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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

:)

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.

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

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.

It takes both parties to be available at precisely the same time to connect by phone.  Email is far more efficient and provides a "paper trail" of communication.