Originally Posted by
Jerry McCarthy
Saving all your inspection photos, not just what you put in your report, could end up becoming your "get-out-of-jail-free" card.
I cannot emphasize enough just how important visual evidence is at a binding arbitration or in a court of law.
Jerry:
Unpublished photos of jobs have saved me at least a hundred times. There are so many examples of how these can be lifsavers . . but I won't bore folks by listing them all.
(1) Foreclosures - Lots of stuff gets stolen from foreclosures when the owners move out. One house I did was missing one of three condenser units. I took a picture of the empty pad. When the agent and bank attempted to have me replace the unit - I sent them the picture.
(2) Flip houses or investment (rental) properties - The new appliances installed in these houses are sometimes replaced with older or less expensive models. The couple of times I've been asked why the old clunker appliance was not indicated as in need of repair - I sent them the picture.
(3) Vacant properties - I take a short .mpg movie clip of the water meter dial when leaving. When they call and say I left the water on at some fixture or another - I send them the picture.
(4) If the client is present for the inspection I always clandestinely take their picture. If they later say they were not there - I send them the picture.
Lots of other reasons exist. Be creative. Camera memory is so cheap. Use it.
Aaron
