I even encountered this situation with a real estate agent....really?

When you are doing business, you need to answer all of the calls.

I don't like missing calls, so I will usually answer it if I can answer it. If it's a sales call I just hang up. I don't feel the need to explain myself to an unsolicited caller. Happens to me sometimes too!

if they don't leave a message, I don't call back.... if they immediately call a second time, I will pick up.... it was a listing, the last time it happened.... my 95 year old mother worked at the local bank with the caller's mother.... this woman knew my mother...   

Damned if you do & damned if you don't. 

Our area code is 479, 501 and 870.  A few weeks ago I received a call from a 678 area code.  She is now an agent with us...  I answer the phone, it pays off

Most out of state calls are marketing people.  I usually don't answer, but every now and then do.

I pretty much always answer my phone.  If it's a sales call I just politely say I'm not interested. 

I answer calls just like you. I quickly hang up if it is someone trying to sell me something.

Many people that moved here are still using their cell # from other states. I get those calls and answer them most of the time.

With cell phones the only thing you know for sure is where the phone was purchased. I still use a 239 (Ft. Myers) number and hven't lived there for over 3 years. Sometimes you can't change your number.

That said, sometimes I let calls go to VM and then call back!

Teachable moment!

     Area codes are so last millennium.

I pretty much answer whenever I'm not otherwise with a client or in an appointment.  And sometimes I'm lucky and it is a potential client and not a robocaller.  But mostly, it's spam.

Paul,

Our business often comes from out of the state.  We have a mini-gate.  We use a company called Voice Nation.  A live person answers the phone, then she will route it to either one of us.  This stops a lot of bot calls as well as sales calls.  A

Yes often. Got one the other day that said: don't hang-up until I am finished

I always answer my phone unless it's an 1-800 or out of country number.

I'm surprised at the number of people who don't change their numbers to a local number when they move - especially business owners...LIKE REALTORS®!!

And, yes, I prefer to answer all calls too!

I answer all calls unless I am in a meeting or with a client. Many are robocalls.

With the proliferation of cell phones and scammers masking their numbers it is nearly impossible without NoMoreRobo to tell the difference.

I use the free app Hiya which alerts you to spam or phising calls.

so frustrating! 

Good thing you answered! I am amazed at how many people do just keep their current number when they move. 

Yes, out of state calls all day. 3-4 a day and it does hinder me from answering out of town numbers at night as they are sales calls too. I have had enough of them

Hi Paul- since we're able to keep our area codes, a caller could be a local client. I do answer when I can but if with a client, I let it go to voice mail. 

Our virtual receptionist answers all calls 24/7 and routes them to us as appropriate.

Paul, I asnwer most out of the area numbers because so many people coming into the area are bringing their cell phone numbers with them. 

I answer all call regardless of area code... so often they are actual prospective clients who've been referred to me.

When I'm available I answer the phone regardless if it is out of area or not. A lot of people moved into SoCal but never changed the cell number( i would not change it as well). If it is a marketer, i'm not upset or think dwell on it. As for Zillow or other big marketers I always add the number to my phone directory, so next time I just do not pick up. 

I have this happen with 3 clients also that phone number is Chicago but live here.

I have received similar calls, not many are changing their cell phones anymore.

I try to always pick up the phone when it rings.  In a typical day at the office - more than 50% of the incoming calls are robocalls - just no one on the other end of the line.  Can be very frustrating because each time we stop to pick up a call -- it is a distraction from other business we were attending to -- and it was a waste of time ... a precious commodity.   TIME! 

I'm finding more and more that people have out of area phone numbers.  My last client had one.  Now that "long distance" is free, I don't think people will change numbers.  My buddy from High School got a 415 area code number when he went to college in 98 and still uses it to this day.

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®,CRS, If I don recognize the area code I don't answer it and wait for them to leave a voice mail. Can't be important if they don't leave a message.

Which is why I answer my phone.

The marketers have become very clever by using local phone exchanges to get you to answer; very irritating when you're expecting a call and  have to pick up.

LOL! No, that hasn't happened to me yet. I was just commenting yesterday that I wish the phone companies were required to give local numbers.

Every now and then the voice on the phone is not synthetic.

Most can not be answered compelling the recipient to decide..."Do I call to respond to a missed call or assume they will call back. Or will they keep going down the list until the find and agent who answers their phone?"

No.

I have a client with their out of state number yet