I feel that you only get one shot at a potential seller. If you don't answer the phone the next investor in line will. I have my calls forwarded to my cellular phone to offset that.
By default, I'd have it forwarded to a partner/associate. Lastly, I'd have it forwarded to an answering service. I used a number of them through the years and never got anything but mediocre service.
If you're selling then an answering machine seems to be an acceptable alternative..
Since I tend to have a limited number of callers clustered around my advertising campaigns, I would agree with SammyV.
However, given the number of false leads I have to wade through, if I had numerous, simultaneous and successful campaigns in progress, I'd have to opt for a voice mail service or even an answering service to help screen the calls more thoroughly.
At some point, time (yours) becomes an issue worth valuing.
I would say answer the phone yourself. I had a seller call today after I sent my first batch of letters out last week and I missed the call only because I was in the other room and didn't hear it. He left all his information though. I am going to call him tomorrow. Normally I would call back right away but 1. I had to run out and get the kiddos from school and 2. It was a commercial deal so I wasn't as interested.
I'm in the answer your phone camp. I don't want to miss a call, since motivated sellers often call down the list, and will just pick the next person's ad in the classifieds.
It is better to answer all calls from both the sellers and buyers. First inpressions count. I personally hate talking to answering machines. When was the last answering machine you talked to that could answer a question?
I like to answer calls too, but don't mind messages. Most callers leave one, but then I'm the only ad in town. I love information. With a name and a phone number, I can do some quick online research before calling them back to see what might be waiting, tips on building rapport. For ex., I learned one seller was a big fisherman--his name turned up on online tournament lists--so I knew to mention fishing.
It depends on whether you're buying or selling.
I feel that you only get one shot at a potential seller. If you don't answer the phone the next investor in line will. I have my calls forwarded to my cellular phone to offset that.
By default, I'd have it forwarded to a partner/associate. Lastly, I'd have it forwarded to an answering service. I used a number of them through the years and never got anything but mediocre service.
If you're selling then an answering machine seems to be an acceptable alternative..
Since I tend to have a limited number of callers clustered around my advertising campaigns, I would agree with SammyV.
However, given the number of false leads I have to wade through, if I had numerous, simultaneous and successful campaigns in progress, I'd have to opt for a voice mail service or even an answering service to help screen the calls more thoroughly.
At some point, time (yours) becomes an issue worth valuing.
I would say answer the phone yourself. I had a seller call today after I sent my first batch of letters out last week and I missed the call only because I was in the other room and didn't hear it. He left all his information though. I am going to call him tomorrow. Normally I would call back right away but 1. I had to run out and get the kiddos from school and 2. It was a commercial deal so I wasn't as interested.
Kelly
Hey there, Bill.
I'm in the answer your phone camp. I don't want to miss a call, since motivated sellers often call down the list, and will just pick the next person's ad in the classifieds.
It is better to answer all calls from both the sellers and buyers. First inpressions count. I personally hate talking to answering machines. When was the last answering machine you talked to that could answer a question?
I like to answer calls too, but don't mind messages. Most callers leave one, but then I'm the only ad in town. I love information. With a name and a phone number, I can do some quick online research before calling them back to see what might be waiting, tips on building rapport. For ex., I learned one seller was a big fisherman--his name turned up on online tournament lists--so I knew to mention fishing.