I think you might want to consider prospecting a lil later. lol

The best time of day to prospect is whenever you actually will do it...

Seriously though, no matter what time of day you choose, you will miss some people.  You might want to prospect 3 days a week.  Pick one day to prospect in the morning, one day to prospect in the afternoon, and one either in the evening or on the weekend.  That way you'll be covering all of the bases.

If you are doing all of your prospecting by phone, consider doing some door-knocking.  You are young and as long as you are not knee deep in snow, you should have a better chance of making a connection in person than on the phone (remember to check the Do Not Call list).

I don't know if everyone follows this rule, but I've heard that the "acceptable" hours for prospecting begin at either 9:00 am or 10:00 am (depending on who you talk to) and end at 8:00 pm.  Starting at 8:00 am is a bit early and you are likely to catch people in the shower or getting ready for work - and they won't be happy about it.

I hope that helps!

Call anytime you are ready to call if they are not at home leave a message. Talking to someone is the best but don't worry about it just do it and if no one is home leave a message.

I don't want to receive a phone call.  Based on the runaway success of the do-not-call list, I'm guessing most people feel the same.  Walking your farm around 9:00 AM would be a great way to get some exercise and meet people out doing yardwork.  Bring some information like a market update or your newsletter.  SOI activities are another great way to meet prospects.  The do-not-call list is your friend.  Let it set you free!

If I could find you, I would do very bad things to you if you called me at 8 AM.  I am either busy with people leaving the house, leaving the house myself, sneaking back to bed for a power nap if I don't have an early appointment, or just trying to have a quiet start to the day.  Ironically, it is the same at the end of the day except people are returning.  I am still trying to get that power nap though....  I think mailing is far better than calling and if you don't want the postal expense, flyers in the newspaper boxes.

II would say 10 am is a good time. If they are home they won't be in a tizz with the morning rush and if not they wouldn't have been home at 8 am anyway. Leave a message if they aren't home. I agree with doing the "walk". Good Luck

I think you are going to run into the do not call list with cold calling.  You better check with your broker on availability of the lists for your area, Karen

At 8:00a.m. I wouldn't be nice...I've always heard never call before 9:00a.m.

I think the most important time to call is when you just do it! The hardest part is consistency.

Ginger - Thanks for the tip. I learned that lesson...haha! 

Patti - I do plan to get into door knocking. I have herd so much about it since joining Active Rain. Have you had some great success with it? Thanks for your comments.

Terry - Do you recommend I leave a message even I have never talked to them before and they don't know me? Thanks for the comment!

Frank - I agree. I don't like to get calls either. Thanks for the advice!

Susan - That would be fun. We could plan hide and seek. That does seem to be the same response all around that if I am going to call, call around 9:30 to 10:00am. Thanks!

Jo - Thanks for the tip. I agree. The walk is good!

Karen - I actually use something called Data Exchange. Anytime you want you can put in an address and get the closest up to 1000 phone numbers that have been scrubbed from the do-not-call list. I am very new to the biz but when ever I run into a do-not-caller, I just tell them it wont happen again and go to the next number.

Linda - I totally agree. Consistency has been my struggle since I started here a year ago. I have learned everywhere that to make calling work it is a numbers game and if you don't make the numbers it just wont work.

Thanks for all your comments!

Really.Thanks for the hint about data exchange.  I don't call unless it is after 9 am.

Matthew - No problem. I had a title rep sign me up. I am not sure if you can do it on your own. Stewart title did it for me.

Cody--

I've been a full-time agent for about 2 years.  When I first started, I was fresh out of a career in Corporate America and I thought that I should be in the office at 8:00am burning up the phones calling expireds, FSBOs, and rattling cages.  After a few months of this,  I found that I had better luck around 10:00am.  People have settled in, had their coffee, and are better able to focus on the conversation. 

Hope this helps!

Demetria - Yes it does help. Thanks for your comment. Just out of curiosity...how many people do you call a day would you say?

Cody

I complete a minimum of one hour of prospecting every day.  The activities and the number of people that I call varies each day, otherwise I would never be able to keep it up.

Today, I did about two hours of prospecting and communicated with about 19-12 people through e-mail, phone calls, and voicemails.  Three people contacted me to ask about the value of their home. I provided these people with a price range for their home and offered a free an in-home consultation.  I followed up with two people who were potential sellers from earlier this week.  I left 2 to 3 messages with people who had requested information from me about listing their home.  I added 2 people to an e-mail drip campaign so that they will get a monthly e-mail from me with a home sales tip for the next year.  I addressed and stuffed 52 envelopes and calendar magents to people that have contacted me about possibly selling their home since September.  I spoke with a potential seller that is facing foreclosure about listing her home and how to find a bankruptcy attorney.  I followed up with  potential seller that told me they wanted to list their home within the next 90 days.  I checked the day's expired listings and saw nothing that I wanted to pursue. I called a past client that purchased a home with me 2 months ago to see if they were now ready to list their other home.

I use ACT! to track my activites completed and things that I need to do.  They pop up each morning when I log onto my laptop and I go down the list.  I checked off the completed items and add new action items for completion at a later time.

I usually try to do these calls in the morning, but I occassionally try it in the evening.  I seem to have better luck with sellers in the mornings and buyers in the late afternoon and evenings.  I do not call anyone beyond 7:00pm.

Demetria - That is great how you have your day so well under your control like that. I am sure you do a lot of business. 19 people a day is great. I usually aim for 25 new contacts a day which seems like it is not much but for me it seems to take all day. I am still learning the technique of time management I guess. I have never herd of ACT, but it sounds like something I use called Agent 2000. Thanks for taking the time to chat and I hope to talk to you more in the future.

Cody

Thanks, Cody. I have to say that most of my business comes from continued communication with prospects.  I find that I spend much of my time talking to people that are on the road to listing. Some may never list, but I am continually surprised by the number who refer other people to me.

Also, I do not think that ACT! is the best resource for tracking real estate.  I probably should switch to some type of management program made specifically for agents.  How do you like Agent 2000?

Demetria - I love Agent 2000. It takes a little while to learn how to use the program but there are classes and tutorials for it. You can do so much with the program from grouping your leads to email plans to calling plans to tracking your leads and taking all kinds of notes. I am a tech guy so I love it. Others say it is too complicated but I don't see it that way.

Cody

Cody, you ask such good questions--and the comments you receive are priceless. I'm listening, too. If you have not met me and are cold calling--don't leave me a message. Please.

Suzi - well thank you. The truth is I just have so many questions and I am thankful for all of you who take the time to answer and share your knowledge and experiences. Thanks for your advice on not leaving a message.

PS: The reason is because it can be so irritating To have solicitors leave messages. If you know me in some way, its different. I do advise keeping a marketing message very short.

Because you are so enthusiastic -- and not afraid to try new things I'll share an idea with you later. How has cold calling by phone worked for you? Curiosity--Do you spend a lot of time in the office? Do you have floor time?

I do not cold call at all.  If you called me, I would hang up on you, too.

I live in a smaller community, and face to face contact and familiar acquaintances are very important.  I only call someone I have never met if someone refers them to me or I have heard through the grapevine  they will be selling or buying.

I do, however, see the importance of making a certain number of contacts per day, especially in a larger market with so much competition.  I just prefer email, face to face contact and interaction through community involvement.

Suzi - Very true about the messages. One time I had some solicitor leave me a message, at&t or someone, and they said to call them back. The only thing I could remember once the message was over was...wow that was a lovely waist of time. So I can understand that. I have to admit, I am very excited about your idea you are going to share with me later.

How has cold calling worked for me?...well I can say my fingers are a lot stronger. I usually talk to 1 person for every 30 numbers I dial or so. If I am faithful at cold calling for a week, I can usually go on 2 to 3 appointments a week and I know I could do better than that. The problem is getting motivated to get on the phone and dial 400 phone numbers ever day... 

Steve - well I just marked down not to give you a call, although you may not know I was a solicitor when I called...I have very few times ever gotten the phone hung up on me and it was because they didn't give me a chance to get past "Hi my nam......". I'm glad face to face works so well for you, I plan to make it work more for me in the future. Thanks for your comment!

Cody--

Thanks for got Agent 2000 information. I will definitely look into it.  Have a great week! 

Cody, I don't call before 9....most people may already be gone for work but there may be some parents at home still trying to get kids ready for school. 

I personally can't stand getting calls in the evening but I think it really comes down to what you are comfortable with.  Nothing is perfect, just find something that fits with who you are.

Joddie - Thanks for our comments. I always feel better in the morning too. I always seemed to get the most people answering their phones from 8am to 9pm yet it doesn't do me much good because they don't have time to talk.

super questions and answers! thanks for the awesoem dialouge

super questions and answers! thanks for the awesoem dialouge

super questions and answers! thanks for the awesoem dialouge

super questions and answers! thanks for the awesoem dialouge

Michael - You are absolutely right man! Thank you all who have brought such great answers to my questions. You have all helped me out so much and hopefully others! It is amazing the information one can receive if he is willing to ask!

I think there is a law that telemarketers can call between 9 am and 9 pm only. I would not call any one before 9 am. As a consumer I do not want to receive any calls at all. As otherss suggested, it is better to walk door to door .

Gita - Thank you very much for your input! I do agree with you that we should not call before 9am, however, do you view a real estate agent a a telemarketer? How do you view a local real estate agent calling to introduce himself vs. one of these telemarketing companies?

Thanks for your help!

Cody,

Phone prospecting 10 am - noon, 1 pm-3 pm, weekends Sat 10-12, 2-4 pm, Sun 2-4 pm. Don't forget email and U.S. mail prospecting as well.

Gary - Thanks for the comment! Do you find you have greater success at these times than others? The people I call almost always are people I have never talked to before and don't know who I am. Thanks!

Cody, I just try not to call around a meal time, but success is defined on reaching someone and starting a conversation with them. I always ask, "is this a good time to talk for a minute?" Some people are changing a baby's diaper and have a cordless and phone and will still talk to you. Just be friendly and be yourself. The people I call don't know who I am either. I've called in the evenings but more people are tired or want to watch TV or be left alone then.

Gary - Good point. I guess if they give you permission to talk to them it would be easier to strike up a conversation. Thanks!

I do not cold call at all.  But I know if I did, I would not dare call someone before 9 a.m.  As for me, I would rather be called earlier in the day rather than in the evening.  My energy is drained by the evening and especially for those folks who have small children, worked all day, trying to help with homework and get dinner on the table.  Pleeeez.  I honestly admire the guts and stamina of those who do cold call.  It is not an easy task.

Donna - Thanks for the advice. Thanks for sharing your opinion on when you would like to called.

I don't call until after 11am, i usually get people that are home for lunch. Most stay at home parents are there around this time b/c there children will be home from school for lunch.

12-2 and 4-6 M-F

10-2 Sat 

I do not like prospecting in the mornings, but find that it's easier to go ahead and just "get it done" first thing. Rather than calling your prospects early in the morning if they're rushing around getting ready for work or trying to get the kids off to school - why not call them at the office for a few minutes? Everyone needs to take a break during the day - so a few minutes of talking to you may be just the break they need.