Extra money can be hard to come by. Thanks to the Internet, these days we have a lot of side gig options like Door Dash, Instacart, Uber, Lyft, and so much more! Around 20 years ago, before we had so many different ways to bring in extra cash, I discovered that I could make a viable part-time income as an apartment mystery shopper. I was in my 20’s, unmarried, and didn’t have any kids yet, but twenty-something jobs don’t pay a lot, even when you have a college degree. At the time I was in graduate school and working part-time as a graduate assistant for a professor at my university. I lived in a suburb of Nashville, TN so there were a lot of apartment communities near me. Apartment mystery shopping worked because of that. After some diligent online searching, I stumbled across a company that paid decently and was legit. What’s so funny is that today (twenty years later), I am STILL doing apartment shops for this same company when I need to make some extra cash. Thankfully they pay more these days!
The company that I do apartment mystery shopping for is EPMS, currently under the name of Ellis: a Grace Hill Company. In the early 2000’s when I started doing apartment shops with them, they were called EPMS (Ellis Property Management Systems). You can find their website here.
Apartment mystery shoppers are needed in the multifamily housing industry so that companies can make sure leasing professionals are doing the job they have been hired to do. There is no way to watch what they are doing with customers, so having someone pretend to be a customer in search of an apartment is the next best thing. As an apartment mystery shopper, you are providing a needed service to a company to ensure that their product (apartment housing) is getting presented properly, that sales techniques are being properly utilized, and that their leasing professionals aren’t driving people away with bad service.
I have had some interesting experiences as an apartment mystery shopper over the last twenty years. They range from working with exceptional leasing agents and apartment communities to dealing with people who you will never forget for the worst possible reasons. I have seen quite a few who should never be working in apartment sales and I think it is important to help bring positive or negative attention as needed so that things can be improved.
How It Works
- Submit a Shopper Application: You first need to apply to be a shopper with Ellis. You can do that here. It will only take you a moment.
- Login to Shopper Portal: Once you are approved, you will be able to login to their shopper portal to see what is available in your area. The best thing about this company is that they consistently have shops available all over the country. I have done apartment mystery shopping for them in three different states so far. They even encourage you to tackle some apartment shops outside of your area if you are traveling.
- Select a Shop: You can select whatever shops you would like to do. Everything but video shops will automatically be assigned to you. I recommend choosing the apartment shops closest to you first to make it easiest. I also pick the ones that pay the best for obvious reasons. Base pay is typically $25, but shops very frequently have decent to large bonuses attached, based on length of time the shop has been posted and what the shop requirements are. I have been paid close to $100 per shop many times. Only brand-new shops will be posted as $25 shops. I will not select shops that are under $50 each at least as there is some work involved. The longer they have a shop sitting, they will add or increase the bonus to get it done. You can work on up to 10 shops at one time.
- Typical Shop: A typical shop will involve you making a recorded phone call to reach a sand then visiting the property to meet with that person to view the apartment community. Oftentimes the assignment will be to shop “Anyone” at “Anytime”, which will be easier to work. When you make the phone call, you will need to follow a set of instructions regarding your conversation with the agent. When you visit the property, you will need to closely follow their protocol as they need to make sure that the agents are doing their jobs. With all onsite visits, make sure to get the agent’s business card if possible, along with a floor plan and/or brochure as you will need to scan and upload these items to prove you performed the shop. Take good mental notes as you will have to complete an online report within 24 hours. I find it helps to jot down some notes in writing or on my phone once I get back to my car.
- Recorded Shops: Some shops require an audio recording of your in-person shop. This will always be clarified upfront, but it is a good idea to check instructions closely to make sure you don’t miss this as they won’t accept the shop or pay you without the recording. I always use a voice recording app on my phone to record shops as needed. I then email myself the audio file and upload it to the EPMS website. If you do this, please test the app out ahead of time in every way to make sure it will work as you need it to.
- Video Shops: Video shops are available too. You will have to purchase you own equipment for this, but it may be worth it as you can make much more money per shop if you are willing to do video shops. You will need to wear a hidden camera and record your entire onsite visit. I have done several of these. I like that they pay more, but there is definitely more work and technology involved.
- Report: You will need to submit an online report along with your proof of visit documentation within 24 hours. These forms are online and have to be submitted electronically. The process itself is easy, but there are a lot of questions so make sure to take good notes ahead of time so you can be as accurate as possible. It is also very important to read over the shop instructions and shopper report ahead of time. This will help ensure you perform the shop correctly and will help you get through the report faster once done as well.
- Payment: EPMS/Ellis Pays once each month. Any shop completed and submitted by the 7th of that month will be on that month’s pay cycle. Shoppers are paid via direct deposit on the 22nd of each month. You will be required to enter your banking details so that they can pay you electronically.
How Much Can You Make with Apartment Mystery Shopping
Money! This is why you are reading this post, right? You are never going to get rich as an apartment mystery shopping, but it can definitely work as a side hustle or substantial part-time income. I use it when I need it for extra spending money, Christmas gifts, or if have some kid-related expenses coming up. I have relied heavily on it a few times between jobs because I knew that I would be earning money even if I didn’t get paid right away. It truly has helped with all of these things. As long as you do the work and submit all required reports and documentation, you will get paid.
Proof I’m Not Lying
Because it’s so easy to just say you are making money doing something, I wanted to prove it to you as well. Here are a few screenshots to show you that I have in fact made some pretty decent money by apartment mystery shopping for Ellis/EPMS.
Final Thoughts
Apartment mystery shopping is a viable part-time income if you want it to be. It’s work and not exactly fun, but it is interesting! You can do it all on your terms and on your own time. I recommend you check this out to see if it works for you!
Interested in learning about other mystery shopping opportunities? Read my post here!
