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Somethimes you NEED to cut it off....

By Jessica Talley

Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Hometown Realtors

March 09, 2008 02:59 PM

Your phone that is! I have always made myself as available to my clients as possible (except Sundays...that was my first rule I set in my business). However this week as once again changed my perspective...while speaking with a client on Thursday (on my way to a corp.meeting) I informed him I would be unavailable due to meeting until that afternoon at which time I would gladly show him property. During the course of the 2 hour meeting he text messaged me 6 times! I couldn't believe it, I didn't even respond until I left the meeting. THEN Saturday night he text messaged me again at 11PM! Once again I didn't repsond...what in the world do people think? There are no banks, inspectors, sellers, appointment centers open at that hour....there was NOTHING I could or would do at that hour. So now I have imposed my 2nd rule....I will turn my phone off at 7pm EVERYDAY and unless preplanned it will no longer be turned on Sundays at all. LOL....Or maybe I will just wait til 2AM and call him back...wonder how well that would go over? LOL

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Ray Nellum

Envision Real Estate Group, LLC. - Fort Smith, AR

Fort Smith Real Estate

J & J, you have to set limits. You might not turn the phone off, but to silent or vibrate. Keep your family time and keep your mind. Or you could just send a text at 3 a.m. and say we gotta see this one now!!! LOL I am just kidding about that one.

Mar 09, 2008 03:14 PM

Jessica Talley

Century 21 Hometown Realtors - Seneca, SC

LoL...people just amaze me! I think you may be on to something with the 3am text though! Or maybe I can come up with a witty voicemail to turn on after a certain time in the evening...

Hi..you've reached Jessica...unfortunatly I am out showing property, I will return at 5am and will return your call after I take the kids to school but before I get a couple hours sleep! Leave a message!

HAHAHAHAHA!

Mar 09, 2008 03:21 PM

David Stewart

On Top of the World Communities, Inc. - Ocala, FL

I hear you... I just had the phone ringing from someone calling on a property, at 11:35 Sunday night. Luckily, I did not get to the phone in time to answer it. (I don't wear it on my belt this late! I usually don't have it on, and unfortunately did at that time.)

The thinking of people is: They have the capability and there are no etiquette rules governing texting times (usually people understand that you don't make unplanned, non-emergency phone calls to someone else after 10ish, but that doesn't exist with texting).

Unfortunately, there is the breed of real estate agent who declares himself to be "your 24/7/365 agent" with the heavy implication that anything less means you're just not getting the service you deserve!

Just use appointments generously. For me, my time prospecting is an appointment just as a listing presentation is an appointment--no, I do not let a client interrupt an appointment, whether it's with another client or prospect, or with myself, or with my family, or with the people I have to call between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM.

Mar 09, 2008 04:01 PM

Michael Setunsky

Woodbridge, VA

Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Good for you. Setting limits and sticking with them shows you are in control. By answering phone calls at 11:00 p.m. you're telling your clients they can call you at anytime.

Great Post!

Mar 10, 2008 05:33 AM

Somethimes you NEED to cut it off....

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Jessica Talley

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