Why Do Realtors Have So Many Phone Numbers?
June 6th, 2008 Categories: Odds and Ends
Hello everyone. Sorry for the lack of articles this week! It has been such a busy week with new listings, closings, and some really great new buyer clients whom I’m helping find their next home. I know, it’s no excuse.
You want to know what really slows me down when things get busy? Having to dial way too many phone numbers to reach one of my fellow agents! As a member of a cooperative real estate community here in Raleigh, I pride myself in being helpful to other agents when they need to know something about one of my client’s homes listed for sale. And for the most part, my associates are very helpful when I need to know something about one of their listings. But I wish someone could explain to me why some of the other Realtors in the Raleigh market need so many phone numbers!!!
With the proliferation of mobile phones, and many agents doing what I have done, which is to simply use my mobile phone as my primary communication device, it is getting a little better. But there are still way too many hold outs from the old school who have 3 or more phone numbers listed on their business cards and websites. This confuses me. Just think what it must do for any potential client trying to reach them.
I recently had the need to contact a very successful agent in our market, so I Googled his name to find his website. Once I found his main page, I was presented with no less than FIVE PHONE NUMBERS! This is insane. I froze in my tracks for a few minutes. I started reading through all the numbers and trying to figure out which one to start with. Did he list them in the order of highest probability that I would actually get him on the phone? He even had a separate number for his voice mail!
After the initial fear of having to dial five phone numbers had abated a bit, I came to my senses and just dialed his mobile number. Of course he didn’t answer. I left a message and got a call back within a few hours. Nice guy. He was very helpful and got the answers to my client’s questions right away. How did such a seemingly successful, smart guy end up with such a confusing hodge podge of phone numbers?
I started to ask if I had messed up his system by leaving a message on his mobile number rather than dialing the one he had clearly marked on his website as voice mail. Does this guy have five different voice mailboxes? Does he check them all?
If you are one of my fellow Raleigh Realtors who reads my blog on a regular basis, and you have more than one phone number, do yourself a favor and get rid of the excess numbers. You only need one!
I have won business from clients precisely because I’m so easy to reach. There’s just one number. And I answer it if at all possible. Don’t make it too hard for someone to get you on the phone to discuss the possibility of buying or selling a home.
I’m with you on that!
Totally agree…I have used my cell phone for EVERYTHING for 10 years.
So sorry about the hacker…glad you are up and running!