Digital Documenting Condition Service
If you are comfortable and skilled at taking photos and video this could be a business idea that you may want to start working on. This will take a person with a good eye, noticing the details of property that has been rented out by your clients. Your photo documenting will show proof of the state of their property when renters vacate them.
Property owners need to have documented information about the condition of their property after tenants move out, but they do not always have the time or photo skills to do so right away. You can offer your services to these proprietors. They will be happy to have you do this for them. It is also better for them to have an unbiased person documenting the facts for them, if they need to take your information to court.
Time will be essential for this type of work; you will need to do your job as soon as tenants move out and return their keys. Taking these pictures and videos will also carry more proof by including a time and date stamp on them. You may need to offer your services at the last minute and at unusual times of the day and night.
Your client should give you a list of details that they would like you to document for them. If they don't, you might suggest that they give you one or offer to suggest a list of items to look for and document.
You may want to invest in a flyer or brochure advertising your services. In it, explain your various fees, services, and how clients can contact you for your services. Include photos that you have already taken to give evidence of your skills. Invest in business cards also; these are very useful for business people to contact you.
Make sure that you document the day and time you take pictures and who the pictures belong to, also take pictures of everything you can, the more the better, for this type of documentation. If you can, use a digital camera; you should be able to make copies of the pictures and save back-ups of them right away. If you use a camera with film you risk the chance of loosing your photo's. A digital camera would prove to be much safer than sending out your film to be developed or dropping it off with a developer and risk the chance that it may be lost or mishandled. If this were to happen, it could jeopardize your business.
Take photos and and/or video of the property and report to the client with your written report and a CD of the pictures and/or video. You could charge $50 and up, depending on how large the property is that you are documenting. You might decide on and quote a price to charge depending on the square footage of the dwelling or the number of rooms and don't forget that you may need to document the outside of the dwellings also.
A good way to start your business would be by contacting property owners with your information, visit them by appointment, or mail your information to them. Advertise your services in your local newspaper and pay for an advertisement in your local telephone book.
Resources:
http://www.irfanview.com
http://www.betterphoto.com/digital.asp
