What is an Apartment Shop?

Image courtesy of Franky242 and FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Dear WAHFAQ,

I heard that apartment buildings get shopped.  Is that true?  Would I actually have to rent an apartment?  That just seems weird, plus I don’t have the best credit, so I would probably be denied anyway.  I don’t really understand how they would work.


Apartment shops are actually my favorite shops to do!  You do NOT need to rent an apartment, fill out an application, or leave a deposit to do an apartment shop.  It’s pretty simple:

You call up the apartment building and talk to a leasing agent over the phone, setting an appointment to view the apartment. (Or not, depending on the shop requirements.)

You visit the property, taking mental notes about its condition, amenities, and the condition of the apartment. You’ll also take mental notes about if the leasing tries to “pre-qualify” you by asking when you’re moving, the size apartment you want, if you have pets, how many people are moving with you, etc.

The leasing agent SHOULD try and close the sale…meaning, they’ll ask you to fill out an application or leave a deposit (unfortunately, most don’t) and you politely decline, taking mental notes of how they try to get you to lease. Do they offer you one month free? Do they offer a free application fee? Do they “create a sense of urgency” by telling you that multiple people are interested in the apartment, or that is the only one left that meets your needs?

You go home and write up the form. Or, if it’s a video or audio shop, upload the files.

That’s all there is to it!  Apartment shops can get a little complicated when you have to target a specific leasing agent.  Especially when there are others who work there, and it seems like your target has an aversion to answering the phone. And the bugger is that you do have to use your name and contact information because leasing agents are graded on follow up.

But, for the money, it really is the most cost-effective mystery shop.  You’ll spend about 15-20 minutes on the property, another 40-60 minutes writing up the form, and they usually pay around $30-50 each.  It’s not a bad way to earn some extra money!

 

Think about all the extra money you could make by being a mystery shopper, starting your own business, or working from home for a legitimate company. Take control of your income and check out our LEARN page for a list of classes, books, and more!

Sign up for the Work at Home FAQ newsletter and enter to win monthly giveaways like free books, classes, or telephone/Skype consultations!

Disclaimer: Links to products and services throughout the website, videos, and blog may or may not contain affiliate links. This means, we may or may not earn a small commission from sales originating through this website. We would not recommend any product that we wouldn’t use ourselves, regardless of whether we earn commission or not.

Additionally, while we adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity to help you make decisions with confidence, the content provided is a means to educate and inform and should not be a substitution for professional advice for your specific situation.

 

Leave a Reply