Special offer
Richie Alan Naggar, agent & author  (people first...then business Ran Right Realty )

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
1,844,171
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I think when you are newer you feel that you have to be there 24/7. After getting seasoned you realize that you have to set business hours for yourself & family. 

My set of standards are working fine.

Sep 06, 2021 08:08 AM
Rainmaker
1,197,022
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

I agree with Lyn Sims , You do need to set your hours and early on in your career they pretty much need to be 24-7 to learn, grow and develop your business and achieve your business goals  BUT and it is a big but.  on  one side if your goal is to be the #1 Realtor in an area based upon volume or sides   that is one thing.  If your goals are much lower and you are happy doing one or two deals a year.  that is fine.  

The time you are available for work related efforts must match your goals.  

Everyone will interpret this in the way that suits their mindset, gosh.  this is an easy industry to make lots of money in your spare time.  Sorry.  Wrong.  You  get returns based on your investment in time and energy.  

Sep 06, 2021 08:26 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

      Voice mail, texting, and email have alleviated the 24/7 demands that plagued us 20 to 30 years ago.  

Sep 06, 2021 10:12 AM
Ambassador
3,344,906
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

My hours are working. I am generally available.  I do not answer calls when I am with a client or on a consult call. That is just rude! I am very responsive and return calls quickly.  

Off-hours - generally 8 pm to 8 am. It works for me.  My clients know I will get back to them. 

Others, if they expect me to work 24x7 and always be available every moment of every day,  they are not my peeps and we will not be a good fit. 

Sep 06, 2021 10:20 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,858
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Pretty much 8a-9p 7 days a week, including some holidays.  Other busines ventures I'm involved with are "if I'm up, I'm on."

Sep 06, 2021 09:02 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,225
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Technology, Team Members and Boundaries have made it much easier these days to say "YES! It's working just fine."

Sundays and Major Holidays I'm Closed. (Phone is Off).

Mon-Fri 7AM-6PM and later by appointment only. (Rarely needed).

Saturdays by Appointment only / Off if no appointments.

22 years in, my boundaries are working and I establish them with every new client upfront.

Clients respect my hours, 20% of the agents are the ones who squawk, but they are the few that have no lives and are jealous that I run my business, it doesn't run me.

Sep 06, 2021 10:44 PM
Ambassador
3,587,835
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Our buisness is referral based and our folks know how to reach us.  With the VAST amount of spam calls I receive daily NO I do not answer my phone unless I know who's calling.  Works fine for me. I don't need that craziness.

Sep 06, 2021 09:02 PM
Rainmaker
1,052,056
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

My office hours are 8-4 PM MST M-F and Saturdays by appointment.

Yes, they work. My clients 'can' reach me if they need me but most of them won't. 

I cannot stop business from coming in and that's fine.

I'm not worried about 'someone else getting that lead' IDGAF

Life is short and I am not getting any younger! I want maximum joy in my life! And I have enough income streaming in that I can!

Sep 06, 2021 05:08 PM
Rainmaker
637,434
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

One rule I have made for myself is to answer all phone calls.  If I'm on another call or can't get to the phone, I will leave that auto message about getting back to them.  I've found that people are pretty respectful.  My repeat clients know I'm a "morning person" and will text me REALLY early and that's ok. In Carmel, I'm usually in the pool at 6:30am and not reachable.  Few calls come in after 9pm.  and then usually clients which I have no problems with.  I don't have "office hours" because I'm seldom there anyway. This works for me, my business has never been better and I still have a lot of time for other things.  

Sep 06, 2021 11:22 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,502
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

I’ve lost a couple of deals because of planned trips . But we can’t see everyone and we need to accomplish our other life goals 

Sep 07, 2021 05:49 AM
Rainmaker
5,215,748
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

As a sales manager I was available by phone, if not in the office, seven days a week from 7am to 10 pm. except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, the 4th of July and Labor Day. It came with the job.

Sep 07, 2021 04:29 AM
Rainmaker
7,835,266
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

In the residential real estate business, if you are awake you answer the phone and you return all of the messages. Delays can mean missed opportunities. 

Sep 07, 2021 04:15 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

It depends on the project we are working on.  We do keep normal hours and by I pm we are done.  We have clients back East which means 6AM is 9 AM for them.  A

Sep 06, 2021 09:07 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

24/7/365.
The problem in this conversation is the expectation of the consumer and what the real estate agent feels capable of doing are in different camps.
The Rocket Mortage study revealed what consumer expectation was and following that perception the tail (Rocket) took over the dog, Quicken.
I believe asking professionals in the sunset of their career this technolgy solved question would result in misdirection.

Sep 06, 2021 09:18 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,372
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

When I was new, I did work long hours, but it paid off with business!   Today my phone goes on silent at 8 pm, and back at 8 am.

Sep 07, 2021 06:10 AM
Ambassador
6,392,899
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I have no problem sticking to my principles and taking off Sundays, and the clients that I want to keep do not have a problem with this.

Sep 07, 2021 05:53 AM