I did several EPMS shops up till this year. The difficulty in trying to reach a targeted persom always (for me) required multiple phone calls. I do not generally schedule time at home to make calls, and cannot commit to making several calls in one day or on several days.

The shops, themselves, are pretty easy & standard, but the reports are a huge PIA. It often took me 2 hours to do each report.

I would consider doing untargeted, drop-in shops for $50 minimum (because of the drive time + visit time + report time), or targeted shops for $65. But until that's EPMS's pay scale, I see no reason to do their shops. Other shoppers can feel free to pick them up for low prices, but I cannot work for that little.

I did 9 shops for Ellis this year, each for $30-35. All of these were relatively positive reviews, a couple very positive, and all was well with Ellis. But then I visited a poorly maintained and poorly managed apartment with an agent who could have cared less about renting their units. My report reflected these conditions.

Surprise... Ellis refused to pay, stating that "I failed to give the agent an opportunity to close." When I disputed this and provided proof that the agent was given objections and failed to even try to overcome them or close in any way, the management then responded that this wasn't the real reason.... the real reason was that the client refused to pay them because my report was "negative". A manager told me I wasn't supposed to give "opinions" of the conditions of the apartment complex, yet many questions in the long report ask about the conditions of the lobby, exterior, landscaping, environment, etc.
And those aren't opinions? Good lord!

So they simply lied initially, and ultimately refused to pay me because I reported exactly what I observed, as I believed was my assignment.

I had already been considering dropping them for reasons many have cited here, mainly the long, redundant and tedious reports but after failing to even consider my complaints about their original dishonest rejection, I would suggest being very careful in working with a company like Ellis which would treat its shoppers like this.

Any other groups doing apartments? I'd like to do them, just not for Ellis.

We have all said enough negative, although warranted, my positives are: I call when I'm home anyway or in Starbucks
scheduling, and they are easy about extending dates. Having said that, today will be my second day of calling, and
my frustration will rise. I did get a call center yesterday with no one answering at all......wish me luck! I think the
MS motto should be, "If it doesn't hurt, it's not worth the money". No pain, no gain.....

I was out of town, visiting a major city, and noticed that an apartment complex across the street was highly bonused. I could see the leasing office from my hotel window. I told a scheduler that I could do it but could not submit it for two days, as I was on vacation and didn't want to spend two hours on the report. I figured I could visit the property for 20 minutes and walk to the steakhouse next door for cocktail hour. I was told "no" so I didn't do it. The shop was still showing up as unassigned days after I returned.

I just did one for STAR and what a difference between EPMS and STAR! Not only is STAR easier to work with I actually got a 10 on my report and a thank you for being so detailed in my report. AND I did not have to describe the leasing office layout, tell them the agent's eye color or look for some distinguishing feature on the leasing agent's body! The job was bonused to $45 and I wish STAR would get some more jobs in my area.

EPMS is my bread and butter. Robert in video and audio is totally awesome. He has set up some killer runs for me to total out at over $200 a day. They will work and work with you on getting the reports in if you have set up a route. Some EPMS client reports are MUCH shorter than other, so you will get to know which form to look for. I have done probably 50 or more shops for them this year. I love the company and don't mind the work. Targeted agents each up my cell phone bill....lol so I don't like those, but I just got burned on a shop anyone shop because the community wouldn't answer the phone. Bottom line, nice company to work for, quick pay, and once you've gotten used to the reports, not too bad at all!

I have done many and EPMS continues to be one of my main ones. They are very easy to work with. If you have a good rating with them, they will sometimes bonus the shops if you ask.

I do a lot of shops for EPMS also. I have commented on the condition of apartments--stained carpet, walls that have obviously painted over 100 times, smelly office--and I have never not been paid. Your main consideration is how the leasing agents act. If you concentrate on the conversation and the way they demonstrate the apartment, you will have no problems. They mostly want to make sure the employees are asking the right questions and trying to get you to lease there.

Half the time I forget to look for some unforgettable, distinguishing characteristic of the leasing agent. Of course, there was the pregnant girl with the low cut blouse, the girl with tattoos covering both arms and the one with numerous piercings. And the man with the beautiful blue eyes.

Now they have a section at the end where you can comment on how you actually feel about the apartment complex. I like the question whether you would recommend the place to your friends. I think I've only said I would once!

I love Robert who is on the video/audio shop side. But the traditional shop side make me crazy! It's like two entirely different companies. I've never not been paid except the one time that I screwed up an shopped the wrong fellow. (The instructions said, "Anyone BUT Howdy Doody," and I charged right in and shopped Howdy!) But the editors on the trad side can be a PITA, and I avoid their shops like the plague. No apartment shops under $45 for me.

I have only been doing this for a couple months, I only have time to do EPMS , I got hit with 5 target shops at the same time. My scanner hasn't been working and boy am I in trouble there, I've worked on it for a week now endlessly, it's a good thing I don't have anyone that I could be ignoring due to this paperwork. I don't know about you but I can't rember where the blue glass bottles with green and blue silk flowers was, this is senseless. I'll still do the target shops if they notify me again, then I can fix my scanner

We never have shops without a target, so, my suggestion is: after calling one day or 3 to 5 calls, pay for each call is 2.00
for the time and sweat. Since the shops are only 40.00 with hardly ever more than a 5.00 bonus (which is rare), this gives incentive to take those jobs...it is hours of work and boils down to about 10.00 an hour not including time calling. The report
being timely, the actual tour fun, and remembering the Agent's eye color, well that's another thread! I must ask, if you have
the Agents card and description, why her eye color and what if she's wearing colored contacts, this is L.A. you know!!!
Maybe we should count her teeth.