Some Realtors Don't Deserve Phone Priveleges

Just think of the many ways that we advertise property for sale - yard signs, open houses, postcards, website, emails, Active Rain, Trulia, Zillow, Bigger Pockets, LoopNet, and so many others. Why do we advertise and market our properties ? To get them sold. Some sales will be directly to the consumer, but many will inolve other brokers and agents.

So with all of the effort that is used to advertise and promote the properties that we want to sell, why would we want to be unavailable to the public and other Realtors?

Not that this fits anyone reading this, but I am amazed at the number of times I call an office and find out that the listing agent is busy or not there. I leave a message. That's the end of that. Sometimes, I call back with mixed success. Very often, I'm asked to leave a message - again.

So I call on their cell phone - if their office will furnish it or it's on their marketing pieces. Then I get the voice mail on their cell phone. Okay, they're busy with a client or showing property. Call back the next day, different time, same result.

I can only wonder how they ever expect to sell any property and why they were issued a cell phone in the first place. As for the voice mail in the office, it may be time to go back to the receptionist taking messages and making sure calls are returned.

 

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website or go to my other blog "Steve Hoffacker's Home Sales Insights" for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at "Steve Hoffacker's Happenings."

Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer, Author of Sales Books, Commercial Real Estate Broker, Marketing Consultant, Sales Coach, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Podcaster, and Teacher. - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2012. All Rights Reserved.

24 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • January 07 2012 12:52PM

Good Manners Apply To Having Voice Mail

This comes under phone etiquette and pet peeves. File it in either category - or both.

We have become so accustomed to voice mail that we have become sloppy about its usage.

I'm particularly talking about the voice mail on our phones when we are getting the message - not when we are leaving it.

There are really three issues that bother me:

(1) The message must be clear and it must be clear that it is a message. Sometimes it sounds like the person has answered and we begin talking to the recording before we realize that we aren't actually speaking to a person.

(2) There is no point in having voice mail if it can't be used. Please listen to the messages and then dump them. So many times I am invited to leave a message only to hear those dreaded words "the mailbox is full." Can't leave any messages and the person being called is missing numerous opportunities to connect with us because they don't even realize that we've called unless they recognize our number and actually review their list of missed calls.

(3) Do we really expect a return call? Mostly, the answer is "no." This is unfortunate. We subscribe to a voice mail service - or set up the outgoing message on our phones if it is an included service. Then people leave us a message until the mailbox fills up. Then the messages are discarded because they are too old, we think we've already spoken to them about the reason they called, too much time has elapsed, or we just don't do return calls.

More often than not, I hang up rather than leave a message. I often get a call back telling me that I didn't leave a message - fine because I actually get to speak to them. In fact, I get more responses from not leaving  messages than I do from the times I leave one.

We all can use a phone etiquette adjustment.

 

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For more information on my coaching and educational programs and services, visit my website stevehoffacker.com, or go to my other blog homesalesinsights.com for additional sales tips, insights, and commentary. Listen to my free podcast messages at Steve Hoffacker's Happenings.

Steve Hoffacker - Consultant, Coach, Author, Blogger, Photographer, Motivator, Teacher, & Strategist - for Realtors, Real Estate Sales Professionals, Home Builders, New Home Salespeople, Entrepreneurs, Small Business Owners, and Independent Sales Representatives.

© Steve Hoffacker, 2010. All Rights Reserved.

12 comments • Steve Hoffacker - Sales Trainer/Coach, Sales Books Author, Photographer • December 02 2010 01:09PM