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Who deleted my photos?

By
Real Estate Appraiser

As an appraiser, my digital camera is probably the most important tool within my toolbox.  The photographs that I take helps refresh my mind on the interior property amenities and are a required component for any form report that is utilized for a mortgage transaction.

Today I was trying to wrap up an extensive appraisal of a property that I had taken 28 pictures of (interior & exterior) as well as the comparables in the neighborhood.  When opening my picture folder on my system in order to insert them into the report, to my bewilderment...I noticed that my photographs were GONE...ERASED...DELETED! 

YIKES!!!

Wild thoughts started running through my mind on how I was going to get back into the property? How can I finish this report today?  What the heck happened to my pictures?  What do I do now?

Although I had erased the photos off of my camera last week, I had heard of software out there that will recover photos off of your memory card/stick after they have been deleted.  After I called a few of my techie pals looking for some sort of lifeline, one asked if I had used PC Inspector?  Although there are probably many others available, this one bailed me out.

PC Inspector Smart Recovery is a free program that you can download, pop your card/stick into the card reader, and hit go.  That's it...

It took approximately thirty minutes for the program to recover my photos from my 1 gig card. 

Photo recovery software = free

Memory card reader = $20

Getting my photos back of my properties interior = PRICELESS (to me)

 

Jeremy Cowin
Jeremy Cowin Appraisals - Altadena, CA
Nothing will make my stomch  turn into a knot faster than when I think I have or when I actually do loose pics of needed info.  I have several backups in place and ALWAYS make sure I keep it up to date.  Good work on the recovery!


Jul 20, 2007 01:42 PM
Sara Goodwin
Estimation Nation Corporation - Portland, OR
Portland, Oregon Appraiser

Excellent resource - Thanks, Robert!

My biggest fault used to be forgetting the street shot - After two or three times of going back to the subject properties, I learned my lesson.

Jul 20, 2007 03:47 PM
Elaine Liz-Ramirez
ERA Advantage Realty - Sebring, FL
MAI

Thanks for the Tip Robert!

I've gone back before to take pictures I lost!!!  THANKS TO THE TECHies TOO!

I've lost a 150 page report before due to computer crashing...Long, Long Time Ago!

It only takes once to Learn a VALUABLE lesson!

 

Jul 21, 2007 04:51 AM
Jackson West
Reveal Estate Home Staging - Vancouver - Vancouver, BC
I hope I never have to use this! Photos are also crucial for my work as a home stager. Bookmarked and rated a 5, thanks for the info Robert.
Jul 21, 2007 09:47 PM