It's Just A Phone Pick it up

Margaret- you're so right. You have to GET OUT...and it doesn't have to be networking groups. One of my favorite agents in South FL picked up the phone on occasion just to say hello and see how I was doing. 

Good evening Margaret,

It always amazes me how some agents do not pick up their phones! You never know who it might be..just answer your phone! You can also reach out and touch someone with a call.

Your words are true and when I first got into business I loved hearing the phone ring in anticipation of business coming my way, haha.

Pick up the phone, call people, answer people, get out an meet people. It's actually pretty simple!

Your are so right, business is in the palm of your hand. Too many agents pay for dead end leads when all they need to do is call their sphere of influence and remind them what they do.

Excellent advice, Margaret. It seems that these days many agents are allergic to picking up their phones even if they constantly look at them and they never leave their hands. 

Good morning Margaret. Having had the privilege of more than a couple of phone calls with you, I can attest to the following:' a true master on the phone is Margaret Rome". You never fail to inspire me to think of a corny phrase as a result of your posts. Thanks! Enjoy your day.

Hello Margaret - some of the most effective tools available to us needn't be expensive or require a lot of training.  Dialing for opportunity is relatively easy.  

Hi Margaret,
Like you, I hated cold calls. I don't like receiving them, so I didn't want to do them.  We all know people, though... so pick up the phone and have a conversation. It doesn't even have to be about real estate. Just let people know you're available when they have questions or need help.

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Good morning, I so agree, you do need to get out there.

Hi Margaret,

Although I appreciate the idea of making "call" approach, I prefer to avoid sales calls for personal and professional reasons. I find that an unexpected phone call can be intrusive for the person on the receiving end. I struggle with small talks. Let's face it, - many of these calls feel like a sales pitch.

Instead, I found success in connecting with potential clients through personalized marketing materials sent to them after engaging in a brief conversation.

Miss Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400 we are on the same page when it comes to cold calling - that was not for me!  Door knocking, although in the early days of my real estate career I did it, I did not like it, therefore it was shortlived. 

We part ways with answering all calls. Maybe it is a geographical difference, 99% of my incoming calls are spam, robocalls, as you say unsolicited sales calls, etc. The calls often start at 6 am my time. I decide what calls to answer. It is a choice that I am most comfortable with.  

I say, to each their own. What works for one may not work for another.  I answer all calls, text messages, and emails from real estate agents. I believe the consensus here in the Rain from real estate "professionals" is that agents who do not answer their phones are not professionals - such a disservice to their clients not to mention what professionals think, feel, and believe. 

And I will add, set up the voice mailbox, identify the business in the outgoing message, remember to empty it so people can leave a message should one not be available. 

A great reminder that verbal, intentional communication is still the best!

Margaret, excellent advice:

"The best starting point is right in your hands: the phone. Open your address book and phone contacts and reach out to everyone you know—friends, family, neighbors, and former colleagues. Embrace the opportunity to have fun with conversations; any chat could lead to a new opportunity."

Anyone who is not capable or willing to do this, should find another career.

Your passion for connecting with people really shines through in your article, Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400! I love how you turned everyday interactions into opportunities—thanks for the encouragement to pick up the phone and keep the conversation going!

There are a lot of ways to succeed in this business. If cold calling is not for you- that's ok. I know agents that sit down in a coffee shop every day and work from there. Over weeks, months, years- regular customers will see you, overhear your conversations, strike up a conversation, etc. Others might join a private gym and get to know other members over time on a friendly basis- and you don't have to talk business- but eventually they will overhear you and talk with you about real estate even if you weren't the one to raise the topic.  In NYC, Real Estate is one of our favorite topics- and the ongoing jokes about real estate in NYC on Seinfeld weren't far off from real life- so everyone wants to talk to you. 

When I was in high school, I briefly did some cold calling for my parents company- I hated it, and when I became an agent- decided this is not a path I wanted to pursue. But I don't have any issue calling warm leads or those in my network letting them know what I can offer or if they know anyone that might be thinking about buying or selling.

Margaret you and I are on the same page with - just make that call! That is one thing I always stressed to our agents, the importance of building long term relationships and that means talking.  Not in annoying ways like a few folks have mentioned but rather a caring, how you doing kind of thing like friends do. I continue to do so to this day!

Unfortunately, Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400, if I pick up my phone every time it rings I will spend all my day talking to spammers. If I do not recognize the caller, I do not answer. If they want to talk to me about something of mutual interest, they will leave a message and I will call them back ASAP.