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Top 10 reasons why your Realtor is not answering the phone when you call

I received a very nasty voice mail yesterday. I had considered changiing my outgoing message to reflect my unappreciation for the message but after more thought and some calming down I decided to blog about it instead.

The voice mail was from a woman. I have no idea who she is nor how to call her back because she left no number, no name and her caller ID was blocked. In her voice mail she is screaming something to the effect of "how the blankety blank blank do I expect to sell a house if I never answer the phone".

Well, today I will answer that question for the world to know.

Here are the top 10 reasons why a Realtor/Agent may not be answering the phone the very minute you call.

1. Perhaps her bowels and/or bladder are still working and she's in the restroom and she doesn't feel like it's necessary to discuss real estate while sitting on the toilet.

2. Perhaps (imagine this now) she may have another customer/client besides just you and she feels it is the polite thing to do to wait until she is finished with that customer/client before she answers her phone.

3. Perhaps she isn't awake at 7am on a Saturday after having worked 12-14 hour days all week long and she actually needs some SLEEP!

4. Perhaps when you called at 11am on Sunday she was in church practicing her religion and her patience as her phone vibrated in her pocket.

5. Perhaps she doesn't answer calls that have their caller ID blocked and come across the phone as being "private" for security reasons because she values her life!! (are you listening lady?)

6. Perhaps she just doesn't like you and is tired of you calling her 6 times a day with unnecessary questions. How about you just let her do the job you are paying her to do????

7. Perhaps she actually enjoys spending time with her kids/family and doesn't feel it's necessary to her career to be on call 24/7 regardless of whatever perceived emergency you may think you have that necesitates you needing to interrupt her child's birthday party.

8. Perhaps she is right this very minute trying to negotiate a contract on your house and feels she can give you all of the details when she is DONE DOING HER JOB.

9. Perhaps she and her husband are out celebrating their anniversary and she didn't want to invite you.

10. Perhaps (and this is a big one) Perhaps she actually has a life outside of realestate and if you would be so kind as to have left a MESSAGE just once including your (AH!-OH!-OOOOOHHH!) PHONE NUMBER and NAME she would have called you back as soon as she was back on the clock!

So the next time you get a "tude" because your Agent/Realtor didn't answer your phone call.....keep the above in mind.

Posted by Cheri' Smith, Realtor Prudential Gary Greene on 08/19/2008 01:44 PM

Comments (29)

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29 Comments on Top 10 reasons why your Realtor is not answering the phone when you call

AUG

2008

Cheri - This woman probably had the wrong number! :) People really can be so impatient. They need to realize that realtors are people, too and can't always answer their phones right away. :)

This was funny but true !

We got them used to the expectation that we have to answer to each and every call any time of day or night

Think about it ? how many professionals do you know that answer their cell phone every time you call? Not many ..... does your dentist pick up the phone when he's with a patient or after hours ? How about your tax advisor or your lawyer ? You know why ? They are bussy working or having a life.

If I see a client that I am working with call I will pick up if I can . If I see a blocked numer I am not going to stop my life or whatever I might be working on to answer that call. Sometimes I get these "blind" calls "buyers " drill me with all kinds of questions, I end up giving free advide to Joe Doe since I have no idea who is on the other end. kinda like your screaming woman....

You are so right I wish the public will start realizing that we have bussines hours and they don't incude 24 hours or instant phone call piuck up. But one could always leave a message with a phone a name and the nature of the call. I do not know a siggle realtor that would not return a legitimate phone call.

AUG

2008

Cheri', my first reaction to your blog subject was "yeah right...you don't answer your phone and have dropped off the face of the earth", but once I read your blog, I agree with you 100%. I've been a broker for 33 years and I operate with MY PERSONAL CELL PHONE ON MY real estate signs as the Main Number. My agents have their Name Rider and phone number, and I think the public is pretty attuned to calling that number, but every now and then I get a call and I tell them I'll call the agent and have them call. I do this to make sure my reputation is maintained that we RETURN phone calls.

The problem with the general public I don't think has stemmed from the examples you've given as much as the "part timers" in the business and just plain lazy ass'ed agents (sorry for bad language) that just don't care that gives all the rest of the majority of us a bad name with reference to answering a phone or promptly calling back.

I'm dealing with an agent now that's been going on for 3 months. I write him 15 emails before I'm lucky to get 1 response and I make 15 phone calls before I'm lucky to get one back. THAT's THE PROBLEM! How in the world does he treat his "clients"?

Cheri - good list, I have also found that some agents just don't return calls (or emails) if it doesn't mean they will make a guarenteed buck (and sometimes even when they can make a guarenteed buck).

And then there are some client/customers that do feel they own our souls. Take care.

It is so true... we cannot answer every call the first time it rings. I guess they assume that we need to drop everything when the phone rings.

I have the same problem, and at times people really ticked off because my voice mail is full. What they do not realize is that everytime I try to empty the voice mail 3-4 more calls come in and suddenly I have more voice mails than I started with.

Other reasons why your realtor may not answer the phone.

1. She has set aside time to prospect and you are calling during that time.

2. She is in the middle of a client consult and has turned off the phone.

3. She is taking her team out to celebrate reaching an important goal

4. She took a day off.

5. She is getting her kids to sleep.

6. She has 2 other calls on the line already

7.She is taking care of a sign call on your listing and making an appointment with the client to see your house

8. It is 2 am in the morning. ( yes I have had calls for business @ that time!)

9. It is dinner time

10. She is doing volunteer work

11. She is sick

12. Her kids are very ill

13. She is writing a contract and needs to double check to be sure she made not mistakes and the interuption of a call makes that difficult.

Yes.... I will return the call as soon as I am able, better yet, likely the client has my email and those can safely be returned late at night when the phone has stopped ringing so much. We all do our best. I have had a couple of sign call people be mad that I do not take calls much of Sunday. I asked them what day of the week it is that they choose not to work.

With that said I do feel answering the phone is very important, and make arrangements for the phone including others to cover calls as much as I can, and my assistant is much better at getting through my calls on voice mail than I am

I return phone calls. I answer most calls. I refuse to answer "private" calls because I used to and I started having this guy call me at all hours being lewd. He got my number off of my car signs while I was driving....I know this because he was behind me when he first called. He told me to put my hamburger down. I had just left Whataburger and just opened my hamburger when he called.

I don't like dealing with impatient people. If she'd just left a number I'd have called her back almost immediately.

Thank you for all of your replies.

I am so glad you have this posted to the public!

Wayne, the public needs to understand so I HAD to make it public. Society has gotten spoiled by 24 hour customer service with some businesses. They don't seem to understand that we are not on duty 24 hours a day. We are not the cell phone company!!

I have one client I sold a home to and I sold his house and he STILL calls me every week and sometimes at 3am!!

I let this go on for awhile but there comes a time when you have to put your foot down.

I don't like to be stressed. I'm too easy going and laid back and don't like it when people get all frazzled and start pressuring me or push me into a corner.

The callers I am addressing with this blog are those type of people.

I have a habit of updating my clients weekly with a phone call. I email them more than I should. So there really is no excuse for some of the behavior I experience.

For the women in this read...I would NOT have my telephone number and/or name on my car. Girls..in this day and time...I think it's too dangerious! There are far too many nuts out there and there are other ways to get your name out there rather than be stalked to a vacant house preview.

I thought you may have had fewer bars on your phone :)

I witnessed a good one today while getting gas. Some guy came storming out of the store with his kid, about 13 years old, hopped in the truck and squealed spinning tires with stones flying everywhere. The store-owner runs out screaming, "I have your license plate number". I just had to ask what his problem was when I went in to pay for my gas. Get this, he was mad because the deli sandwiches he ordered weren't ready yet! Now, isn't this a fine example he's setting for his son. What is wrong with people?

Thanks Cheri, it needed to be said.

Cheri, all of the above are valid points. People expect instant gratification on everything now. There is nothing wrong with creating boundaries and calling people back in a timely manner. It is okay to go to the bathroom, have an anniversary dinner, and/or spend time with another client. You should not work with people like this if you can help it.

Cheri - one of the most frustrating things is to get calls with no call back number and no name. I think it happens to me at least once every couple of weeks.

It is true...many folks don't know we have a life also. We eat, sleep (sometimes) shower, visit the john, have quiet moments. I have seen more anger in individuals over the last year . Could it be a symptom of our society?

I can't tell you how many agents have called while I'm getting my kids to bed! One got really mad at me for not taking time out to talk to her during that time. In the end we got the deal done and she calmed down but my goodness!!!! :-) Tonight I missed two calls because it was my son's birthday party. I'll deal with it in the morning. Great honest and true post.

AUG

2008

Lindsey, the public knows you're no different than the Brain Surgeon on call and "should" answer the phone always, especially making the same amount of money. Afterall, selling 40 houses a year that sell for $300,000 each with that huge 6% commission...that's $720,000 in commissions in your personal bank account isn't it? WE WISH! LOL

My clients know that between 5pm and 7.30pm I am probably feeding, bathing and putting my son to sleep. I don't pick the phone up during that time.

Great post. Glad you put it out there because that is what alot of us are feeling.

The calls that come in at 10:00 pm are the ones that kill me. I usually answer despite my desire not to.

Loved reading your blog! It is so true! LOL

SEP

2008

I totally love this blog. I plan to spread it around. Protest now if you don't want to be linked!

Great blog. While we pride ourselves on customer service we do not answer the phone after 9p and before 8a. As a husband and wife team that do real estate full time we have to set some boundries or we would not be good at what we do.

Good post-- It's all about balance in life, isn't it? Go forth, and pee in peace. :)

Thank you. I was rather irritated with that woman. I never did find out who she was.

Suzi, go for it.

SEP

2008

11. Perhaps, just perhaps, the person calling is NOT the most important person in the world.

~wink~

I volunteer one morning a week at my daughters school helping the teachers in the workroom. They goto a wonderful school out in the country and you know what, no cellphone signal. I start to get antsy after being there 3 hours because I never know what type of phone call I'm going to miss. But, I will call back if you leave a message. What bothers me is when people call and you know they've called because of caller id. If they don't leave a message do you call them back?

I heard Dave Letterman is calling you to read this top ten on the late show.

Great post.

SEP

2008

I would have to pass on Dave, Lane, because I do not like crowds or public speaking.

Jennifer, friends and family know I don't listen to their voice mails. If I see they called I just call them back. As for customers, I only call back if they leave a message unless they call me 10 times and never leave a message. There are some people that just do not like to talk to voicemail so for those I will call them back.

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