READY TO BECOME A MYSTERY SHOPPER?
WHAT ARE MYSTERY SHOPPER JOBS?
A mystery shopper is someone like you who signs up as an independent contractor and “secretly” shops and evaluates products and services. This means the person or business you are evaluating does not know that you are there to observe and report on your experience.
WHAT SHOPPERS DO
Independent contractor mystery shoppers who conduct apartment shops for clients obtained through Ellis pretend to be looking for an apartment. They evaluate the sales performance of the leasing staff. Contract mystery shoppers, rather than trying to “catch” someone doing something wrong, are there to look for everything that’s being done right! Then they fill out a report on their entire experience, including any areas where opportunities for improvement were noticed!
DO I HAVE TO LIVE AT THE APARTMENT COMMUNITY?
No you don’t have to live at a community you shop! As a mystery shopper, you have to place yourself in the shoes of someone who WOULD live at the property, even if you would not, so that you can be fair when reporting on the sales associate’s performance. Even if the apartment doesn’t suit your personal taste a shopper will ask him/herself, “Did the leasing agent do their best presentation of what they do have to offer?”
BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
Mystery Shoppers need to be responsible, dependable, and even more importantly, fair and unbiased. It is critical that shopping reports are objective and accurate. Clients use the shopping report to determine if an agent needs additional training and to reward them for a great performance, so an agent should have the best opportunity for success, but a mystery shopper also needs to report on areas that could use some improvement.
WILL I BE AN ELLIS EMPLOYEE?
No. Apartment Mystery Shoppers need to be completely detached and independent, to ensure the data they report is objective and not subject to any outside influence. This is why Ellis contracts with them as Independent Contractors and does not retain right of control over how they perform the mystery shop. All projects are directed by the Project Description Details provided. Shoppers are not employees of Ellis (EPMS). Mystery shop projects are available on very part-time basis. There is no guarantee of any minimum number of mystery shopping opportunities.
GETTING PAID
For each project, a client pays a flat fee amount which is posted with the Project Description for the shop contract. For each shop contract you complete according to the Project Description, you will be paid the shop contract fee for that shop. Ellis disburses client payments to shoppers once a month by direct deposit.
HOW DO I GET HELP?
We have many resources for Mystery Shoppers available online once you log into your Ellis independent contractor mystery shopper account. A staff member is available to help and can most efficiently respond when contacted through the “white envelope” associated with each shop project on the shopper dashboard.
WHAT TO EXPECT
STEP 1: ACCEPT
Accept a shop contract as an independent contractor via our online system 24/7. Review the project description details and start the shop! (@ 5 minutes)
STEP 2: RESEARCH
Research the property briefly online to familiarize with pricing and the basics they offer. (@ 3 minutes)
STEP 3: CONDUCT
Conduct a telephone call with the specified leasing professional for the project, usually through our Toll Free recorded line. Be prepared to answer questions about the move before contacting the apartment community; express interest in an apartment and allow the agent to ask questions, speak about the community/apartment, and invite to visit. (@ 7 minutes)
STEP 4: PROCEED
Proceed to the community location to conduct an on-site assessment based on the program description details. Allow the agent to ask about or confirm needs, provide a tour or virtual presentation, and attempt to close the sale. (@ 25 minutes + drive time)
STEP 5: COMPLETE
Complete a written report of approximately 70 questions plus comment areas about the call and visit online through their Ellis independent contractor mystery shopper account. Listen to the recording of the call (and visit), if available, so the report is as accurate as possible. (@ 30 minutes)
STEP 6: REPORT
Report any follow-up contact the agent makes after the visit through the Ellis shopper account; or they report that NO follow-up was received after 5 days from the date of the onsite visit. (@ 3 minutes) Sample report