Do you avoid giving out your cell phone # to the public, never knowing whether telemarketers or random stalkers may call you? Do you take phone calls "after hours" (during your family time) because you don't know the nature of the call? Do you have to rush back to the office to see if you received the fax you've been waiting for?
If so, I've had the same concerns and a few months ago, switched to a virtual office phone and fax management system. I researched several and then tried a few. Now I can recommend my favorite, www.GotVmail.com.
Every Realtor should ditch their cell phone -- or at least STOP giving out their number, unless it's to clients. Instead, subsribe to GotVMail and enjoy these PHONE and MESSAGE benefits:
- Professional "large office" sound that shows callers you have your own office
- Receive calls only during the hours you choose; for example, MON - FRI 8am to 6pm and SAT 10am to 5pm. Set your schedule boundaries - no need to explain that you don't accept "late night" calls from clients during your family time, or that SUN is your off day.
- Other calls can go to your office voicemail, which you can pick up at any time. You can even get notified via text message or email that you have a message waiting!
- Callers can choose from several extensions, such as: a separate line for each agent on your team; or a separate extension for each listing you have.
- Record your own professional messages for each extension. You can do this on your computer!
- Don't change your cards etc. every time your cell or office number changes.
- You can choose your own local or toll-free number, or request a vanity number.
- You can play back your messages on your computer, and archive them.
- Once you've established a relationship with a client, you can give them your cell phone # if you want.
Incredibly enough, here's some FAX benefits too:
- Receive your incoming faxes electronically -- you don't need a fax machine, ink, or paper.
- Faxes can be read from your computer -- you can save paper (and go "green") by not having to print every fax. Only print those faxes you need a hard copy.
- You can save faxes as PDF files and forward via email.
- I've received NO junk faxes (spam faxes) since I implemented this new fax system!
- You don't have to give out your fax # on your business card, etc. When clients call you, tell them your fax # is the same as your phone #, which they already have.
Yes, there are some cons also. The main issue I have with GotVMail is that they do NOT have an outgoing fax service. They keep saying they are working on it but no progress yet. They really need to offer this service if they hope to be a complete office management system. If you want to have a completely virtual fax service, with no fax equipment, you can scan documents to your computer, put them into a PDF format, and send out via www.OneFax.com or a similar service that has outgoing fax capabilities.
Once, I was not able to receive a fax through GotVMail.com because of the computer that was sending it. But this has only happened once. And we fixed it by sending it as an email attachment instead.
The service is incredibly affordable, with rates from $9.95 per month. I pay about $20 per month because I requested a specific toll-free phone number. There is also an initial set-up fee.
WAIT! One more IMPORTANT thing... NAR members get a substantial DISCOUNT on the service by using their NAR coupon code. Go to www.Realtor.org, click on "Realtor Benefits" at the bottom of the left navigation bar. Under "Technology", click on "GotVMail" and get your $50 credit which waives the set-up fee!
Such a COOL tech tool, use it your advantage. Upgrade to a professional-sounding office TODAY and manage your mobile "office" from the home or on the road!
Regina P. Brown
Allison James Estates & Homes
www.ReginaBrown.AllisonJamesInc.com
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Guess I'm addicted to my cell phone as I use an IPhone now, which also offers data and text services. I do appreciate the virtual office/fax system info. Thanks for sharing.