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Method of follow up on internet inquires. How do you prefer; email or calling?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 GREC# 169695

Does that canned sounding email response leave you cold when you get one.  You know the one.  "Thanks for you inquiry, we'll get back to you"  Or "Someone will contact you shortly".  ugh I hate those. 

It took me a while to make the transition to calling people who email me and leave a phone number.  I guess at first I thought that since they were using email to contact me perhaps that's what they prefered.  I think my thinking was broken.  Sometimes those inquiries come late in the evening and early in the morning.  So maybe those folks just have the good sense to NOT follow my "call to action" that says "call me" if it's 11:30 p.m. or 5:45 a.m.  (Thank you)

But in tracking those people who become clients after an initial email inquiry I've found that those that I pick up the phone and call are twice as likely to become a client.  Of course sometimes people don't leave a phone number and that certainly can hinder you calling them.

So I'm curious how do you respond to email (Internet)  inquiries? (AND I MEAN THE ONES THAT ACTUALLY GIVE YOU A PHONE NUMBER)  Email? Phone?

And if you are NOT an agent or in the business I'm certainly interesting in your opinion too, consumers please feel free to leave a comment...

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Tammy@Lake-Sinclair.com

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Tammy Lankford, Broker/Owner

 

Broker License # 169695  Lane Realty License # H-11420

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Comments (62)

Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Tammy, I figure if they give me a phone number to call, they are expecting a call.  So that's what I do.

Dec 18, 2011 10:52 PM
Bruce Hicks
Best Homes Hawaii - Honolulu, HI
Your Best Hawaii Realtor!

Aloha Tammy, wow, this article generated a LOT of comments!  I sometimes use a canned email message organized in Microsoft Word, then I cut and paste and modify with each individual email.  Some like texting, so I do that.

Dec 18, 2011 11:03 PM
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

That is an interesting observation. The ones that do not leave a number are the ones you may never meet.

Dec 18, 2011 11:04 PM
Charlie Dresen
The Group, Inc - Steamboat Springs, CO
Steamboat Springs, CO e-Pro

If they give me a phone number I call and leave them a message if they don't answer. If I don't hear back from them, I'll follow up with an email as well. I find those that provide a phone number usually appreciate the more personal follow-up. 

Dec 18, 2011 11:30 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

It often depends on the time of day, and my mood.  But I have found that people respond better to a personal phone call, than they ever will to an e-mail.

My preferred method is to send an e-mail saying something like: "Thanks for your inquiry about 1234 Sherman Avenue"...(and then answer their question briefly...)... "It's currently on the market for $250,000, and I will be calling you later this morning, when the hour is more reasonable, to answer any follow-up questions you might have."..

Which basically "softens them up" to expect a phone call from me... if they really do not want to receive a phone call from me, they'll respond to the email with a note that says "That answers my question... no follow-up necessary" or something like that... and I know not to waste my (their) time.

Dec 19, 2011 01:07 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Like most of the rest, I check the time stamp, and it it's a late evening or early morning call, I try to get back around 6 PM of the next or later that day, if there's a phone number, and if I get a good name I may try to find a # backwards.

A phone contact will always get a better respomnse than an email, especially as the average person does not check their mail as often as we might.

Dec 19, 2011 01:22 AM
Kim Boekholder Utah Real Estate/ PECO
Results Real Estate 801.580.5624 - Draper, UT
Broker Results Real Estate/Leasing Specialist PECO

I email first, call a little later (depending on the time I received the request) and then I text them if I wasn't able to reach them on the phone.  That way I can tell what method of communication they prefer on how they respond back to me.  

Have  a great Monday!  

Dec 19, 2011 01:26 AM
Liz Wallace
Century 21 Sherlock Homes - Rockville Centre, NY
Broker C21 Sherlock Homes, Rockville Centre, LI, N

All leads from the Internet go to the agents and they will email or call.  I'm with #40 also, a lot of buyers prefer text.

Dec 19, 2011 02:16 AM
Former Agent
None - Adak, AK

Hi Tammy.  I too prefer phone over email, at least to solidify the relationship. 

Dec 19, 2011 02:21 AM
Sandy Acevedo
951-290-8588 - Chino Hills, CA
RE/MAX Masters, Inland Empire Homes for Sale

Hi Tammy, I prefer telephone too. Like many said, they would not have provided the number otherwise. But I do understand the hesitation, because of all that has before about email, calling, etc.

Dec 19, 2011 03:05 AM
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

If there is a phone number, we call.  If not, we email.  

Dec 19, 2011 03:17 AM
William James Walton Sr.
WEICHERT, REALTORS® - Briotti Group - Waterbury, CT
Greater Waterbury Real Estate

Hmmm. I like Mickey's response as well, and had not thought of that. However, it really depends on how accurate the number is. Sometimes false numbers are put in just because the form won't allow them to go any further without it. It makes things frustrating on our end, when that happens.

Dec 19, 2011 05:01 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

Hi Tammy, if someone leaves a phone number I presume that they would like to be called, so I call.

Dec 19, 2011 06:45 AM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Tammy:

Like most commenters, if there is phone number I call that number. If no number I reply in an email which is anything like a stock email.

Dec 19, 2011 07:06 AM
Chris Lewis
Gracious Living Realty - Front Royal, VA
I want to SELL your home, not LIST it!

I would suggest that a phone call is always better, given that it is at an appropriate time of day.  In this age of immediate gratification people expect instant attention.

Dec 19, 2011 07:06 AM
Bud & Beth McKinney
RE/MAX UNITED - Cary, NC
Cary/Raleigh/Apex NC - The Team That Cares, RE/MAX United

I'm more of a phone call person. Emails could sit there for awhile because so many come in daily that some get lost among the mix. By calling, you are showing active interest in a way to talk to the person sooner rather than later. They may not always have time, but you have to try.

Dec 19, 2011 08:24 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

11:30pm or 5:45am? Are you crazy? Definitely call if they give you a number. Email if they don't. Text if you think they'll like that. It's all good as long as you do SOMETHING.

Dec 19, 2011 10:03 AM
Mona Gersky
MoonDancer Realty, Dillsboro,NC - Sylva, NC
GRI,IMSD-Taking the mystery out of real estate.

Hey Tammy, that star looks good on you!  If a phone number is included in the inquiry - they are giving you permission to call. In fact, how much plainer can they make it that they want someone to reach out and touch them.  Congrats on your feature.

Dec 20, 2011 02:51 AM
Valerie Duncan Stewart
(Metro First Realty) - Oklahoma City, OK
Real Estate Agent-Broker, OKC, OK

Tammy, I like that you included the results of your personal calls versus the email responses. I believe most people prefer a personal call but like you, my thinking has been broken. I haven't called potential clients thinking they would prefer an email instead. I will re-think that  !

Dec 21, 2011 01:36 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

If they leave a phone number, I call. Sometimes the phone number is bogus but the email is good. I usually follow-up a phone call with an email. No canned stuff though.

Dec 23, 2011 02:07 PM