shopperpro

I had a question about my new digital so here’s the answer - I’m in love despite it’s color. If you have no clue what I’m talking about at the start of the month I bought a new digital camera. It was on sale because it’s pink and the sales associate confided that no one wanted to buy a pink camera. I don’t care what color it is - it takes lovely pictures even with my novice handling.

Being me, I did research the model number of the camera when I got home to check prices. I couldn’t find it anywhere for less that $40 over what I had paid and that doesn’t even take shipping into account so I am one happy shopper. I also saw it in Wal Mart last week - the black model was $20 over what I had paid the other colors were $40 over what I paid so yaaaaay me!

I have used it several times on mystery shops since its purchase and have had no problems whatsoever with the picture quality. I have to admit I was a bit daunted by its many picture modes - there’s even a specific setting for fireworks - but have had no problems with it so far. One charge of the included battery takes over 200 pics on the highest quality setting, and with the 2GB memory card I have it holds over 400 pics also on the highest quality setting.

I am now busy plotting my next vacation/outing so that I can take some truly awesome photos. I’m thinking a little day trip to a local wildlife preserve might just be the ticket. I’ll keep you posted.

The follow-up - in a nutshell follow-up means that the consultant attempted to contact you after you toured the community by phone, email, or mail. This is yet another reason why all the phones at my house have notepads with pens next to them. You never know when that phone is going to ring and you’ll have to note the follow-up. This can be especially confusing when you’ve done four apartment shops in a week. Save your emails, note your phone calls, and scan your cards for your follow-up report. If you are required to note all of it at once you will usually receive a reminder email when it is due. In case you don’t make sure you’re follow-up date is on you list of things to do as missing it could adversely affect your shop report, pay, or shopper rating. If by chance you receive a follow-up attempt after the reporting period has expired it becomes your call. You can send an email to your scheduler detailing the attempt or not. I generally do because, well just because, I’m me and like to do the best job possible.

See? We’re done. Now that wasn’t so bad was it? Just remember to keep you common sense with you, read your instructions, read your instructions, and you’ll be just fine. If you’re nervous about trying one of these why not do a practice shop? Pick up a copy of your local For Rent and make an appointment at an apartment community near you.

By now you’ve made a phone call, visited the community, and seen a vacant/model apartment. Note the time when you leave the complex. If you didn’t observe it on your drive in take a moment to drive around in a circle and check out the property for maintenance issues or trash. See if you can find the trash area as well as the mail center.

If you’re not filling out the report right away pull over in a shopping center close by the community and make some notes now while the memory is still fresh in your mind. I usually make a series of one and two word notes that will jog my memory later when I am doing the report. Yes, I do this for all shops not just the apartments.

When you get home submit your report. Whew! Weren’t all those narratives fun? You’re done, right? Not quite - read your instructions. How do they say to deal with follow-up attempts? Are you just required to report all follow-up attempts in five business days or do you have to report them all individually? Do you have to send follow-up notification to your scheduler or can you enter it in on the company website?

To be continued…Just one more I promise!

The close - After you’ve seen the model/vacant apartment you should go back to the office to discuss it. The consultant should attempt to get you to lease the apartment today. Do they create a sense of urgency? This means did they tell you something like, “There are only a few of these units left and they go fast.” Did the consultant offer you anything to get you to rent today? Current promotions and specials may be mentioned to induce you to fill out your application now. DO NOT mention that you need to discuss it with someone else. You must be the decision maker on these assignments. I usually say that I’m still looking at other communities. If they ask which ones I’ll usually name a complex that I either drove by on the way to the assignment or state that I don’t remember offhand. The consultant may ask your permission to ‘keep in touch’ at this point. Say, yes! This means follow-up which you will dutifully report right?

Don’t forget to get your proof of shop here. Try to get a business card from the consultant. They *should* provide you with an application or a flyer for the community. I usually receive some kind of brochure with the floor plan on it. The consultant may write on it. This is good. If the consultant doesn’t have a business card, and this does happen, just make sure that you get something professional with the community’s name on it. If you can get the consultant to write their name on it that’s even better.

To be continued…Don’t worry we’re almost done!

On-site visit - cont. By now you’ve met your consultant, seen - hopefully - some of the amenities, and have walked or ridden the golf cart to the vacant or model apartment. You are a prospective renter here. The consultant should point out features in each room you visit or at least have something to say about it. Open the cabinets and poke into the closets just like an actual renter would do. On occasion I even turn on the water to check the water pressure. Ask questions - if you just sigh occasionally and breeze through this is a dead tip off that you are a mystery shopper.

After you’ve seen the entire apartment the consultant should attempt to close. The attempt might be as subtle as, “What do you think?” or a straightforward, “Are you ready to fill out an application.” Pay attention to the words. If you haven’t already, make your objection now. You are always required to object to the apartment. It HAS to be something the consultant can attempt to work around like lack of closet space, or wall color. Make a mental note of how the consultant tries to overcome your objection.

To be continued…

On site visit - cont. So you’ve arrived at the leasing office and are comfortably, I hope, seated at a desk or table with your consultant. They *should* take this opportunity to fill out a guest card which will have your personal information on it and what you need. In rare cases you will have to fill out the guest card yourself. Make a note - this is important.

After the guest card is filled out and you’ve surrendered your driver’s license or other photo ID will be the tour. The consultant *should* start out by showing you the clubhouse and other amenities, like the pool, which are usually close to the leasing office. Sometimes they don’t and you will note this for your report. If you take a golf cart be sure to note its condition. I know this should be another common sense item, but make sure you wear comfortable, and durable, shoes. I once had a consultant trot me down a muddy path to get to the apartment she wanted to show me. I was fine, but she was in heels and had trouble walking. I had no clue what she was thinking doing that.

Pay attention to the landscaping on your route. You may be on a defined pathway specially created to appeal to prospective tennants. Usually the path will have a lot of flowers or decorations on the way to a model apartment if this is the case.

So where was the mystery shopper this week? Catching up on paperwork and what nots! In the first two weeks of the month I OD’d a bit on mystery shopping in general. So far for the month I’ve completed 51 assignments and am tickled to announce that not only have I met my earnings goal - I’ve surpassed it by over $100! It was a very good month for apartment shopping.

One other shop I was tickled to do this week was an offer to do a spa shop! It was reimbursement only, but if you think I’m going to turn down the offer for a full body massage that is fully reimbursed at a posh spa you’re nuts! I was surprised to get the offer frankly since I’m a bit new with that particular mystery shopping company and have only done three or so jobs with them, but one of them was a last minute affair in an out of the way location so I guess I scored some brownie points with the scheduler. Normally I tend to shy away from reimbursement only jobs since I mystery shop solely for the bucks, but I just couldn’t pass this one up. Let’s be real - I received a one hour full body massage and all it cost me was a little report and $10 for a tip. Works for me!

Onsite visit - You’ve made your appointment and are going to visit the community. If you have time before your appointment you might want to just fill out the phone call portion of your report now if the company’s report system is one that you can save like Sassie. If that made absolutely no sense I’ll explain it to you after I get done with the apartment shops. Good for you - you’re on your way! Some things to remember here might seem like common sense, but you would not believe the horror stories I’ve heard.

* Be on time for your appointment. If you are late this may upset your consultant and it is not a fair report. If you are running late call and tell them when to expect you. You also want to make sure that they are still available to give you your tour.

* Try not to visit during 12-2 (lunchtime) or near 5PM as the consultant may be more rushed or cranky at these times. Be honest - when you miss your lunch aren’t you cranky?

* When you first enter the leasing office there will be a LOT that you have to keep track of. How did the consultant greet you? Did they stand? Did they offer their hand? Did they smile? Did they make eye contact? Did they offer you a cookie/beverage? Note the time down discreetly before you leave your car.

* Clean out the inside of your car before your visit. Some consultants are trained to try to get a peek in your vehicle. They do this not only to see if you’re the mystery shopper, but the theory is messy car = messy renter and you will be charged a higher security deposit.

* As you enter the community pay attention to the signs leading to the leasing office. Are you lost? Make a note of it. Is there a lot of trash? Do you see the mail area or dumpster? Make a note of it.

To be continued…I told you these were complicated shops. Not to worry - like anything else in mystery shopping at first it is daunting, but after you do a few it becomes second nature.

Pre-visit call - cont. Usually all you have to do once the consultant answers the phone is ask about the rent. DO NOT mention for what size apartment as this does not give the consultant the opportunity to earn points by asking you. The consultant *should* take it from there. They usually start out by asking your name and what size apartment you need. They may also ask you if you have any pets, how many people will be in the apartment, and when you plan to be moving in.

Give the consultant to do their job and ask you questions. Sometimes they don’t and you’ll need to be prepared to carry the conversation for a wee bit. Think about your answers ahead of time so that you are not trying to make them up on the spot. NEVER give a fake name when apartment shopping. This is usually clearly stated somewhere in your instructions. When you view the community you will be required to hand over your driver’s license before the tour and if the names don’t match you don’t get your tour.

Unless this is just a phone shop do not give fake contact information either. The follow-up will be an important part of your report and the consultant needs to be able to earn points by contacting you within a week of your visit.

After giving you a glowing picture of the community and its amenities, which you are making notes on right?, the consultant should invite you to visit the community. Pay attention to your guidelines here - *usually* they state that if it is clear that the consultant is NOT going to offer a tour you can ask for one. Wait for those awkward silences to tell you it’s just not going to happen before you ask for one. Remember no tour = no pay for job.

To be continued…

Okay apartment shops can be tricky little bits of work, but just take it one step at a time and you’ll do just fine. Step one - did you read ALL of your instructions? Do they make sense? Good so let’s start out with our pre-visit call if one is required.

Pre-visit call - This is an important step because it does tend to set the tone for the rest of your apartment shop. If you do not feel that the call went well you may be very stressed during the rest of your shop and this will affect your eventual report. Realistically there are mystery shops for apartments where only a phone call is required. Take your time, but watch your due dates.

To facilitate my calls I keep a small notebook on my desk along with my landline phone so that I can take good notes while I’m on the phone. If there is something important I HAVE to remember to mention during my phone call I will write it in BIG BOLD CAPITAL letters across the top of the page. I will then start out my notes with the name of the community, the date, and the time when I start dialing the phone. As the phone rings I make a hash mark on the page for each one so that I can accurately enter that information in my report. You will have your own set of abbreviations for how the consultant answers the phone. ‘TY C, Ashley’ tells me that the consultant answered the phone, “Thank you for calling . This is Ashley.”

To be continued…