HOT SHOTS

Tips from Zaio’s top photographers

Bernard Bernardo, a Zaio photographer and appraisal trainee based in Phoenix, AZ, shares his recommendations on fostering positive community relations:

As a photographer for Zaio, you need to realize that you have a very unique job.  Most homeowners who see you photographing the neighborhood will perceive your actions with curiosity, but there will be instances when they view you with suspicion. Being prepared and having the right attitude are key elements in subduing any negative contact with homeowners.
 
Here are a few steps I take to ensure smooth relations with anyone who cares to stop me and ask me about my job:

• Accept the fact that homeowners will be curious about your activities. Smile and be courteous when explaining your job and why you're photographing homes in their neighborhood.

• Dress as professionally as possible, while maintaining a level of comfort that allows you to perform your job. Always wear your Zaio ID badge.

• Maintain the cleanliness of your vehicle, both inside and outside. I do contracting work in my free time, and I've noticed that homeowners only become more suspicious when they see gloves, duct tape, ladders, or any other tools in a vehicle that might indicate you're something other than a photographer.

• Above all, ensure that the local police department is notified of your activities. I personally inform local authorities of my general location daily (they like to make fun of my name every time I call in). When you tell homeowners that the local authorities already have all your information, their level of suspicion drops dramatically.

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