I just read a blog post by Steve Jacobs about some agents not returning phone calls and it got me thinking.  I've been using a policy for handling telephone calls for a while that I'm pretty happy and comfortable with, but I'm curious as to what other agents policies/practices for the phone are.

Here's my policy:
If I'm available, I answer the phone 9am to 9pm 7 days a week. If I'm with another real estate agent, I answer the phone unless they are bringing me an offer or vice versa. If I'm with a customer, I only answer the phone if it is my wife (she has her own ring tone on my phone from the places she calls me from).  The only exception I make is if I have a deal closing that day, I will take a call that might be from anyone involved in the deal because you never know what goofyness may be coming-up that may need my attention. - If I'm with a customer, I tell them that I've got a deal closing today and I may need to answer the phone.

I explain my phone policy up-front to all of my customers and have never had anyone complain about it.  I have had a number of women hit or bump their husbands saying that they should do something like that, but I find that my customers respect the policy and I'm very good about calling back as soon as possible.

Also, ALL of my advertising/marketing efforts direct calls to my cell phone except the calls directed to my toll free hotline of pre-recorded information. From there, they can push a button and be forwarded to my cell phone.

So, those are my policies/practices for dealing with the phone.  What are yours??