Send Photos by Text

How it works

When you're working on a cleaning or maintenance job, you can document everything by simply sending photos as picture messages to the same number you get task offers from. There's nothing to download, no app to log into, no upload screen to wait on. Take the photo, hit send, and it's attached to your active task within seconds.

Sending a photo

1. Take the photo with your phone's regular camera.
2. Open your text messages.
3. Find the conversation with the Vanio number (the same one that texted you the job).
4. Attach the photo and send it like any picture message.

That's it. You'll get a quick reply confirming the photo was received and added to the task.

Sending multiple photos

You can send as many photos as you need. There are two ways:

• All in one message — attach several photos to a single MMS and send them together.
• One at a time — send them as separate messages. Each one is added in order.

Both work the same way. Pick whichever is easier on your phone.

How many photos to send

A good rule of thumb is two to three photos per room in the property:

• One wide shot from the doorway showing the whole room
• One close-up of any area that needed extra attention (made bed, cleaned counter, polished mirror)
• One of anything unusual — damage, low supplies, something the host should know about

For a typical 2-bedroom turnover, that's around 12 to 18 photos. For a deep clean, more is better.

Photo guidelines

A few small things make a big difference:

• Open the blinds and turn on the lights. Dark photos make even spotless rooms look grim.
• Shoot from the doorway. Wide shots show the whole room and make before/after comparisons easy.
• Hold the phone level. Crooked photos look unprofessional.
• Skip personal items. Don't photograph guest belongings or your own phone in mirrors.
• Use landscape mode for room shots when you can — they fit the report layout better.

Reporting damage or issues

If you find damage, take a photo and add a short description in the same message:

"Tile cracked behind toilet in master bath — was already like this when I arrived."

The photo and your note are flagged on the task as an issue, so the host sees it right away and can decide whether to charge the previous guest, schedule a repair, or just note it for later.

Where photos show up

Every photo you send is added to:

• The task timeline — visible to the host in real time
• The task report — included in the polished report the host gets at the end
• The property history — searchable later if anyone needs to look back

Common questions

Do photos cost me anything? Just whatever your phone carrier charges for picture messages. Most plans include them.

What if I send a photo to the wrong task? Just text "wrong task" and Vanio will help you reattach it.

How long do my photos stay available? Forever, as long as the task and property exist in the system.

Can I send video? Short videos work too, but photos are usually clearer for documentation.