Ok Night Owls, I need some suggestions. I am doing an apartment call tomorrow morning and am at the point that I need to ask for the Target by name. Any ideas for how I know his name???

The MSC states that I need a "convincing" reason, but doesn't give much in the way of ideas for that. I feel like if I say "so-and-so met with you last month and referred me," and they haven't met with a so-and-so, he will know I'm a shopper.

My neighbor says her daughter and SIL were please with (target.) Gee, no, I do not know her daughter's married name.

A colleague said his cousin (or BIL/SIL) was happy with your service and he got your name for me. No, I don't know the cousin's name.

Friends of my sister used to live there; they gave her (target's) name. No, I don't know their names.

I used to work in the leasing office of an apartment complex, and we used to get the above all the time. Current and former tenants would give friends of theirs the leasing manager's name, and when they'd call they'd only want to speak with her. (And I'm sure these folks weren't shopping us--I had the "privilege" of being the person shopped once!)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/12/2016 12:55AM by BirdyC.

My go to if I'm in an area I don't live is that I'm moving for work. I met some coworkers on a previous visit who live there/used to live there and they recommended her. Gosh I met so many people that day I can't even remember who it was.

Edited to add I obviously don't throw all of that information out at once, it's more:

How did you hear about me?
One of my new coworkers gave me your name
Oh who was it?
Oh gosh, I was in doing my paperwork the other day and met so many people I couldn't even begin to tell you who it was.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/11/2016 01:37PM by bgriffin.

Caller: Hi, I spoke with ____ last time I called.

Target: Hi, this is ______ how can I help you

Caller: Yes, I was calling to see if you still had that 2 bedroom available

Most of the time, the target will ask your name and go along or ask which apartment.

When they forget that they have spoken to you, tell them, "I know you said that there was one left...They are trained to tell everyone that they have limited availability.

This usually works for me.

Someone at work told you about it cause his cousin whom you do not know moved in recently or, looked at a place there but couldn't move in cause they had a dog.. And, you have no idea what his name is. Obviously don't use the Dog scenario with moved in.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/13/2016 06:04AM by woodyca.

"I spoke with XXXX a little while ago and am finally getting back to him./her."

I like to go with the "A friend of a friend recommended (name) on Facebook, sorry, I can't remember their name" I get a lot of recommendations from Facebook friends and groups so it's really not out of the ordinary for me.

"He/she was the suggested contact on a third-party website. Geez, no, I don't remember which one. It was an apartment hunting website, and I've looked at 5-6 in the last two days. Found all of the links through Google."

-Standard suggestion of neighbor/distant relative/friend of a friend/new co-worker/friend of a new co-worker/a personal client at work/new hairdresser/some random person you just met recommending them.

-You could also look up to see if there are any online testimonials from people who say they've worked with them, pick a name, and say you know one of them.

-If the leasing company has more than one location, you could also pick a different one and say I was referred by them because the location would be closer to me/where I want to be.

-You found the name in a printed or online phonebook under 'Leasing Agents', 'Apartment Complexes', 'Renters', or something related to that.

-You found a business card lying on the ground/on a bench/ on the floor some random place within 0-15 miles. Geez, no. I don't know how it got there. I wasn't worried, though, because the card and surrounding surfaces looked clean. Funny coincidence. Can I talk to the person?

-"My cleaning lady gave it to me. No, she doesn't want me to tell you her name."

*twiddles thumbs with a guilty look*

I sometimes also look at resume or social media sites to investigate schools attended, other places worked, volunteer/awareness activities, churches or religious groups attended, charities they might support, or clubs/organizations they might be in.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/13/2016 08:04PM by OceanGirl.

Wow! Thanks for all the creative ideas!

I was finally able to reach my target today, met with him, and just finished the report.

Phew! Lots of play-by-play narrative and 100 required characters. Now let's see if I get paid in a timely manner...by the MSC's standards for pay of course!

jgo, Glad it worked out for you!

I don't use the acquaintance used to live her line. Sometime back, a shopper posted that after he used it, the agent commented that she had just been working there two weeks.

My girlfriend called around and spoke with (target name) and told me to talk to them regarding the original quote that they gave.

Nice dance work!

I once used the co worker gave me your name , then found out the target had just started working there two days prior from out of state...Got a little messy trying to get around that one. So now I usually say I talked to target a while back and go from there.

I have used the concept that I overheard people talking at the senior center and your name came up as a wonderful contact. Nope, too many people at one time to remember who said it.
BUT - you had best be in a proper age category to have been at the senior center for some reason. Of course, if you are 30, you could have been there with your parents, grandparents, etc.
Good luck.

I always say, you may not remember me but we spoke several months ago about my renting an apartment in your community. I wasn't quite ready then, but I am now and would like to know what you have available. They talk to so many people, they will never know they did not talk to you. I have had several targets say, I think I do remember talking to you.

Obviously you are unfamiliar with CRM

CRM? I know CRS,, not CRM.

OctoberGal, that assumes the agent has worked there several months. Could come back and bite you, if the agent is a newbie.

@LisaSTL wrote:

CRM? I know CRS,, not CRM.

Customer Relationship Management. It's the software that tracks all of their customer contacts.

Sticking with the recent stalker theme running rampant in this forum, you can always say that you saw him/her stopped at a red light and you thought he/she was cute so you followed that person to their place of work and now you are interested in renting an apartment in that complex so you can be closer to that person. Easy peasy.

P.S. Leave a single red rose of their desk for that added special touch!

.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/05/2016 01:21AM by ChrisCooper.