Let me say that I have not worked in the Real Estate industry for a little over a year due to health problems although I am now in the position to restart my real estate business. I do understand that this is a difficult economy and real estate market to do business in. Maybe that is for the best as it will weed out the bad and keep the good - real estate agents that is. This would be very good for the industry and the home buyer. 

I am writing this post because, like many of you, you are probably being bombarded with phone calls from callers trying to sell you a new way to make your real estate business grow by leaps and bounds. Some of the things these callers offer may work and be very useful and some may not be useful. What I am finding out is that they are really the most non-professional business telephone users I have had to deal with in many years (since leaving a 911 emergency center). 

Don't these callers realize that ActiveRain is a community where things are shared both good and bad. That the bad is especially shared around and everyone becomes instantly aware of the people involved. Being unprofessional with a little or no common courtesy is not a very good business practice. If the whole industry knows you are rude and not very business like in your conversations on the phone (or email) then you will not stay in business very long. 

I am getting about 1 or 2 cold calls a week, sometimes more, wanting me to purchase a program that will increase my business. When I tell the caller that I am not working in the real estate business at this time they instantly hang up. No, "I am sorry to have bothered you" or "thank you for your time" or even "have a good day," they just hang up on you as if you do not matter. 

Maybe I do not matter, but I guarantee you that I do have friends in the industry that will hear about your poor business practices. The caller I had to day never gave me the chance to tell him that I am meeting with a new broker next week and I might be interested in what he had to offer. He just slammed the phone down while I was still talking to him. He did not even listen to the whole sentence I was trying to say.

The next time he calls, and I am sure he will (or someone else will call) I will not be willing to listen to what they have to offer. 

What happened to good manners?

I understand people do not like to make cold calls, including me, but there should be some etiquette involved. Remember, we may not be your business partner or customer today, but maybe down the road we may want to use your services – only if we have a good impression of you from earlier contacts. 

If you want to stay in business — treat others as you would like to be treated.