Every work order you submit goes through a review process. Understanding what the reviewer on the other end is actually checking can make the difference between a clean approval and a time-consuming back-and-forth.
Here’s what they’re looking at.
Photo compliance. Before anything else, reviewers are checking whether your photo set matches the required checklist. The right number of photos, the right photo types, in the right sequence. If the requirement is 20 photos and you submitted 15, that’s the first flag. If they need a specific photo type — like a utility meter reading or a four-corner grass cut photo — and it’s missing, the order gets kicked back before they even evaluate the work quality.
Before-and-after consistency. Reviewers are comparing your before and after photos side by side. They want to see the same angle, same framing, clear evidence that the condition changed. If your “before” is shot from the street and your “after” is shot from the porch, it’s harder for them to verify the work was completed to standard. Make it easy for them — same spot, same angle, clear transformation.
Specification compliance. Did you do what the work order asked for? If it says “cut grass to 3 inches,” they’re looking for evidence of that. If it says “install Code 3 lock,” they want to see the specific hardware. If it says “broom-swept condition,” they want to see clean floors. This sounds obvious, but the number of orders that get rejected because the vendor did the work slightly differently than specified is staggering.
Property condition reporting. Good vendors don’t just complete the assigned work — they report conditions they observe. Mold in the bathroom? Note it. Roof damage? Document it. Broken window that wasn’t on the original order? Photo it and include it in your notes. This protects you (you documented what you found) and helps the servicer (they can authorize additional work). Reviewers appreciate thorough condition reporting.
Completion notes accuracy. Your written notes need to match your photos. If your notes say “installed new padlock on front door” but your photos show a rear door, that’s a problem. Keep notes specific, accurate, and tied directly to what the photos show.
The reviewers aren’t trying to reject your work. They’re trying to verify it meets the client’s standards. The easier you make their job, the faster your orders get approved, and the more likely they are to keep sending you work. Build your process around making that reviewer’s job as simple as possible.