Perturbed... EPMS Scheduler

@gmason: I use "Voice Recorder" on my iPhone. I've had it so long, I don't remember if it's the one that came with the phone or if I downloaded it. It was cheap if I paid anything. It works great. The only thing I have to remember is to put the phone into airplane mode before using it as an incoming call will pause the recording.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

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First, after you have done a few, the reports go faster. Second, I, personally, type very well, which really speeds up the reports. These shops are *not* for everybody.

All that said, I do not take them without a significant bonus.

@cynthamarieh wrote:

Do you find that the pay for their apartment shops is incredibly low for the time it takes to set the appt with the target, go do the shop and the report which is so LONG and seems to ask the same questions over and over?

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

Yes I found that voice recorder app and it works great, thank you. One more question. It says do not ask to set an appointment over the telephone. Do they mean wait until the agent brings it up? Thanks MFJohnston.

@gmason1005
Appointment: Correct, you are not supposed to ask for the appointment - they want the leasing consultant to have every opportunity to ask you. You can drop hints: "Gosh, it all sounds so good. Is the apartment as nice as it sounds?" "It's hard to commit to something I haven't seen." "Pictures online always show the apartments at their best. I'd really like to know if it is as nice as the pictures show." Etc. If all else fails, you call back later and ask for the appointment.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

I only do these shops every few months - just to remind me of how repetitious their reports are. By the time you do the shop and report you have a good 4 hours in - for $30 (non video/audio). That's $7.50 per hour - with so many other shops out there that are quick and easy, why subject yourself to repeating the same information several times (in detail) on one report?

Yes, the pay is low when you add in mileage and wear and tear on your car, unless the shop is heavily bonused. EPMS/Ellis is one of the better companies and yet it is difficult to do the job well for them and not take hours and hours chasing your target and then writing, which drops the pay to very little. I have no idea what the clients pay, but we need to get about double their standard rate for this to be worth doing without resentment.

Doing my best, every day

For non-recorded shops, I an write up the report in 30-40 minutes. On average, I am onsite for 15-20 minutes. I generally reach my target in less than five calls. All this adds up to (very) roughly a little over an hour per shop - not including transportation. Where I am, they start at $35. I start considering them around $50, but am not going to pounce on them until they are much higher. Recorded shops take about another 15 minutes to write-up and start at $45 where I am. I'll start considering them around $60. in other words, I'm working for around $50/hr. (before transit time), minimum.

Overall, for me to pick them up at $50 and $60, they have to be somewhere I am planning to go anyhow (i.e. on the way home from work). I'll then prioritize them behind other work. The last month or so, I've done a ton of these shops as the bonuses have been rather appealing.

quote=lbtweety47]
I only do these shops every few months - just to remind me of how repetitious their reports are. By the time you do the shop and report you have a good 4 hours in - for $30 (non video/audio). That's $7.50 per hour - with so many other shops out there that are quick and easy, why subject yourself to repeating the same information several times (in detail) on one report?[/quote]

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

Well I did it. I turned in my report on Friday thinking it would definitely come back needing more information. I was surprised today to find out that it was accepted. I didn't know the agents eye color but I guess that is just for EPMS to see if I was actually at the apartment. I did learn though that if I do another one it will be with anyone other than a specific person. It took my a while to get my contact on the phone, and it was my last try.

I also ask questions like 'What school district are you in?' or 'Are your units all electric?'. Then whatever answer I get I indicate that doesn't suit me.

@MFJohnston wrote:

3. If different folks answer, EPMS does not want you to just hang up. Instead, ask a question that will immediately preclude the community from being able to help you. For instance, if the community only offers one and two bedroom apartments, ask for a thee bedroom apartment. Or, if you know that they don't have a swimming pool, ask as soon as they answer if they have a pool. You can ask if the apartment is walking distance from a certain landmark/area, knowing full well that it's not. You can ask for somebody besides your target and say that you must have dialed the number wrong when s/he is not there. Etc.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/17/2019 01:41AM by KathyG.

Typically their onsite shop with no audio is $25 unless they bonus it. Their audio is$35 unless bonused. I have worked for them since 2017. Enjoyed the repetitive work and reliable editors until one came along and prefabricated something. I have the recorded call to prove the editor wrong. They cancelled the shop and so far after numerous emails and today a call, the have not said they will pay me. Will see whether this editor can read and be honest and he does not have a recording of the onsite shop. I go by the questions in the survey and my recorded onsite audio which I keep for shops with them as well as phone audio. I am not pleased. One word of caution. If you don't want your license scanned or written down, this may not be a shop for you.

Yes, their questions are redundant . Also ask if you can take efitira picture as you are looking at other communities and can't remember the specifics. They don't mind. Been good to me but one editor is an issue. Unless they pay me for a shop where I have proof the editor prefabricated something, I said I am not thrilled with working for them for $25 to tour and talk to agent for between 20-45 minutes, drive 30 minutes one way, two hours to imput the survey ( and I type over 70 wpm) and playing back my recorded audios I always save onsite,plus gas!! I have worked for them since 2017. Oh, if you don't want your license written down or scanned perhaps you do not want to do their shops.

An update today 4/26. I got a call back from Jeff and was assured I would be paid for the cancelled shop plus others I have done

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2019 06:00PM by Sweetiepie1.

Suggest you download an app on the app store that will also record your phone calls.

Having worked for them since 2017, I would like to add that typically you can't call back after you reach your target. Most calls are recorded by EPMS and those that you dial *67 I have no idea whether the community recorded.Typicalky one has to get permission to also ask for the target by name.

The numbers that pop up on their caller ID when you call from the recorded line aren’t random. They use the same numbers. Some properties save this number to the profile of the caller, even when you give them your own number. The leasing agent will eventually figure out who the mystery shoppers. This has happened to me a few times. One leasing agent told me that the number that I called from has been used by six mystery shoppers

Read their instructions. Most of the time they are the same. However, sometimes they will change. Their surveys are tedious and redundant. Unless you type at least 70 wpm which I do, plan on taking at least 2 hours to fill out the survey. Their narratives require so many characters in the fields and you can't save unless that requirement is met. There is one editor there that is a big issue about paying you. Also, be prepared at some locations to have your driver's license scanned or number written down. I walked out in the one who wanted to write the drivers license number down and said it was protocol!. I shopped another location with the same management company and they did not write my driver's license down. $25 is not much pay if you drive 30 minutes one way, gas, up to 40 minutes onsite tour and sit at agents desk, minimum 2 hours to fill out a report, then 4 day follow up. Most of the time this has been good. However, do not pay me once with proof editor is wrong and that is an issue.

Don't know why you are upset about them refusing to meet your request. I would just let it go. As far as the client, perhaps they won't pay the money you want.

It was the “LOL” comment I didn’t like.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

Suggest you record the phone conversation on your own phone too.

Understand

I have emailed the scheduler if I can't reach the target and asked for extension or told them to cancel depending on what is going on that day.

Yes I did one shop for them and found the questions incredibly repetitive, I mean how many times can you ask the same question in different ways? Not enough pay for the amount of time it takes to get your target and do the shop and fill out the report. I type around 95 wpm and still have issues with the time!

Well that's kind of like the phone shops (done over the phone, not at the phone store) that are recorded on the MSC's equipment and added into the report.

Then they ask you for a narrative on how the call transpired!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/20/2019 02:24AM by wrosie.

Also, I got burned one time when I had a target named "Jane". Well, Jane answered the call, we set an appointment and I went to do the shop.

Unfortunately, there were two leasing agents named Jane, and I had talked to the wrong Jane. The targeted Jane only worked on the weekend and I shopped it during the week. It would have been good to have known that fact somewhere in my instructions.

You should be paid for that one.....

@wrosie wrote:

Also, I got burned one time when I had a target named "Jane". Well, Jane answered the call, we set an appointment and I went to do the shop.

Unfortunately, there were two leasing agents named Jane, and I had talked to the wrong Jane. The targeted Jane only worked on the weekend and I shopped it during the week. It would have been good to have known that fact somewhere in my instructions.

Hard work builds character and homework is good for your soul.

Realizing your post was submitted a long time ago, I will very briefly explain to you that I too shopped the wrong person when doing my first Ellis apartment shop. Alex and Allie worked in the office together and naturally my shop went unpaid. But your post made me feel much better. Sometimes it stings a little to be rejected. Especially when it was no one's fault but our own.

re: how to explain the phone number which shows on community caller ID:
On those rare occasions when I am asked, I say it's my employers cell # and then provide a number which can connect to you: google or burner or real phone number. Never been questioned further.

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