No matter where an ad is placed — TV, radio, magazine or billboard — a toll-free number is sure to boost response rates. Many real estate investors and agents who use toll-free numbers know this, but many also have no idea how much business they are missing out on by not using the toll-free strategy.

Toll free numbers create a larger more significant corporate image, even for the smallest investor who is likely working from home.  Having a toll free number gives you far more credibility. Of course agents have access to their brokers toll free numbers, but what they should consider is having their own!  With their own toll free number, each agent is assured of getting all their calls and they can setup features to customize their business and gain advantage!

Cost - US toll free numbers are so cheap and simple to set up that even the smallest part time investor can afford to have their very own toll free number. For example, Callture only charges $2 a month fee and all calls are billed at only 4.5 cents.  This includes even the instate rates that are often much higher. 

Expanded marketing reach -

If you are advertising your real estate business outside of your local market then you should consider a toll free number to make it easier and more convenient for buyers and sellers from outside your local area to contact you.  Many real estate investors also advertise to absentee owners who may live in another city or state.  Having a toll free number may encourage these absentee owners to contact you.  Of course, agents want to have potential buyers reach them from whereever they may be!

General Features of Toll Free Numbers for Real Estate Agents, Investors and others

Easy to change the number that your toll free reaches!

One of the most important benefits of toll free numbers for real estate professionals is the ability to change the 'ring to' number. If you move your business or your needs change, it's easy to change the ring to number. This is usually by making a simple phone call to your toll free number provider or even online.  This ability allows you to control and change where your toll free calls go without having to reprint your business cards, letterhead, postcards, change your web site, etc.  This kind of flexibility is important for growing real estate investment companies.  

This can also be handy if you are going on extended vacations and want someone else to take your calls while you are traveling.  Of course with today's technology there are features that allow you to simply have calls forwarded or voicemail options that are truly superior to just a few years ago.  Here are two options to use when away from the office for hours or weeks. 

* Enhanced Voicemail callers gain new and innovative means to conduct business. With these services your toll free number can receive an unlimited number of voicemail messages to be stored in your voicemail box.

With Enhanced Voicemail you have the ability to listen to your toll free voice messages in multiple and convenient ways-via phone, email or online. Whether you're in the office, working from home, or on the road you can access your voicemail. 

Forwarding voicemails to key employees is as simple as sending an email. And with our Instant Message Alerts via Text Message you can be notified of a new message no matter where you are.

* An Enhanced Call Forwarding feature will track you down at home, in the office, on a cell phone or at any other pre-designated phone number to let you know that someone wants to speak with you.

This type of service is known by many phone service providers as Find Me/Follow Me. Your callers simply dial your special toll free number and choose the appropriate extension. The service then routes the calls to the appropriate person for that extension at the locations of his choosing, no matter where that may be. Callers will hear on-hold music or your personalized on-hold message while the system locates you and delivers the call to you.

Enhanced Call Forwarding will forward calls to up to 5 different phone numbers in the specific order of your preference.

Scalability - A huge benefit for new real estate investors is that you typically just pay for the usage or calls to your toll free number.  This means that when are just starting out and your usage is small, your bill will be small as well.  As your business increases and you have more calls and more call time, your bill will increase. But so will your business!  And know that your toll free number is clearly an investment and also tax deductible when used for your business!

Collect caller information - Toll free numbers also provide additional caller information including the callers number even if the caller ID information is blocked.

Privacy - Toll free numbers are harder to trace to the owner than normal business numbers.  

All Agents can use a toll free number, but when might a real estate investor NOT need a toll free number?

There are situations where a toll free number may not be necessary for a real estate investor.  For example, if you are in an area where your entire market can reach you with a local call, you do not want the toll free number to boost your credibility and you don't market to absentee owners, a toll free number may not be for you.

Some investors may use the lack of a toll free number as a "screening process".  If a caller has to pay for a long distance call it may keep some people who are not very serious at all from just calling and wasting your time.   The philosophy of these real estate investors is that anyone truly interested in their program would be willing to pay for that first call.

Another option along these same lines is to have a toll free number that you don't advertise.  You can then give the toll free number out to potential customers after they demonstrate interest and after you have determined they are worthy.

Is there any difference between 800, 888, 877, and 866 toll-free service?

There is no difference. Calls using either 866, 877, 888, or 800 numbers are all toll-free calls. Since 800 numbers were the original toll free number, they are more recognized as "toll free" and should be your first choice if you can find one that you like.  This is similar to domain names where .com is preferred over .net etc.

What is a "Vanity Number"?

Vanity numbers are telephone numbers which also spell something on the phone keypad. Vanity numbers are much easier to remember

than a simple number.  For example, you can call the offices of InvestorPro.com by using our toll free number of 1-877-INVESTOR.  1-877-

INVESTOR is a "vanity number" which is actually the exact same as 1-877-468-3767, but INVESTOR is much easier to remember. 
Toll free numbers can also be used with Automated Voice Mail Systems like iTelecenter

More on this extraordinary service for real estate professionals of all types

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iTeleCenter Real Estate Pro provides the competitive edge you need by providing you:

One phone number to connect you and your clients no matter where you are
The ability to present your listing details to clients 24/7
To capture buyer and seller leads without violating Do Not Call list requirements
And so much more

More on all types of US Toll Free Services         

Joseph Horton
jh@namada.com
submitted 9/20/2009