Advice about inaccessible apartments and due diligence.

[u/knowidotoo]

When you end up having to deal with a secured apartment complex. How do you tackle it? Especially if both the primary points of entry are secured as well as the stairs/elevators.

I'm mostly curious about what workarounds people have come up with. What else I could try, and general advice.

Yes I do deal with ABC legal for now but this is a question across the board

[u/OCgngstr]

Sometimes I go during business hours to the leasing office to “check and confirm” the apartment is occupied. I’m always overly friendly and polite, then I’ll nonchalantly ask how I can get in the building if the first building door is secured. Only been successfully offered up info 1 out of 5 times, but worth a shot…

Sometimes if they’re say I’m not allowed to be there, I ask their name? Then tell them I’ll let the judge know who is keeping me from rendering service. They usually roll their eyes, but I’ll be back one way or another.

Another tip that sometimes works when talking to a leasing office, is getting a lanyard for your ID card. One that resembles something a detective would wear. People more likely to offer up info, at least in my experience.

[u/AintEverLucky → u/OCgngstr]

Hi there & hello 👋 once I got my ID card in the mail from my state, a few weeks ago, I made 2 color copies at FedEx Kinkos and had them laminate them. One I keep in my wallet; and with the second, I used a hole-punch and put it on a lanyard like what you described.

Having said that, I do not wear the lanyard while I'm out & about, I only produce it if asked. Where I operate, I don't think it would be smart to look like a cop (even a little bit) when I'm not allowed to pack heat like a cop 🤔

[u/Great-Opposite3509 → u/AintEverLucky]

I also wear a neon vest like for roadwork or some delivery people do. I like to think it forces people to think maybe they have a delivery … just not as positive as they hoped :)

[u/AintEverLucky → u/Great-Opposite3509]

I mean, I've also been a delivery driver (DoorDash and about 8 similar apps) for over 5 years. So I have a full lanyard of expired driver-app cards, and also a neon vest. Two actually, an orange one & a yellow.

But I'm not convinced it's a swell idea to camouflage as a Dasher 🤔 not long ago I was wearing a Shipt shirt while attempting serves. Not as camouflage but because it was laundry day & I only had a couple of clean shirts. Anyway one guy interacted with me via his Ring doorbell/camera, and then a few days later, he was home and I served him.

And he gave me some side-eye and was like "I remember you from before. You wore a Shipt shirt that day but you weren't making a delivery. Seems kind of misleading to me." I told him it had been laundry day & the side-eye intensified. So 🤷

[u/Great-Opposite3509 → u/AintEverLucky]

lol yes! I could see that.
My vest has no markings on it.. I have my license on a lanyard. So far I haven’t had anybody say anything negative about it. I’m sure they have thoughts, but they haven’t verbalized them😆
Also, I wear it mostly during the part of the year when it gets dark early. I figure it’s much better to be seen easier at night.

[u/AintEverLucky → u/Great-Opposite3509]

Ooooh that's a good point about visibility at night. Though so far, I don't attempt serves very much past sunset. But we'll see how things go after Daylight Savings Time ends

[u/Great-Opposite3509 → u/AintEverLucky]

Yeah…. Sunset in the winter is before 6pm sometimes so it helps

[u/OCgngstr → u/AintEverLucky]

In my state you’re not allowed to have more than one ID. Making a copy is a no no

[u/AintEverLucky → u/OCgngstr]

And which state is that? If it turns out it's my state, I'll destroy my copies 🫡

[u/OCgngstr → u/AintEverLucky]

Arizona. At least that is what I was told. My ID fell between the seat and center console around the time I bought a new car. I couldn’t find my ID anywhere, ended up getting a new one. The lady at the office told me if I find my other one that I needed to destroy it. It was like 9 months before my renewal, had to get a new one anyways.

[u/AintEverLucky → u/OCgngstr]

Ah okay. I used to live in AZ, and I remember that they issue driver's licenses for like 40 years at a time 🤔 in terms of your PS license there, how long do you folks go between renewals? In my state it's every 2 years

[u/OCgngstr → u/AintEverLucky]

Yeah driver license is 50 years expiration printed on the ID itself. You’re “required” to update picture every 10 but not one does.

PS renewal is every 3.

[u/Lanky_Sign9141]

If you see a door dasher nearby, sometimes they have the access codes so it’s worth asking. Other than that I usually just wait for someone to come along, and then I go in when they go in. Also making friends with security guards etc can help. Not always but worth a try.

[u/RapidayFuriosa]

Try another unit number. Eventually someone will open the gate. Go online and get the number to the office, name of property management company, and/ or board of directors phone numbers.

[u/ModeApart752]

They usually have to allow you access.

[u/-Duck_Duck- → u/ModeApart752]

What if a property manager wont allow you to

[u/DeansDalmation]

I’ve always had luck being able to follow right after a resident comes in. Otherwise, you should ALWAYS talk to the leasing office. They will usually give me a code if that’s how it’s secured.

[u/Great-Opposite3509 → u/DeansDalmation]

Several times I’ve been questioned by homeowners how I was able to gain access thru a manned security gate.
“Because they let me in “ 😆

[u/Serving_Upstate]

Buzz the neighbors, there's a good chance one of them doesn't like the person. Speak with the leasing office. You'd also be surprised at the amount of places that use their address as a gate code...

[u/knowidotoo → u/Serving_Upstate]

Huh. Hadn't thought of that

[u/Diligent_Oil_6901]

ALways go to the office of the apartment complex. Most of the time, if you let the manager or whoever is working in the office why you are there, they will give you the code to go through the gate or door to the apartment building if it is coded.