP?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Logging into your ClearCapital.com account will show your current
available and in-progress Property Inspections.
If you have any questions, please contact our Vendor Support Team:
Email: support@clearcapital.com
Phone: 530-582-5011
ABOUT CLEAR CAPITAL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Clear Capital serves financial institutions by automating and
streamlining loan valuation processes. You were sent this solicitation
email because you are listed as a Property Inspection professional.

[wforsyth]

These are not undercharging for your services. These are a totally different profession that one can choose to get into or not. Some of us find it to be very lucrative as we do many all at once. Some of these places give you 30 $15 inspections in the same complex, or something similar. It adds up!

[Jeffrey S. Campbell]

do NOT sell yourself short... I ran my *** off a few years ago with the mentality that I will take anything i can get to keep money coming in... problem was time, expenses, stress... did NOT make it worthwhile... Tell these people an accurate estimate of WHEN you can get it done... and you can do it for $XX... many times they will bite... you may lose some but try it for a while and see how it goes... a couple years ago i made sure i raised my rates... this past year I reduced my coverage area I would do without a fuel charge... now when I go outside that... an added fee... and folks... I STILL get more offers than I can handle in a month to do this Field Service work... but its at my prices now... typical drive by photo... no less than 25.00 on my terms, my schedule... easy money.... no more 7-10.00 jobs... the paperwork hassle is not worth that...

[wforsyth]

The only way I'd do 10.00 jobs is if they had about 40 of them all in one development. Otherwise no. I don't do any jobs for less than 50.00 and I have to be able to do it in my time, which means I'm already going to the area.

[Andrew Shick]

I've got a place that pays me to do progress (construction draw) inspections for out of town lenders. No quality, just quantity. I get $40 for about an hours worth of "work", $60 if it's in the country. It's below my usual hourly rate, but if I do it on my own schedule, as a filler, what's the harm?
I make an extra $3-4k a year doing them. Not too shabby.