Mystery Shopping is Simply the Best!

There is a plethora of mystery shops that can be completed in various industries to allow you to earn money from home. From dining to amusement parks like that famous one in Orlando, FL, you can complete a mystery shop within almost any industry. In this article, we’ll discuss why mystery shops within the apartment industry can be some of the best! One major perk is you can find available shops almost anywhere in the country, from Chico, California to Omaha, Nebraska and even in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

No Money Upfront 

Many mystery shopping industries require you to purchase food, items or admission upfront. Although those costs will most likely be reimbursed, you still must come up with those funds to begin with and in some cases, the shop pays a flat rate to include that reimbursement.  This is not the case with apartment mystery shops, such as those offered through EPMS. There is no money required upfront to become an EPMS shopper or to start shopping regular paper shops.

Design and Layout Ideas 

Multi-family housing construction is at an all-time high in many major cities from Corpus Christi, TX to Knoxville, TN, which really increases the demand for apartment mystery shoppers. A fun benefit of completing these shops is they provide many opportunities to see new apartments, including their interior design. This can give you some great ideas for decorating in your own home. The layout of the apartments and offices are always interesting to see as well.

Short Answer Mystery Shop Forms 

The shopping reports for EPMS are easy to complete. The forms are filled with questions you answer based on what you remember from your recent shop. The report is broken down into sections organized by the parts of the shop (telephone, community appearance, greeting, tour, etc.) and most of the questions are yes/no with a few comments questions to sum up each section.

The sooner you begin, the sooner you can start making money, so get out there and get shopping!

Get Your Ducks in a Row

You’ve made the wise decision to start earning money working from home as a mystery shopper and you are about to perform your very first apartment mystery shop! Follow these tips to help you do your best. After all, if the shop goes smoothly, you will feel better about accepting more jobs and making more money.

One of the first things you should do is get a good night’s sleep. You will need to be alert and observant on the shop, so try to get the rest you need. In the morning, have a bite to eat and then start making your calls to the apartment community. Most apartment communities start answering their phones around 9:00 AM, but this can vary a bit by location.

When you call, make sure you already have a timeline in mind for your move. Don’t hesitate when asked for that information! Doing so will make the agent will wonder why you don’t immediately know when you will be moving and that may compromise your identity as a shopper. Remember to also have a reason why you are moving. Most people move because of a job or because their lease ended. Just be sure your reason for moving is plausible.

After the call has been completed, you are ready to complete the on-site portion of your shop. Wear better clothes to make a good impression, but dress comfortably as well. You will likely have to walk to the model or empty apartment. Make note of the time you arrive at the shop and the time you leave.

Lastly, when you have finished your shop and return home, you will want to write the report ASAP, while the information is still fresh in your mind. If you took notes during your visit, you will be ahead of the game and your report will be accurate.

Once you’ve completed a few shops, you’ll find that most of these practices begin to come naturally!

Help Them Help You

When you choose to work from home as a mystery shopper, you have several important responsibilities. One job is to create a space for the leasing agents to show their best performance. To do this, you want to make sure you take the focus off yourself as much as possible and instead allow the agent to take the lead. You’ll want to be sure to present yourself as an open, pliable leasing prospect.

Here are three great ways you can conduct yourself to allow the agent the best opportunity to succeed: 

Listen 

The leasing agent should be doing more talking than you. Remember, your job is to respond, not lead the conversation. Of course, there may be some leasing agents who are more talkative than others, but that is okay; another part of your job is to be comfortable with silence.

The leasing agent should be aware of what his or her job consists of, so sit back and let them take the wheel and guide the conversation, both on the phone and on-site.  Be responsive and answer questions freely, but allow them to ask for the pieces of information they need. 

Smile 

The more comfortable the leasing agent feels with you, the more he or she will feel inclined to complete their job thoroughly. A smile, especially a genuine one, can go a long way to creating a scenario where the leasing agent believes they can succeed in closing an apartment lease with you. 

Act 

Act like you are a real prospective resident. This means you should allow the agent to sell you on the community. If you do not like something about the apartment, use it as your objection for the leasing agent to overcome. This will sound more natural and believable. However, keep in mind that you are not really leasing, so you do not have to press too aggressively about your objection.

Apartment mystery shopping will become easier the more relaxed you are on the job!

Maximizing Mystery Shop Volume

Mystery shopping is a great way to work from home!  You stand to make the most money when you are able to complete your shops quickly and efficiently. Here are three suggestions to help you cut out the excess and streamline your shopping process. 

Be Receptive 

Work to present yourself as open and receptive to what the leasing agent has to offer. If you are able to make them feel comfortable, the process will flow organically and it will encourage them to give their best presentation. Although most leasing agents receive similar training, each puts his or her own “flavor” on their sales technique, so it’s best if you can go with the flow and let them take the lead. 

Be Natural  

Excessive talking and over-explaining can cause a mystery shop to take more time than necessary.  Remember, your job is to evaluate the leasing agent’s performance in trying to convince you to lease. You will not actually be leasing the apartment you are being shown, so there is no risk in showing interest in a community or apartment you may not actually be interested in a real scenario. Be mindful not to over-explain your shopper story as this can tip the agent off that you are a shopper and could cause your shop to be invalid.

Let the Leasing Agent Shine 

Allow the leasing agent to lead the tour.  A good leasing agent will walk ahead of or near you during the apartment mystery shop tour. Along the way, he or she will ask you questions to determine your needs and wants in a new apartment home and will know what to say and how to respond to your needs. You will want to be sure to let the leasing agent lead the both phone call and the onsite apartment tour.

The more you can relax, the quicker your mystery shops will be over time, which will allow you to complete more shops each month.