A good pointer on photos I learned in crime scene photography. Its the four corners and three views rule. In every room you photograph take a picture from each corner of the room and the picture should be of you focusing to the corresponding corner. This way you capture a complete view of all of the rooms contents. Then the three view rule is the overall shot, intermediate, and close up of each item you are photographing. This will help you refresh your memory of where the item was and also provide good detail of the item. I just did a rather large home with about a 1/4million in contents. It was about 6 hours of photography work and around 700 pictures. I prefer the quadrant system which is a search method but you can adapt it to inventory as well. In large homes you'll often have large open floor plans. Large rooms divide into fourths and start right to left working counter clockwise. On my last large home I would review with the client after I completed each quadrant that I had documented and photographed each item they wanted. I had to deal with a large jewelry collection, multiple antique collections, and expensive home interior items. It was over a 100 page report when it was completed. I felt just like you did when I walked in...quite overwhelmed. But I have worked several large crime scenes and knew to break things down into smaller more manageable sections. Good luck!!
I like the idea of taking an overall room pic too! That would be a great help if i some how forgot or my photos get mixed on what was in what room......andrea
Start at the entry and work from left to right like you are reading a book. Complete one floor at a time before moving to the next level. Ask lots of questions, take major notes, and lots of pictures. As for the pictures, take them left to right also and take an overall view of the room from more than one angle before doing individual pictures of items. I have a mega inventory coming up that has about a dozen different collections so I know how you feel. Mine inventory, however is not my first inventory.
Have fun!! Tony and I did one and it took 20 hrs!! She had alot of really nice stuff!!
I ended up having to do alot of extra work at home since it was so large!!
Do as much as you can at the house meaning inputting!! Do the pictures also once you have 80-100 pictures download them while they are fresh in your head! Also this helps if you forgot something!!
Tony and I work together and he takes the photos I input so it is important for me to do some Pics in the house!!
Definatly take 1 room at a time and ask alot of questions to the home owner this will save time later and you won't forget the questions!!
For the guest house I would look at it before you offer for free!!! It could be another large house that will take alot longer to do then you think!! Next time i would just give a 50% discount!!! Hopefully you will get lots of referrals!!!
Well for starter congratulations! Remember small steps...one room at a time. Don' t let size cloud you judgment. I did a large home and it was nicer than the small homes. Big rooms with less stuff...
Practice the same principal. Walk in and start clockwise left to right. The issue I ran into with the large home is all there stuff was worth $$$$ so take pics and journal everything! That vase you see when you walk in...yup worth $$$. Don't forget to take pics of the toilet, tubs, sinks and fridges....they are generally worth way more than the average joe. And yes, home insurance needs records of blinds, curtains, tubs and their Gucci suits.
Pretend its your place and don't be afraid to ask questions.
My name is Andrea out here in sunny & hot Arizona. I just started my business in January of 2007 and this week I am doing my first (real) inventory. It just so happens I am panicked as it is a 5600 square foot home and I am suddenly feeling overwhelmed as to where I will even start..... If anyone has done homes of this size or larger I would be most appreciative of any advice. The two I have done for practice were 1400 square feet(apartment) and another single family home around 2500 square feet.
How I got this particular customer was through my son's school at a charity golf tournament that I presented a package to for auction. I just don't want to look dazed and confused when i walk in the door --lol.
Thanks , andrea
PS. She also has a guest home but on the phone I told her the package was just for the initial residence and if she loved what I did for her and refers me to someone who I do an inventory for I would come back and do her guest house for free.
