Apartment shopping

I am starting this thread to help people who have never done or may be interested in apartment shopping. Please post any relevant information you have. Possible posts can be on which msps do them, how much they pay, time it takes, video and recorded apartment shops, or anything you can think of.
I will start with the fact I have done apartment shops for epms. They take anywhere for 3-6 hours total time. Pay is $40 and up.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.

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Ouch--what took so long? I've done a few non-recorded shops. I had to call ahead for an appointment, got there, took the tour, report was actually pretty easy considering. I usually wait until they are bonused. There are not a lot in my area.

I think that the OP included reporting time. EPMS written reports go much faster after you have done a few of them. Their reports take me about 60 minutes on avaerage. You have to get into the ryhthym of those reports.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

For every company other than Ellis my average is 5-10 minutes for a call if it is even required, 20-30 minutes on site and 20-30 for a report so 45 minutes up to an hour and 15 minutes. The only thing that increases with Ellis is the report time. Like wales, mine take maybe an hour so total time is still under two hours.

I am curious as to why yours are taking 3 to 6 hours. Maybe we can offer some advice to help you cut out some of that time.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
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Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

Reaching target was PITA. The onsite was fine. The report took 1 hr 30 minutes. I did have to drive an hour to get there but my choice. I think 2-3 would be normal including everything emps is repetitive report.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.

Targted shops are often a PITA, and it seems that's almost all Ellis has these days.

Jancyn, bless their hearts, still has both. They pay a bit less, but for me, they are much easier reports to write up.

While it is tempting to start a new thread about apartment shops, if what we are doing is discussing Ellis (EPMS) ahopa, why not just so a search for the latest (of many) threads on Ellis and update that.

Buffalo, EPMS apartment shop guideline and reports are widely recognized as unique. Also, their fees vary by region.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

I have done the shops we are discussing and they are too detailed for me to complete in just one hour and feel like I have done my best work. The shop takes time from the phone call to the on-site visit to the report. I have never completed - from start to finish - in under 3 hours. I do not do targeted shops as I can not plan my day not knowing when/if my target will be answering the phone. I no longer do recorded shops as the report is the same detailed length as non-recorded shops - something I couldn't' grasp as they have the recording to listen to. (trying to see if you contradict yourself perhaps?)

It comes down to either doing one $30 non-targeted, non-recorded shop and blocking out 3 hours of my day or taking jobs that pay a little less but can be done in 1/2 hour. I can do 6 shops that pay double the $30 in the same amount of time one apt shops takes.

I've done over 50+ apartment shops in the last two months and they varied from $30 to $50 shop fee. The higher paying apartment shops required a recorded telephone call and recorded on site. The tour usually took about 30 to 40 minutes and the report about an hour.

I just got an offer to do one this weekend (yes, the holiday weekend) 80 miles from here for $30. I countered with $125. No response yet, but I don't really expect one.

Ironically I was right near that complex two days ago but wouldn't have had time to do it that day.

I don't like doing them for less than $30 but I've taken $20 (non targeted) if I was in the area anyway and had the time in my schedule. I actually enjoy them but I agree with whoever questioned why the report is the same even when recorded. Maybe if the report comes in bad they listen to the recording before taking action? If it's all good they don't listen to it?

I dunno.

Time to build a bigger bridge.

I have an apartment shop to do for Remington tomorrow(non targeted). This is my first shop with them. Can anyone tell me how they are? Trying to read through the guidelines was a little confusing. I used to do apartment shops for EPMS,but it's been a few years. I do remember their reports though. WHEW!

I did my very 1st shop for this company and you're right the guidelines are quite confusing. The entire shop (targeted) took 4ever!! A lot if repetitive writing and those targeted shops are a PIA! I could be days before you reach your target!!! Long narratives, NEVER AGAIN, ONE AND DONE, if you know what I mean!!!! Good luck!!!

Baby Cakes, don't judge all apartment shops by EPMS...that's who it sounds like you did the shop for, simply because they are known for all the redundancies in their reports.

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Have PV-500 & willing to travel.
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Remington editors are helpful but very exacting.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.

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