Phone answering

[Ted Allen]

Originally Posted by dvalley

When clients call you and want answers to their questions immediately, your answering service will not tell them what they want to hear. They will simply obtain your clients phone number and politely tell them that you will get back to them shortly.

By the time you get your messages, your prospect has already found and scheduled with another home inspector.

Do yourself a huge favor, be professional and answer your own phone. My phone is with me 24 hours a day, seven days a week and I manage to answer my phone most of the time, no matter where I am.

Sometimes I find myself in the oddest places when booking my clients, but I would not have booked many clients if I had an answering service taking messages for me. Home Inspection prospects want immediate results when they are calling you. Most of them will not wait for your return phone call.

Exellent advice. Always answer your phone!!

[Ted Allen]

Originally Posted by dvalley

Money well spent. Use the money that you just saved and put it towards a marketing idea.

Speaking of marketing ideas, here is my most productive one. Make up some very nice memo pads and give lots to every real estate office in town. It will take a while, but I can tell you it is well worth the cost.

As of now my only compitition is House Masters as far as memo pads go, but mine are cooler and more folks like them, so I am winning this race.

remember the 21 rule.

[Peter C. Russell]

I always answer the phone unless I'm soeaking to a client. When I'm not in the office I forward the calls to my cell and it's on 24/7, even when it's charging

[wforsyth]

Originally Posted by dvalley

When clients call you and want answers to their questions immediately, your answering service will not tell them what they want to hear. They will simply obtain your clients phone number and politely tell them that you will get back to them shortly.

By the time you get your messages, your prospect has already found and scheduled with another home inspector.

Do yourself a huge favor, be professional and answer your own phone. My phone is with me 24 hours a day, seven days a week and I manage to answer my phone most of the time, no matter where I am.

Sometimes I find myself in the oddest places when booking my clients, but I would not have booked many clients if I had an answering service taking messages for me. Home Inspection prospects want immediate results when they are calling you. Most of them will not wait for your return phone call.

What about the one's who schedule for you? I always have my phone with me as well, but sometimes think it wouldn't hurt to have a service. Would be helpful when I have to be in the doctor's office three times a week and he doesn't want my cell on of course.

[W. Michael Chris]

Originally Posted by tallen

Speaking of marketing ideas, here is my most productive one. Make up some very nice memo pads and give lots to every real estate office in town. It will take a while, but I can tell you it is well worth the cost.

As of now my only compitition is House Masters as far as memo pads go, but mine are cooler and more folks like them, so I am winning this race.

remember the 21 rule.

Willing to share . . . love your idea, would love to see your example, I want to get a good looking pad in realtors offices soon.

thanks,
mike

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by wforsyth

What about the one's who schedule for you? I always have my phone with me as well, but sometimes think it wouldn't hurt to have a service. Would be helpful when I have to be in the doctor's office three times a week and he doesn't want my cell on of course.

You may want to consider a friend or relative of yours (who is familiar with home inspections) to answer your business line while your in the doctors office.

Phone answering services don't know squat about home inspections and will only take messages for you or (if your lucky) book the inspection(s). Again, HI prospects want answers immediately. They will not wait for you to return their call. Unless of course, they were referred to you by past clients and only want you to perform the inspection.

[Nick Gromicko]

Have 2 phone numbers.

The first you put on your reports should existing clients want to contact you about their report. You can also give it to your accountant, vendors, your bookie, your wife, your girlfriend, and your other girlfriend. They can leave a message.

The other phone number (your cell phone) should be reserved for new business only: your website, brochures and ads. This is the one you answer when it rings.

[Paul Pendley]

Sorry to say but....I leave my phone in my truck when doing inspections and tell my client (if they are there) that I will be taking a break for some private time during my inspection....(great time to hand them the measuring tape)...so that I can take some notes. Thats when I answer the calls from which I have fowarded from my office. Some folks will say "dont answer your phone"....I say its OK if you are not in a current conversation or consult with the client. How many RE's answer their phone while you are doing the inspection????

[David P. Valley]

Originally Posted by ppendley

How many RE's answer their phone while you are doing the inspection????

All....

[dbush]

Just about the only time I don't answer my phone is if I am in a crawlspace; and occasionally in an attic. I also carry a blue tooth with me most times, so I will answer it about anywhere on an inspection. Phones are too vital a piece of our equipment to not answer them. Wendy, you might get good at customizing your voice mail to say, I am away from the phone for about an hour and I will call you back as soon as I am available" or something like that. I see several people who use the daily update of I am in the office today, but please leave a message, etc.

[wforsyth]

Thanks guys!