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Sorry, I Don't Answer My Phone! And I Won't "Call Me Back"

Many might consider me a horrible Realtor.

Why? Because I won't answer my phone and I won't call random people back, just because they want me to. Is that bad? Let me explain.

First of all, my cell isn't published online. My clients get that, and they can call all they want.

But I get WAY too many random calls (to the "office" published number)

I recently got calls regarding:

Mobile homes in West Virginia (no joke)
Solicitation to join HomeGain.com for the 4th time
A $500 rental in DC that they need to see in 1 hour
A question about a home 3 hours away, since they thought I was the listing agent (I hate how Homesdatabase makes it look like I'm the listing agent for all 65,000 homes in the DC area, I even had to blog about it and send the post to callers that leave their email)

I refuse to have the overhead of these "traditional offices," and hire a full time secretary to answer these calls just to tell them, "Sorry, can't help you."

So I use AnswerConnect.com which is an actual operator that answers the phone with "FranklyRealty..." and proceeds to ask several questions. That includes asking for the email address twice. And then they give a warning that if you don't leave an email, due to the overwhelming solicitations, you will probably not get a call back. I should change that to "will not get a call back."

So If I get a message from somebody that I don't know, and they refuse to say what it is regarding, and they refuse to leave an email and all they say is "Have Frank call me." Sorry I won't. Too busy for that.

What I will do is

Google their phone number to look for their email (works 50% of the time) and send them a questionnaire (and now a link to this post)
Sometimes I will send them a text to the # with a "email me at..."

But to call a random person back because they want to chit chat? Sorry.

I would rather dedicate my time to my clients and focus on their needs then call back and play phone tag 50% of the time, with somebody that 90% of the time is a wasted call. So it might be hard to initially get a hold of me, but hopefully people will see that it is well worth it.

Do I lose business from it? Probably. Actually the Winner of the Apprentice called me to have me

help her sister buy a condo. She hated the answering service... yet HER cell phone isn't published online. (I texted her, that worked).

So if you got an email that is linking you to this blog post, I hope you understand. This is how I am able to stay sane.

You can email me, twitter me, gtalk chat with me over at my other blog, but whatever you do, if I don't know you... don't call me. And don't take it personally if I don't call you back.

Writen by Frank Borges LL0SA- Broker FranklyRealty.com

Posted by FRANK LL0SA- Northern Virginia Broker .:. FranklyRealty.com on 05/02/2008 04:54 PM

Comments (21)

dont call me

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21 Comments on Sorry, I Don't Answer My Phone! And I Won't "Call Me Back"

MAY

2008

Frank,

I didn't think of that! I like, might have to give it a try!

Christopher

was this written for me? haha!

Amen... that is for sure. I get tired of the random text messages and wierd phone calls, really waste of my technology.

Ha bob,

I'm actually trying to get you on Gtalk, it isn't working. About to head out.

Actually this was sparked by these two messages today sent to my cell phone from my answering service:

1321~For:Frank~From: Ted ~n/a~tXXX@yahoo.com~703-XXX-XXX~Yes~Caller is calling regarding purchasing a home. Please call~

For Frank~From:Ted~~~703-XXX-XXXX~~ Caller is calling to speak with Mr. Yosa.Please call~

I emailed him, I texted him... meanwhile I'm working with a client on getting multiple contracts. I need to focus on my clients.

Some will find this to be conceited, and I'm sorry for that. There are just so many hours in the day.

I roll my calls from my office to my cell phone nights and weekends and answer my phone with my company name. If someone ask for "Jennifer" I know they don't know me and aren't a legitimate client - so I usually tell them she died and hang up the phone!

My first name and the name on my license (where they buy the d*mn list from) is Jennifer but I actually use my middle name - long story, so it is really easy to distguish who is spamming and who might be a legitimate contact, most of the time.

Interesting tactic...maybe it will make your clients feel more special at the very least.

MAY

2008

Another tool for our arsenal, and I like that you are a bit arrogant when it comes to taking care of your clients.

I learned long ago not to jump when the phone rings. If I am busy with something else I note who the call is from and wait to call back. Most times I get back quickly but I do "schedule" time for my tasks and don't break that "scheduled appointment" unless it is an emergency or a call from my children or husband. Publishing a cell number has gotten me a lot of business so I am not so sure I would want to keep it client only but we all do what works for us.

MAY

2008

I totally concur and do the same thing........just because its convenient for someone to call me when they want to...........doesn't mean I'm in a position or want to accept their call then.......sounds kind of mean for lots of people......some get upset........My biggest p-off is when they say " CALL me PRONTO"....."the is an emergency i want to look at a house ASAP...........or start talking to me when I do pick up the call......and start chatting before they've even asked......."is it convenient to talk to you ?"......ah well there we go........its not for everyone.......but I have to be true to myself..........

You have put into words what I have been thinking!!!!!! Am I being rude to not return the call of a person who doesn't even leave me their name about a property that is no longer on the market? My husband took my cell phone away from me on Sunday - he said "just because you have unlimited minutes doesn't mean your phone owns you". I really like the answering service idea. Bottom line...I HATE the phone. Email me, text me, twitter me, but PLEASE don't call me!!!!!

Tina in Virginia

Frank....I have written the same thing on here several times and had a resounding chorus of those who insist thier phone is always on...When I am in a meeting, my phone is never on..I don't even do vibrate..I have told people who had to be in constant touch with stuff (girlfriend, client, job, lunch, idle chatter, texting, on an on an on.......) to please give our meeting thier undivided attention or please contact me back when you are ready to do so. I don't go to homes and compete with TVs either. MOst meetings are 20 minutes or less...I will check my phone when I leave the meeting to return calls.

What gets me is the ones who absolutely insist on answering thier phones..only to interrupt our scheduled meeting while we hear " Honey,, I can't talk now, I will have to call you back" or some other crap..I really do feel that that type of behaviour is arragant, and disrespectful...

I was in a group meeting last week and saw a younger agent texting under the table during what should have been time to pay attention. My client, who was hosting the meeting for a group interview of agents to handle the marketing for a project asked me to make sure we did not accept any offering from his firm....No problem

lol Yes, i have many phone calls that seem to be a waste of time. I have turned it around. I dont want clients that screen their calls from me.....so I cant screen them. Its the law of reciprocation and attraction. I must do what I want. So I ask any solicitor for a free referral. If they ask me...IM asking them. Law of reciprocation.

MAY

2008

Don't really have THAT many phone calls since I have a fully staffed office. I STILL don't usually answer my cell unless it's family or friend. Let 'em leave a VM and then I'll decide if it's important enough for a conversation.

MAY

2008

Amen. I made the mistake of publishing my phone number in MLS and have since switched my phone number -- last week, in fact.

I got a lot of "I called you 5 times." To which I answered "did you leave a message?" To which they answered "no."

I'm sorry, but if you are not going to leave a message, I am not going to go through my missed calls list calling people and saying "did you call Jesse?"

The people who call 8 times in a day over something not the least bit time sensitive are usually the ones who don't have too much going on.

MAY

2008

I thought I was the only one who felt that way. Somedays I just want to ditch my cell phone.

I prefer email any time.

MAY

2008

i have many phone numbers for different purpose, one for mls, one for sellers/buyers, one for agents, no voicemail then no call back unless the numbers is already in my list.

my time is important as the client's time. most sales calls do not leave voice mails, that's how i screen my calls. I goole phone numbers too..

i have vonage, broadvoice, voicestick phone numbers :) and i got 2 cellphones.

Many magazine sales, and insurance calls lately.. yes, it did not leave voice mail. how i know it? i google it first.

MAY

2008

weel, after reading it, every time I will miss a phone call I will not feel so badly any more. Thanks.

JUN

2008

amen - hate when people get mad that I dont call back right away - prefer email or text anyday - way too much time wasted on the phone - lets get to the point and at everybody's convenience

SEP

2008

Frank,

I agree with a lot of what you say. However, if you represent sellers they might feel that

you are missing calls on their property.

Frank,

I agree with a lot of what you say. However, if you represent sellers they might feel that

you are missing calls on their property.

AUG

I'm not a realtor but I completey understand about returning calls to annonyomus people. I won't even answer my phone if I don't recognize the number. If they really want to talk to me, they can leave me a voicemail and I'll call them back. My problem is with realtors that don't communicate at all. There's this repo that I saw online and want to check it out. I emailed the listing agent and gave my name, email, phone number, request for a showing and a list of times that I'm available. It's been 4 days and no response. I tried calling but got her voicemail. I left her a message and still no response. If she doesn't want to sell the house she could at least email me and let me know and maybe recommend an agent that would be willing to show me the house. It makes me want to pull my hair out. I can't really afford to buy a house anyways so maybe it's a sign that I should wait till my finances are in order.

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