Friday, March 14, 2008
Getting Real Estate Agents Off Your Back
Here at home, I'm gearing up to sell my place. While looking for real estate can be exciting and fun - it also can be VERY stressful. One of the most annoying parts is when the real estate agents stalk you by constantly "following up." I understand they are just doing their job, but that doesn't change the fact the I don't want to spend half of my life on the phone with these folks.
Here's a tip I've used in the past...
Set up a free phone number that you only use when dealing with real estate agents. There are two services you can choose from:
GrandCentral: Purchased by Google last year, the free service gives you a local number (area code of your choice) that you can forward to your real phone. You then have a choice to pick up the call (the caller ID will show your "fake" number) or let them leave a message. You can retrieve voicemail online. The only negative is that there is a bit of a wait to receive a number.
K7: This free service is purely for voicemail and fax. Just enter your e-mail address and you are an issued a phone number (a 206 Seattle area code). Voicemails can be retrieved using telephone prompts - or you can have the audio sent to your e-mail. If you do not use a number for 30 consecutive days, it's deactivated.
I know that the easiest way to handle annoying realtors is to simply tell them to go away. But for some of us, that's easier said than done. These free voice services give you more control and help you preserve the privacy of your primary phone numbers. They also help preserve my sanity.
Here's a tip I've used in the past...
Set up a free phone number that you only use when dealing with real estate agents. There are two services you can choose from:
GrandCentral: Purchased by Google last year, the free service gives you a local number (area code of your choice) that you can forward to your real phone. You then have a choice to pick up the call (the caller ID will show your "fake" number) or let them leave a message. You can retrieve voicemail online. The only negative is that there is a bit of a wait to receive a number.
K7: This free service is purely for voicemail and fax. Just enter your e-mail address and you are an issued a phone number (a 206 Seattle area code). Voicemails can be retrieved using telephone prompts - or you can have the audio sent to your e-mail. If you do not use a number for 30 consecutive days, it's deactivated.
I know that the easiest way to handle annoying realtors is to simply tell them to go away. But for some of us, that's easier said than done. These free voice services give you more control and help you preserve the privacy of your primary phone numbers. They also help preserve my sanity.
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