The Double-Up

I'm sure this has been discussed several times but here is my thread on it....

Is the "double up" accepted? I have two MSCs that are (to the best of my knowledge) not affiliated with one another both offering an evaluation of the same apartment complex. Neither evaluation is targeted. Neither MSC has "offered" me the evaluation...it is just on their board.

I've never shopped THIS location for either one but I have done 10-20 evaluations at other communities for each MSC.

Is it against "the code" to double up or is it something that is not frowned upon--sort of a don't ask/don't tell policy.

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I guess another way to look at it is this. Should I try to pitch it? Like if I were to tell the scheduler, "Hi, I am scheduled with ____________ to do an evaluation at __________. I noticed you have that on your job board also. Would you like for me to knock that out for you?"

I am pretty sure the rental management company would be very disappointed to receive the exact same report from two different sources. It could cause you problems with both MSC's.

@OCyou2 wrote:

I am pretty sure the rental management company would be very disappointed to receive the exact same report from two different sources. It could cause you problems with both MSC's.

Good point. So do you think if I were to tell the scheduler that I'm already scheduled to do it with Company X and would be happy to file a report on their website, they would pass and tell me, "no thanks?"

Do you think it would be better to just not make the pitch?

I wouldn't do it. If it were two different types of shop, that would be different. Like if you're on a restaurant shop and happen to notice there's a debit surcharge shop for the same place. Two totally different shops for different reasons, clients and MS companies.

One MSC might be trying to win the client from the old MSC. Especially if this location has lingered at the old MSC.

Filling out two reports, in my mind, you didn't do anything wrong. If one or both get rejected you're only out your time, it's not as if you bought a $200 dinner expecting reimbursement.

Two companies...same report...a big NO to me...unethical and possibly will be caught and banned by MSCs

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@metro25782 wrote:

I'm sure this has been discussed several times but here is my thread on it....

Is the "double up" accepted? I have two MSCs that are (to the best of my knowledge) not affiliated with one another both offering an evaluation of the same apartment complex. Neither evaluation is targeted. Neither MSC has "offered" me the evaluation...it is just on their board.

I've never shopped THIS location for either one but I have done 10-20 evaluations at other communities for each MSC.

Is it against "the code" to double up or is it something that is not frowned upon--sort of a don't ask/don't tell policy.

The problem I see is if I can do one shop and meet both MSCs requirements. If in meeting one MSCs requirement, you have to alter the approach for the other one, then it presents problems. I have done consecutive shops at the same location. But they were independent of one another.

Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230

I think as long as you change the wording of your report it should not be a problem right?

Actually, you need written permission from BOTH MSCs and you cannot tell eith the name of the other.

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've had two schedulers tell me it's okay to do the ones I've done. I did get the permission from the schedulers first, though. I ask both to be sure I have the green light.

Shopping Arkansas, Louisiana, & Mississippi.

Sounds like a hung jury on this one....

What i think I will do is this: One MSC is paying upwards of $50 for the shop and the other is paying between $30 and $50. I will sign up with the one paying more than $50 and contact the scheduler at the other MSC to see if they will take my overall evaluation as well.

I've never done a true double-up before. I have done the venerable gas station shop to where on one you evaluate the cleanliness of the pump and restrooms for one and on the other you make a gas purchase and evaluate the restaurants and self-serve area. I guess my question was whether it was against "the code" so to speak... Like not dating your ex's room mate; no specific rule against it but something that you just don't do.

Just be cool folks.

I've done two shops at once for a gas station/truck stop. One was the company themselves, one was a competitor.
I am doing two jobs at the same gas station this week. One is a product recall and the other is a merchandising visit. I don't believe doing both is unethical in any way.

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