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I love Grace Hill one of my favorite companies I work for. They pay well and payments are within 30 days. Mainly apartment shops (video, audio and non-recorded).

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/2025 10:20PM by kathytwin.

Have done 1 shop for them. Pay was good. Shop was completed on 4/25 and payment 5/15.
I will give them another try.

So far so good here.

I've been doing as many community standards jobs as I can, and I have my first apartment mystery shop in years (they used to be my bread-and-butter) set for tomorrow.

I'm still debating whether or not to invest in a button cam for video shops now that they have absorbed EPMS.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

I have been debating that also. I wonder if there is an app that shoppers use for audio and video...I don't really want to invest $500.00 for a button video and audio mentioned on their website.

Easy, well written instructions, respectful, pay is decent and on time. Only did 1 tho…

Question about EPMS/Grace Hill. I've scheduled my 1st apartment shop with this particular company. Instructions say to use an alternate name & contact info since the leasing company stores that, so the leasing agent entering it might suspect you're a mystery shopper if you inquired before, or at a bunch of apartments managed by same company. Of course they'd store the alternate info too, so my question is do you create a new email account & phone # for every shop, and what program do you recommend for free temporary phone #'s?

Years ago epms loaned mea camera, once. Maybe ask if they're willing to do it now. Never happened a second time.

@MsJLG wrote:

...so my question is do you create a new email account & phone # for every shop, and what program do you recommend for free temporary phone #'s?

I use mail.com when I need multiple additional email addresses. I already have several that I regularly use, but a couple have elements of my real name.

I use Burner to create fresh phone numbers. It's about $30 a year if memory serves. Comes in handy in a variety of situations.

The only challenge is coming up with fake names that are still somehow related to your real name on your ID.

Granted, most leasing agents never look at it before stashing it ahead of the tour, but you never know.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

Why not get a free Google voice number and just let it lapse afterward?

Do they normally ask for your ID? The tour I did, they didn't ask. Either the agent screwed up there or he figured I wasn't a threat.

@Deedeezthoughts wrote:

Why not get a free Google voice number and just let it lapse afterward?

Because I avoid Google whenever possible. They are jacks of all trades and masters of none.

I've used Voice before and found it to suck, just like everything else they touch.

The only Google product I use consistently is Maps on my computers when planning my routes, and even that app sucks. You get a mileage scale when doing simple searches, but not when you save a map with a route on it.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

@Deedeezthoughts wrote:

Do they normally ask for your ID?

I've never done an apartment shop where it was not a required criteria. Pretty sure it's a legal standard throughout the industry.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

Thanks!

Is that what you recommend? I've never needed a burner # before, that's why I'm asking.

@Deedeezthoughts wrote:

Do they normally ask for your ID? The tour I did, they didn't ask. Either the agent screwed up there or he figured I wasn't a threat.

Any I've done for other companies have all asked for my ID.
EPMS assumes they will, that's why they say to use a name similar to your own that could be considered a nick-name. If they didn't ask for ID, we could make up any random name.

You have to provide a valid ID in many states to tour, and they do scan them (usually) so I’ve always told them I’m still looking for the right place, or I’m looking for a larger unit now…

Google offers a free alternate phone #

Thanks everyone for the email & phone ideas! I did the shop today, report submitted & awaiting acceptance.

Can anyone offer any tips or insight about submitting a successful report without spending hours on it?

Are they cut-throat, or pretty good about seeking clarification or correction before flat out rejecting without payment?

I thought the shop went well until I started to complete the report. I had previously printed what I understood to be a blank report. I reviewed it thoroughly to make sure I observed everything I needed to. It was mostly yes or no questions with a few asking for clarification to any no answers. WOW was I surprised when I logged in to submit it online. Felt like a gazillion full narrative questions. My writing skills are fine, so I wasn't too worried at first, but after the umpteenth narrative I felt like I was just repeating myself. I mean there's only so much one can say about an apartment tour. I didn't know if I should mix it up or copy / paste. I was on a short deadline, so I didn't even go back through it to double check spelling & grammar. Now I'm worried about it being accepted.

There are almost no nicknames that resemble my first name. So, I had my middle name removed from my driver's license. If I am ever asked why I gave my name as "Chuck" or "Randy" during the phone call, I just say my middle name is Charleston or Randall. There are also nicknames you can use that have no resemblance to any name, such as Buck, Bud, Buddy, Buzz, Skip, Skipper, J.R., Spike, Peanut, Frog, and you can also google for a list of names and nicknames. You ladies have it easy, since you can say that you are now going by your maiden name after your divorce, but we guys have to always give our real last name.

These are all great ideas! I have done some of these and need to change up my info too.
Does anyone know when they pay for these shops? I thought I saw a shopper say in a thread somewhere that they paid on Tuesdays a couple times a month, but not sure.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2025 01:10PM by interested.

@AZwolfman wrote:

There are also nicknames you can use that have no resemblance to any name, such as Buck, Bud, Buddy, Buzz, Skip, Skipper, J.R., Spike, Peanut, Frog, and you can also google for a list of names and nicknames. .

Good idea on the totally unrelated nicknames, I'd not even thought of that.

Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2025 01:24PM by MsJLG.

@interested wrote:

These are all great ideas! I have done some of these and need to change up my info too.
Does anyone know when they pay for these shops? I thought I saw a shopper say in a thread somewhere that they paid on Tuesdays a couple times a month, but not sure.

In the FAQs it says they pay on the 22nd for any shops completed* by the 7th. *Not when you complete it, but when they approved for payment. My shop has been in status "received" for a week.

Thank you MsJLG,
I still have some in received that have not been put on a pay statement yet too.

I’ve had the same experience with the actual report being far more entailed than portrayed in the job posting, plus the contradictions with the 18 page “guidelines.”
Be sure to ask for clarification right away. I’ve had reports rejected over the contradictions and had to battle it out with editors to get paid after doing everything as stated.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/04/2025 06:30AM by SBP.

@AZwolfman wrote:

...I had my middle name removed from my driver's license...

That is some brilliance right there. Need to see if I can do that, but my DL doesn't renew for a few more years.

My middle name is William, and I have used variations over the years. Unfortunately, I do not look like a Willy or a Billy in any way, shape, or form, or even a Bill for that matter.

My last name is both short and unusual, and regularly gets mispronounced. If I need a variation I will give it with a possible wrong pronunciation and hope they don't ask for the spelling.

Have synthesizers, will travel...

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