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Who Loves to SAVE Money?

By Kristal Kraft

Real Estate Agent with Novella Real Estate

November 16, 2008 07:19 AM

A couple months ago while following my Twitter stream, Jay McGillicuddy New Hampshire Real Estate Golfer, asked if anyone used a phone Ooma service called, Ooma?

I hadn't, but it peaked my interest so I followed the link. Ooma is a device you use in conjunction with your telephone and high speed internet access. For the one time cost of the unit, you can give up your land line.

Times have changed, once the thought of not having a telephone line was downright scary. However these days most households have at least two cell phones if not more. Having landline service has become less important, in fact it has become just another useless bill to pay!

Ooma really appealed to me. When I do use my landline, I wear a headset so my hands are free. I can continue working, cook dinner or whatever while walking around the house. So having this option continue for me was a plus.

What I had grown to hate was paying Qwest $70 a month for the priviledge of telephone solicitors and robo freaks calling me daily. Then there was the mandatory long distance charges I seldom use, but had to have.

Well no more.

I ordered my Ooma. My ancient old land line number is still mine. Ooma successfully ported the number, so no I didn't have to go through the pain of changing it.

Does it work?

You betcha! I love calling long distance and thinking, "Oh my! This is FREE!" Of course calling outside the country requires a small charge, but that is to be expected.

My favorite moment was calling Qwest to tell them I didn't need them anymore. LOL! It was like a debriefing, they were trying to see if I was totally serious perhaps crazy to give up their service. It took at least 10 minutes to "cut the cord."

I did it. No more bills.

Jay blogged recently about his experience. Guess the Ooma thing is catching. I can see why.

Now if I could just figure a way to cut my Starbucks Chai habit. Hey Jay got any suggestions? :)

Kristal Kraft works in the Denver Real Estate Market selling residential real estate and helping nice folks with Denver relocation

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Jen Bowman

Keller Williams on the Water - Holmes Beach, FL

Realtor - Anna Maria Island & Bradenton FL

I didn't want to give up my home phone #, but this sounds like it could work if we can transfer it. I just need to figure out a way to port my fax #.

Nov 16, 2008 11:55 AM

M. Suzi Woods (Gravenstuk)

NOW Sharing the life and spice of the GC one day at a time - Grand Canyon, AZ

Suzi Woods, Prior Independent REBroker in MS

Kristal and Commenters, a very interesting post. I recently ditched my landline as well. It seemed the only people who called the landline were those who did not have our cell phone numbers. Mainly telemarketers. With 4 cell phones in the family plus unlimited text--we're well endowed. Still, I have experimented with Magic Jack which does have 911 capability, and with Skype Out. I like both, however both require a computer w/internet service to be on. I particularly like using Magic Jack w/Verizon when I am out and about, or sitting a vacant house. You can hook up anywhere with a headset or landline. If you are places that do not have electricity turned on, the old fashioned landline that did not require ac plug in works great. For me, its hard to choose between Skype Out and Magic Jack.

Regards, Suzi

Nov 16, 2008 12:18 PM

George Tallabas

RE/MAX Advantage - Nampa, ID

Idaho Real Estate

Thanks Kristal - I have only kept my land line because I have needed it for my fax machine at home. How does Ooma handle my incoming and out going faxes?

Nov 16, 2008 12:34 PM

Sabrina Kelley

ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Woodland Park, CO

Woodland Park Colorado Mountain Homes and Land

George,

Check out e-fax and my fax. I cut the my cord with Qwest last year.

Nov 16, 2008 01:54 PM

Joan Whitebook

BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH

Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

I am going to check this out. I really don't like my current land line phone system -- so I am looking forward to seeing how this works.

Nov 16, 2008 02:17 PM

Steven Beam

RE/MAX Alliance - Parker Colorado Real Estate. - Parker, CO

Parker Colorado Real Estate

When we bubdled with COmcast it saved us over $1000 a year. Now I'll need to check this out.

Nov 16, 2008 02:36 PM

Marcia Kramarz

Re/Max Executive Realty - Medway, MA

CDPE,LMC,CBR

Great Info - I'm off to learn more about OOMA - You're right about the importance or lack of importance of the land line - So I'm all for saving money - IF I can take the number with me. I usually recommend for any seller moving out of town who want to save their number to port it to a cell line - I know I moved a woman who had the same line for 34 years and the ability to take it with her to another town was HUGE - So a lot of us keep our land line BECAUSE of the number - If we can port it, we'll consider options!

Nov 16, 2008 08:42 PM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Mmmm. If recent history is any indicator, your Starbucks Chai habit may soon be replaced by a MacDonald's gourmet coffee habit when the local Starbucks closes.

Nov 16, 2008 09:40 PM

Greg Gorman

John R Wood Properties - Naples, FL

Naples Florida Real Estate

Thanks for sharing Kristal. I will check it out as I have a few questions as well. In this market, we look at everything that will save time and money!

Nov 16, 2008 09:46 PM

Sharon Paxson

Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA

Newport Beach Real Estate

Thanks for the heads up here - I only use my land line occassionally because everyone here has cell phones. I will check it out because it would be great to save $70 + per month.

Nov 17, 2008 01:32 AM

Mana Tulberg

805 County Real Estate - Camarillo, CA

Real Estate Agent - Camarillo CA

KK, I have to check them out. You are right, the only calls we receive through our land line are from solicitors.

Nov 17, 2008 02:53 AM

Patricia Beck

RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Realty

Starbucks Chai's are too good to eliminate :) I am going to have to check this out...I'm definitely tired of the solicitor calls!

Nov 17, 2008 05:59 AM

Teresa Berry

Seattle, WA

Kristal i'll be looking into this one, thank you and as for trimming the Starbucks habit, that would be a little harsh for me too :)

Nov 17, 2008 11:15 AM

Ed Kaminsky

Kaminsky Real Estate Group/Shorewood Realtors - Manhattan Beach, CA

Ed Kaminsky

Sounds like a great system to mention to new buyers who just closed escrow as an option rather than setting up a traditional line. Bringing value based items like this to their door is what they remember when it comes time to sell again.

Nov 17, 2008 11:19 AM

Gena Riede

Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA

Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Kristal, question. I have a split line...one for the land line phone and a different number for the fax. Can Ooma handle that? You didn't happen to mention the cost but obviously it must be better than the $70 fee you were paying.

I'm assuming reception is good and lines are open.

Nov 17, 2008 03:24 PM

Derenda Grubb

CENTURY 21 Mike D. Bono & Co.'s - Lake Charles, LA

GRI, ABR, CRS

Kristal,

I am eager to hear your reply to Gena's questions. This sounds too good to be true and you know what they say about that. I am intrigued. I had suffered a flood from Hurrican Ike and will need to replace numerous phones in my home. I must admit, this sounds more interesting.

Nov 17, 2008 04:10 PM

Kristal Kraft

Novella Real Estate - Denver, CO

Selling Metro Denver Real Estate - 303-589-2022

Jen, Suzi, George, Sabrina, Joan, Steven, Marcia, Lenn, Greg, Sharon, Mana, Patricia, Teresa, Ed, Gena & Derenda...

Let me do a SPEED RESPONSE as today is nutty busy for me;

I once found the need for a dedicated fax line at home in addition to my main land line, however the spammer fax morons made me turn it off to save trees. Sometime along the way my office went to using a system similiar to eFAX, making the need to receive faxs on a fax machine obsolete.

I kept the fax machine to send. In fact Ooma says the fax will work when hooked up to the Ooma port. I cannot verify that, because I don't use it that way.

I use a ScanSnap (scanner) to copy if necessary and send as an email attachment. It's fast, it's VERY EASY to read and the documents get stored on my hard drive, where I need them.

I gave up that dedicated Fax number in favor of the eFax.

The Ooma cost for the initial equipment for me was $250. THERE is NO Additional charge. My phone bill was typically $70 - $75 a month. I figure right now it's paid for. My monthly cost for Ooma is ZERO!

Ooma offers advanced features but I didn't subscribe to them, but Jay McGillicuddy did. After talking with Jay, I may go an subscribe to a minor upgrade just so I can send them some money. I want them to stay in business!

Ed's idea of sharing the Ooma story with home buyers who will need to set up phone service is an excellent one.

Ooma doesn't get rid of solicitor calls, but I can see who's calling and ignore them.

Bottom line...ditch the fax, get eFax, get a ScanSnap, ditch the phone line. Go green. Or at least have a "green inititive" and stop spewing paper all over the place. :)

Now may I have my Chai Tea?

Thank you very much!

P.S. If you decide to buy Ooma, I think they give a referring person a free month. I suggest you give that to Jay McGillicuddy, then line up and give it to each other down the line!

hahahaha now organize that AR!

Nov 17, 2008 11:59 PM

Lovejoy Team

Re/Max Alliance - Brandon, MS

Even better than Vonage.

We cut the cord when we got an efax number. Receiving faxes at home was the only thing keeping us on the bellsouth donor list

Nov 18, 2008 12:14 AM

Jay McGillicuddy

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Exeter, NH

Real Estate Broker

Yes, we do still have a fax and it is connected my Ooma hub and it works just fine. I also have E fax to receive from a company called www.packetel.com which is $3.95 a month unlimited.

We love our Ooma. Thank Kristal for kicking me in the butt and pursuing this further.

Nov 18, 2008 12:25 AM

Gena Riede

Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA

Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Thank you Kristal and Jay for the worthwhile and cost saving information. I have kept my phone line for the fax and those individuals that need a fax vs a scanned email document but it looks like that time is nearing to a close due to the both of you.

I will be checking into both packetel and Ooma this week and making some long needed changes.

Thank you.

Since both of you seem to have spent the time evaluating all this and the cost...how about another wonderful question...

Have either of you found the best price for a 1-800 number?

Nov 18, 2008 12:37 AM