I know video shopping is what I want to do.

It's nothing for me to drive 400+ miles in one day to net $100. The net used to be over twice that amount, but the contract no longer exists. The only joy on these trips lately is the banter at border control stops.

How did you convince others in your life that purchasing the equipment and the time involved learning how to do a video shops was worthwhile?

How did we convince who?

Instead of just buying equipment and trying video, I used equipment supplied by the MSCs for my first few shops. That way, I got some free video coaching from schedulers, verified that I liked and could handle the much longer scenarios and back stories needed, and racked up hundreds of dollars of video fees before taking the plunge and buying my equipment.

That said, I had only myself to convince that the investment was really worthwhile.

For some reason I always thought you bought the equipment first like me.

You're the only person that does things bass ackwards around here!*

*says the person who has done lots of new home and apartment video shops but never done a written shop of either type

Sorry LisaSTL, I'm trying to explain how video shopping could mean more money with my family. They don't like my new job. My 1099 from one MSC and the lack of 1099's from other companies don't help matters. With reimbursements I made slightly over $7,000 last year. My one and only 1099, I made less than $2000.

They don't get how much food and other stuff I purchased that was reimbursed. They just don't get it.

Traveling is not an issue. I'd rather be on the road for days if it means I'll make more cash and I don't have to basically drive the same route the next day to be where I was the day before.

Like Wales, I only justify purchases for my business made with funds from my business to me, myself and I

Someone once told me - "You won't be regretting it for long when the $75 shop fees start adding up"

Note - I don't have my PV-500 yet, but am saving up and buying it in the next month. Not regretting the investment for a second.

-butting in-

I have not video shopped, so will not address that aspect of your post.

However, I have encountered resistance to the very idea of doing anything at all in this general field of work.
I want to encourage you.

In my world, some folks cannot conceive of this type of work and because it does not fit into their heads and ideas, it does not exist and therefore I shall not do this work which I, in fact, do.

Is it possible that the possibilities for real and good income don't seem real to your family members? I don't know if you should try hard to convince or persuade, or if you can couch your shopping work in terms of being on assignment for... [temporary job; short-term contract for limited task; etc.]. Perhaps you can enlist them in some way at home that does not jeopardize your ICA agreement?

You know your family, and I think you'll find some way to work in your preferred way.

-butting out-

Also, it may be time to keep good records of reimbursements and to learn to convert the family savings from those into what would have had to be earned in pretax dollars to match those untaxed dollars of savings.

Like Wales and Lisa, I had no one to convince when I made the investment in the PV-500. I had only done three video shops when I made the decision to invest in the purchase of my own rig.

Hrm. Apparently only single people video shop.....

That's like saying only men drive Rolls Royce.

I don't understand how to find out if I'll be good at it. I can't find anyone who will rent me equipment so I can even try to make a fool of myself.

IIRC, Measure and a couple of other companies will loan video equipment for shops.

Ellis loans equipment all the time.

@bgriffin wrote:

Hrm. Apparently only single people video shop.....

I'm married. My husband did not object to my camera purchase. He knows it makes a good tax write off. He's a professional and fully understands my reimbursed groceries, gas , oil changes, etc. are non-taxable and we are better off in a financial sense than if I am drawing w2 salary.

So it seems I was the only person who thought it was a funny joke to make since the only 3 people who chimed in are all single........

Apparently

Clear Evaluations loaned me equipment when I first started. There are other companies that will loan equipment as well, some of which have already been mentioned above. If you are having trouble convincing your SO that video equipment is a worthwhile investment, and/or you're concerned whether you will enjoy it or be good at it, "renting" the equipment for your first few efforts is definitely the way to go. If the significantly higher fees on video doesn't convince your SO that the equipment is a worthwhile investment, nothing will. It is also a deduction on your taxes, as someone mentioned already.

Some travel is necessary in order to make good money at video shopping, and obviously you're already willing and able to put some miles on your car. You seem to have the right attitude and willingness to do what it takes, so I wish you the best of luck on the home front. Keep us posted

I've only been video shopping for 4 months, but I made back my initial investment in the very first month. And I have more than doubled the income I was making before I started doing video, while shopping fewer days per month and "working" fewer hours per day. My days are very often longer than they were before, but a good portion of each working day is spent sitting in my car listening to a great audiobook instead of schelpping from place to place trying to remember a myriad of details and spending hours writing detailed narratives.

And I'm just starting to hit my stride. So far I have never done more than 3 new home video shops in a day because I haven't found a good way to keep all my stories straight! I've started printing out a cheat sheet at the beginning of each day that lists each location, the target, the price range of the homes, my alias and alias contact information, and a brief outline of my back story. Also the names of the competition I'm claiming to have visited already or am considering visiting. It does take some time to put that all together for each shop but it's worth it. And it's really a lot more fun that standing in line at 5 different post offices and requesting credit card fees at 3 banks for the same amount of money in a day!

Tracy--this is what I do: I put the assignment in my calendar, then in the calendar notes, I type in all the pertinent details for the location. Target name, price range, floor plan I "like", my fake name/email/phone number/husband's name/kids' names etc. I glance at it if I need to, pretending to look at an incoming text or whatever. Who doesn't look at their smart phone a zillion times a day? I also find that since this minimizes the pressure on me to commit it to memory, especially when doing 4 in one day, that I can relax and my memory works a little better.

Yikes! I would never even think of doing 4 new home shops in a day. Mine all seem to include touring a lot and a rec center and costing out the home. Unless the SA is incompetant (about 1 in four gets me in and out in less than 60 minutes, by not doing most of the job), that takes 90 minutes. With sales offices opening at 11 AM and closing at 5 or 6 PM and an hour between offices, there is no way to pack in 4 shops. Do you have new home shops with guidelines different from mine?

Depending on the builder, and how close each new home development is, you can easily get 4 new home shops done in one day with an average of 45-50 minutes. Some builders average longer (90 minutes to 120 minutes) in some cases.

I would plan for 3 builders, yet as aforementioned, it depends on the builder. Doing 4 in a day isn't impossible.

I have never done a new home shop that requires pricing out the home or touring a rec center. I've kind of always wondered because I've noticed you've said that before and I've never done it. I will say I've only done new homes for two companies so my experience is limited. I'll also say that if they ask I almost always tour the rec center but I never bring it up and I have declined a time or two.

I did 4 on Thursday of last week. And I did 5 in one day in Florida recently. Most of mine seem to last 45-60 minutes and sometimes go 75 minutes but only a few.

The great thing is when you have a situation where one is a competitor shop and client shop for 1 MSC and 2 shops for another MSC. 3 of those I got to use the exact same name and backstory. Only had to change email and telephone for the 3rd one.

We may just be shopping different client/markets. I think you are right.

Most of my new home shops require costing. Most are in developments with extensive amenities, which the shopper is required to tour if a tour is offered. Abount half require a lot tour. The one time that I was IDed as a shopper at a new home shop was when I declined to tour the rec center. That SA then called her buddy down the road, who I had shopped that morning, who also claimed to have IDed me. That fumble on my part cost me $200 in fees and a full day's travel costs (back when MSCs actually paid travel costs). Never again! Finally, the longest new home videos may be ones for which you are not yet qualified becasue you do not appear to meet the "55 and over" requirements for the age restricted communities. These are the fastest growing segment of the new home industry and have the most elaborate rec centers and activity programs, which the SAs are required to vigorously promote. Thus the tour requirement! So, yes, we may be working for different client bases. BTW, there is one "resort community" builder of "active adult communities that has recently expanded outside of California. Their SAs are expected to spend three hours with each prospect. The scripted scenario leaves me wanting to scream, "Can I please see a floor plan and a model now?!" Fortunately, these pay at least twice the usual new home fee.

I just looked an see that in the last 24 months i have shopped 13 different builders.

Yes, I have not done an active adult community yet. I actually had one scheduled last week. Worked out a scenario with the scheduler and client. Was all ready to go. And the target ended up having to be out of town on the one day I was available to shop. I can definitely see why that interaction would be longer though.

Of the new home shops I've done I've always either had a lot tour or looked at the actual house they were building.

I've only done about 6 or 7 different building, all but 1 with the same MSC. I know at least 1 of those builders are the same (and the builder I've done the most of). Another difference is that I have not done work for two of the new home only MSCs that tend to be higher end.

I've done quite a few "Active Adult" communities and I still haven't gone much over 90 minutes. It helps that I have always "done some looking on their website ahead of time" and chosen a plan that will work for me. The scenario I present is designed to funnel them into suggesting that very floor plan. ("Need one downstairs bedroom," or "MUST have a 3-car garage," or whatever I can do to narrow the field in advance of showing up.)

I work for one builder who REQUIRES that you let the agent know up front that you only have 45 minutes to spend with them. Those are my favorite!

The ones I did 5 in a day of where quick hits. They wanted 10-15 minute and absolutely no more than 20. They were my favoritest ever!