If you are doing what this agent is doing, you are doing it backwards!

People not answering phones in this market - they gotta be crazy....

George...

We're very good about answering the phone. It's answered from 8am to 8pm, Mon through Sat. On Sundays all calls are taken from 2pm to 8pm. If they don't reach us during those hours we ask they leave a message and we do end our message by sending them to gather info on Blog site. We work in a very unique market where one size does not fit all. Our blog is an incredible valuable tool for us. We've actually taken many listings as a result of sending folks over to our Blog. They like our silly videos too :)

TLW...ROAR!

TLW has a point here about hours.  Larry - answering a call during Jay Leno are you nuts?  I think that the agent is just using the VM as another infomercial for his website.  Alot of agents do this and it makes me nuts when I leave a message because I don't care  - it's too much information!  But I'm thinking you mean if an agent wants the phone to ring and then doesn't answer it?????  Why are they bothering.

I have to disagree about mentioning the website on vm. First of all, I am known for answering my phone, so it is rare for people to get my vm. But offering my website url allows someone to look up houses on their own, see how great of an agent they are about to work with, set up a personal profile, etc. in the short time it takes for me to call them back. If they want something immediately, it is there!

Generally if they came from my website, they send an email first, almost 100% of the time. Then they are shocked by how fast I call them back, even in the evenings and on weekends.

If your website is good, it should be on every piece of marketing that you produce - including email, voicemail, business cards, flyers, tours, signs, etc.

George...It makes total sense.  I guess they figure this is the opportunity to advertise so they're going to put it all out there...

First mistake...not answering the phone.  I have to chuckle when you get an agent's voice mail, they don't call back for days and then apologize for the delay, but "so busy".  Hmmmmm

In this age of poor customer service the best thing we can do is answer the phone and/or get back to people ASAP.  I like e-mail, but I always answer the phone. 

It appears that there is no "one size fits all" response.  Whatever floats your boat and works!

Good advice George,

it's kinda like sending you client in a circle and a quick way to lose them  Thanks

Besides... what buyer who is leaving a message on your voice mail wants to take a message? There is no replay message opportunity if the web address is long, buyer often has no pen in hand, plus that buyer is not calling to take notes but to give you a message. It's out to use your voice mail as an info-commercial.

One of my favorites is a local office that, when the receptionist (real live person) answers and you tell her that you want to schedule a showing, she puts you through to a voice mail where you leave your request info, and they get back to you when they can. This has been great when I have a buyer wanting to get into a house in the next half hour (or sometimes immediatley if it's vacant).  Buyers and their agents want real live people to talk to, not voice mail after voice mail that may or may nor be returened. 

And to your original point, we shouldn't be directing people back to our website from our phone.  It becomes much less personal that way, and if they happen to type in the wrong website (ie; www.toledoohiohome.com instead of www.toledoohiohomes.com), we could be inadvertantly sending them to a competitor.  Oops!

George. Nice point. Sometimes common sense is NOT so common.

George, that could definately make a consumer feel like they are trapped in one of those automated phone systems and can't get to a human for help!

OMG! I never even thought of that! You're a genius! LOL.  I've never put my web site on my message anyway since my message is already long enough. But you're absolutely right. Most people who are calling me have already been on my web site and/or blogs.

Hi George..So True many agents make te mistake of not only not answering their direct line, but sending the caller somewhere else. Our Marketing is Supposed to Make our Phone Ring!

I get you daily email newsletter, thanks !

I might be the only home inspector, maybe even the only person, who answers my phones 24/7. Go ahead and give it a try. LOL

Hey Mr. Real Estate, that's pretty funny. I listen to those same messages when I get other Realtors' voicemails and I think the same exact thing. Thanks for putting it in a post!

LOL.  I need to change my voice mail greeting.  I was going to tell people that I can be texted as well, I will not add visit my website after reading this post.