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It's Not Old School to Use Your Cellphone for a Phone

By
Real Estate Agent with Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker DRE #00697006

I was really tickled pink a few years ago when my husband finally relented and bought himself an iPhone. He did not have a cellphone for years and resisted the idea. I would tell him, how in the world am I supposed to keep track of him without a phone? Well, that was probably part of the reason he didn't get a phone. But then he realized when he began to do freelance work for newspapers that it wasn't a good idea for interview candidates and sources to call him on our home phone. For one thing, I might mistake the caller for telemarketer and say something rude. For another, we almost never answer our home phone. It's an annoyance when it rings, and we leave it on in answering machine mode. I'm not even sure that I know how to answer a call on it since our old landline phone broke and we had to buy a new phone.

But a cellphone, I'm very comfortable with and even though other real estate agents don't tend to use their cellphones for telephone calls, I'm still Old School that way. I will say it's a bit irrating when my husband forgets to turn on his cellphone so I can't reach him, but maybe he prefers it that way, LOL. You can read more in my personal blog today about why Agents Should Call the Listing Agent Before Writing an Offer.

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Elizabeth Weintraub is co-partner of Weintraub & Wallace Team of Top Producing Realtors, an author, home buying expert at The Balance, a Land Park resident, and a veteran real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown, Carmichael and East Sacramento, as well as tract homes in Elk Grove, Natomas, Roseville and Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put our combined 80 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at RE/MAX Gold. DRE License # 00697006.

Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of RE/MAX Gold. Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice; it could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.

Comments (8)

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

I have a special ring tone for my wife which allows me to know who's call I'm not taking

Oct 24, 2014 04:17 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Ed Silva You crack me up. I have a special ring for my husband for the same reason.

Oct 24, 2014 04:20 AM
Colleen Fischesser Northwest Property Shop
NextHome Experience - Chelan, WA
A Tradition of Trust in the Pacific NW since 1990!

My husband still has the flip phone and only this past summer learned to text. It's excruciating to watch!

Oct 24, 2014 09:30 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Elizabeth - You and I have talked!  I'm glad you blamed all that "old school" stuff on your husband and not me. . .LOL

Seriously however, having worked for 8 years at a software development company, and always wanting to be on the cutting edge of technology, I have found the last couple years or so, I have become more reluctant to jump on the bandwagon with each and every tech rollout. Over time I have realized not all change is evolutionary with technology, it is often only an arena of trade-offs.  I tend to get comfortable with certain gadgets, and not want to give them up when manufacturered shelf-life is a mere 18 months or so, before the next infant of gee-wizzary is born and announced to the world!

Oct 24, 2014 11:04 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I think I "use" my phone like a telephone a lot, but it turnes out I really don't.  I have been keeping an eye on "battery usuage" and last check only 5% was phone.  there was camera, texting, messenger on facebook, email.  Sigh.  And I always call the listing agent before I write an offer.  

Oct 24, 2014 11:34 AM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

I can remember back when I was a youngster.  My mom and dad insisted if I told them I was going to....., that once I got there to call them.  Back then there was no caller ID so they really didn't know where I was.  Now that isn't the case.   

Oct 24, 2014 10:09 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Elizabeth, I remember those days without cell phones and having to hunt down a pay phone.  My, have things changed. 

Oct 25, 2014 07:44 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

What a novel idea..using a cell phone to actually talk to someone :-)  I had a problem with Verizon last week, looked online couldn't find a phone number to call- but I could use the chat box!?  I guess I'm a little old fashioned, too Elizabeth! 

Oct 25, 2014 10:49 PM