I know it's trivial to some but, or me, when I am given a vendor's contact information and they don't have a local number, I wonder how long they've been here and been in business.

I can't imagine needing someone/real estate agent or broker, with high-level area knowledge who doesn't have a local number. I would question their level of knowledge of the area with a long distance phone number. That's just me though! 

As for ShowingTime, I received a call from a ShowingTime number, answered it in the event it was concerning one of my listings and it was a Z salesperson, trying to sell me on buying their leads. It was a knife-twist to me; a reminder that ST is owned by Z who is now one of our competitors...wrong on many levels. 

I changed my mobile from San Francisco (415) to San Diego (858) when I moved here.

Yes we use ShowingTime, it's great! It's not unusual these days for us to get OC and LA agents traveling way out of their depths to sell homes in San Diego - desperate times for those that only planted their tree today.

We have lots of agents with non local phone numbers.  No issues.  Long distance isn't a thing anymore.  People take their numbers with them.

It is important in my opinion, but we now have FOUR area codes considered local in my market, I think it especially important to include the area code on yard signs, just sayin.

I would not consider having a non-local phone number for business. I echo Debe Maxwell, CRS thoughts.  

I do not believe my MLS uses showing time. If it does I am unaware of it. It is not a service I need as most of my listings are vacant.   

Living in an area with a military base I think it matters very little any more Peter Mohylsky, Destin BeachPro . I can't imagine anyone saying: "I'm not calling him/her because their phone number isn't from the 701 area code". Heck, the younger generation may not even know that "areas" have their own code. 😊

Considering the #1 factor people think about when choosing their agent is "is this person a local market expert" ... i think the clear answer, for real estate agents in particular, is yes. You need a local phone number.

Yes, Tammy Lankford,  everyone has long distance, and yes, people move and take their numbers with them ... and for some professions, this is ok...but for real estate professionals, "it's better safe than sorry" and there will 100% be people who will no answer your "non local number" ... so why cheat yourself, when you can just change numbers, get a local number, and increase answer/reply rate.

I don't think you have to but if you're a new agent or new to the area people might think you're a spam caller if your area code doesn't match. Our area code is hard to get so if it is out of the area there's a very good chance it's one of the 20+ spam calls we get a day.

Local phone numbers are now irrelevant.

Yes we have Showingtime, no problems, I love it.

I use showing time and we have a 303 and a 720 area code in our local area.

I think it is important to have a local area code. However, local is broad in our area since some agents work in more than one state plus DC.

For physical business locations, they should have a local phone number.  For professional services or when working with an individual, it doesnt matter.

There's tech that matches your called ID area codes to the place you're calling, so it's probably MORE likely a local number will be spam (nearly every call I get from my local cell phone area code is a spam call).  

In our industry especially, as we've accumulated contacts over the years, it's a really poor move to change cell #s/area codes IMO....I've gotten tons of random calls from people I haven't talked with in years because they had my number saved somewhere, or an email w/the number in it.

I think having a local area code phone number is important for business and you can keep an old number and have the new number on the same phone if desired (at least I was able to!). Some people won't use someone who isn't local, or who they don't perceive as being local. A local area code helps.

We have become the midway point to moving from Fla to the north east.  We are also the great place to leave California to move to and Colorado started coming here about a year ago---so the phone company has added a new area code for the area.

I tell my agents to just answer the phone--vetting out by area code or just because they have not spoke with the other party is costing them money. ANSWER the phone or find another business to make money at.

As someone who has had the same number since 1998, I can't really change now. Too many people have my number and still call. Then again I am not active and the need for a local number is irrelevant. If I were active, I would have a local number for business. Its just makes life easier.

Area code are an outdated concept in the age of cell phones and voip

It is less and less important to some, as far as I can tell.  To me, it just says that you haven't planted roots and are one foot out the door.  It also depends on the area code.  Out here, 805 is the local code but if you drive 5 minutes east you are into the 818, so it is reasonable out on this end of the county to have an 818 number.

One of my friends in the business, has five phone number.  One for each area code he operates in.

One area code.. 207. Period. So when agent has anything other, whoa. Does not look local and helpful or knowledgeable about where the property is. When a number area code from many states away shows up, it loses credibility.

If a cell phone was originally bought out of state, it will show an out of state number. No big deal. I have numerous clients with out of area numbers.

I believe we have access to Showing Time but do not use it on a regular basis. Not aware of any hacking issue.

My cell phone has always been a bordering area code from where I live, never been an issue.  Might have changed if it was from another state.

Not necessary to have a specific number now a days with an exception or two. For instance, I hesitate to answer an out of area number, but I am getting over that. Now potential clients might think it matters. 

Yes... we use Showing Time in our MLS. As for a non-local number, I don't get agents who use out of state or out of area phone numbers. Always makes me wonder if they are truly local and have local knowledge.

I think local helps, but it's not critical. We use showing time and I love it!.

I like to call someone with the local prefex anytime looking for someone in the community to work with.

I think it's important. At one time Chicago area changed all the area codes & added something like 5. Made sure  my phone stayed within my offices area code.