YOU ARE A REALTOR WHO HAS A CELL PHONE, BUT WON'T GIVE OUT YOUR NUMBER TO ANOTHER REALTOR??????

If that's the way she wants to run her business then she has that right. It's frustrating to us that want/need information quickly  and in this day and age being used to getting information as quickly as we can type a google search not hearing back from someone can affect our business.  I would have tried to get the information some other way, or just shown the home and then waited to hear back. 

Hi Valerie: I came in this backwards.. Meaning I first read Tni's post, then Tom's and am now going to the source!  Did you ever imagine it would cause this response!  I do not pick up if I am at an open house (and busy), in a meeting, and with a client as I feel it is rude..  other than that... my cell phone is available to all and I WILL return all calls. Best, Gay

Hi Valerie~  I give out my cell phone number and I answer my phone if I am available. If I don't answer it and you leave me a message, I do return all phone calls. That being said, I have no say about what another agent chooses to do.  But, I do believe all calls should be returned in timely manner.

Valerie:  I came here through Tom's post as well.  He pretty much gave you a "working over" in his post and in his comments.  I am sorry he did that, because in doing so, I lost some respect for him.

Anyway... I fully support your viewpoint.  And... here is the response I made to him on his post:

Tom:  I will admit that I only read about the first fifty calls on this post... BUT... if I had a listing, and you had an offer ON that listing... I would make sure that my seller knew about your policy of only being available during "business" hours... and also about not giving our your cell phone number.

Unfortunately, life does not contort itself around your personal business hours, and if, after informing my seller of your "business model"... my seller felt it necessary... any counter back to you would insist on you providing your cell number... so that you could be reached in case of some real, actual emergency. 

Of course, you are very much entitled to run your "business model" as you see fit, but when it is my seller's welfare and future that may be on the line... modifications are most certainly in order.

If the other agent doesn't return my call, then that's exactly what I say to my client.  I say "I've been calling the other agent and leaving voicemails but they haven't called back yet.  They might not be motivated.  Let's also look at some other listings."

I'm here via Tom's post, which I haven't read yet.  I really think we CAN handle business without giving out our number to everyone.  I DO give mine to everyone, but if my assistant had a handle on all of my listings and was readily available, agents wouldn't need to call me, truly.

Even thought I DO give my number out, if anyone other than family calls while I'm out with clients, I let it go to voice mail.  It could take a couple of hours to get back.  I would prefer emails so I could read it on my phone and respond without being blatantly rude to my clients.  

I think where this agent dropped the ball is not having anyone that can handle the Q and A's from other agents.

Valerie, I just read Tom's rebuttal before coming over here.  Although I do have my cell phone anywhere and everywhere, obviously if I'm busy with a client, a personal affair, etc. I have let my phone go to voicemail but the bottom line is that there is no cell phone # with this agent.  I have to agree that IMO if we didn't provide cell phone numbers or easy access, a buyer or seller will go to the next agent who did answer his/her phone.  

Valerie ~ I also came here via Tom's rebuttal. As real estate agents we all have different business models. That's one of the advantages of our profession that we get to choose how we do business. I think it's unusual not to give out cell phone numbers, but in the age of email and smartphones don't see it as a problem.

I didn't appreciate being called a pop tart Realtor in Tom's post for my accessibility and flexibility, but feel you also miss the mark. There are different ways of doing business and it seems this agent did get back to you and it was just 3 hours later. If you had been given the number and it had gone to voicemail, because she was with a client you probably would have waited the same length of time. So where's the problem?

Valerie, I agree with you 110%, as Professional Reators especially those who take on 50, 60, 100 listings and are under the assumption that they're providing good service(based on THEIR standards) are just fooling themselves and their clients and as far as I'm concerned, they're not doing any justice to their clients, especially the sellers. Time is of the essence and in this market, we can't ignore what could be sales calls.

I have a great example that happened just this weekend, showed a rental, clients liked it, called the number that's in MLS, of course it was the office VM and 48hrs later, I'm still waiting for the return phone call. BTW, I also emailed the agent but of course no reply YET!! So I don't even know if the property is still available, since they are so busy, it does usually take longer than normal to change the status in MLS(based on MY experience).

Those with REO listings, do the banks know these sales calls are not being answered immediately? If I told the Asset Manager I work with that I don't publish my cell phone and the calls are answered during business hours, he will be looking for another Realtor who is less busy to handle his properties.

A lot of people mention the systems Tom has in place. I'm not sure what I am missing, but if the systems are in place, why were you unable to get your question answered in a timely manner?

Our motto is "IF WE ARE AWAKE, WE WILL ANSWER".  If no one is at the office the phones are forwarded to one of our cell phones.  If you are not responsive to other agents, especially if they have a buyer in town for only a short time, YOU ARE NOT SERVING YOUR CLIENT (THE SELLER) WELL.

When I am on a listing appointment I urge the seller to test us and any competing realtor on this.

Valerie, I agree with you

Our motto is "IF WE ARE AWAKE, WE WILL ANSWER".  If no one is at the office the phones are forwarded to one of our cell phones.  If you are not responsive to other agents, especially if they have a buyer in town for only a short time, YOU ARE NOT SERVING YOUR CLIENT (THE SELLER) WELL.

When I am on a listing appointment I urge the seller to test us and any competing realtor on this.

Very interesting post and responses!

Valerie -

One day I called another agent --- no joke --- and his message said, "Don't bother leaving a voice mail.  I don't return calls."  I couldn't believe it so I dialed again.  Why would he have his cell number published at all?

Isn't serving our clients the most important part of doing our jobs well?  As Broker at my boutique firm, ODAT Realty Serivces, Inc. located in Atlanta, GA, our company motto is "Real Estate is our product but SERVICE is our business."

Service includes all the possible details that our clients deserve - not just showing property.  We must respond promptly when called/emailed, keep detailed records, maintain knowledge with continuing education and be ready to refer a client to someone else if we are not the best person for that client's needs.

All the best, 
Lynn

Come on Valerie, what is more important, serving our clients or setting boundries to show everyone how important we are?  Unfortunately, as an industry we treat each other with more distain than respect most of the time.

I am one of those who do not answer their cell when they are with a client or in a meeting.  However, as soon as that meeting is over I return the calls, even if they did not leave a message.  I also return other Realtor's calls as soon as it is possible.

On one occassion I got a call at 6:15 AM from a prospective buyer on the east coast (I am in California) planning to move to our area and excited about a listing I had.  That was a bit much but I answered the questions and ended up lshowing them the house a few days later.

I do agree with you that clients should find out where a prospective agent stands on the communication issue before they engage that agent.  In this day and age the speed of communication is critically important.

I have a second cell phone that costs me $15/month to use for all of my advertising.  That way, my personal cell stays personal.  Problem solved!

Valerie, I asked myself the very same question the other day. I tried to contact this agent for over a week to know avail. She placed her office phone # in both slots for contact #'s so all I had was the office line and of course, she is never there.  Very frustrating, agents who want to keep their cell phones private should get alternative contact numbers or a 2nd cell.  Great Post, took it right out of my head!

To each their own, what works for some may not work for others it is a business choice. We all set our business/personal boundaries as we see fit. You can find my cell number on my active rain, facebook, homes.com, website..... I have a smart phone too so I get my email on the fly. That is my choice and I love the freedom it affords me to do business where ever and when ever I need.

Each agent/brokerage works differently.  That is the beauty of this business, no two agents are the same.  I don't fault the agent who chooses not to give out their cell number or that cannot be reached immediately.  It just makes it better for us agents who do. It does make it harder for us agents who have the buyers/renters for their property but it just gives me more incentive to get more listings.

About 3 yrs ago I had to show a property in a rural area of my MLS.  I had to go to the office to get the key even though everyone else on our MLS uses lockboxes (that situation is for another posting).  I get to the vacant house with my client and it is the wrong key.  I call the office to ask them and they tell me it is the only key they have.  I ask for the listing agents cell number.  They tell me that they can't give it out.  "What ??... I just drove an hour to show one of his listings and I can't have his cell number ??... Have him call me please"... That was 3 years ago and I am still waiting for my return phone call... needless to say, my client found something else.  

Like I said earlier... Don't get mad at them for not giving out their cell number... In this day and age of instant gratification, be thankful that their are agents out there who don't believe in the same thing.  It just makes it better for us who do.

I can't provide excellent service to my clients of I receive 50 to 60 phone calls a day. My licensed sales coordinator handles those calls very efficiently.