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Phone service to handle calls
8 posts by 8 users
Dan M.Washington, DC 
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I'm still a bit confused on the toll-free phone numbers for taking calls. I can't figure out what I need to set up as a new investor. I don't want to put my cell phone number on my marketing pieces, so at a minimum I need a different number that will at least get forwarded to my cell phone and include voicemail (not my personal cell phone voicemail though). Second, I think I'd like an answering service. I know these also provide toll-free numbers. Where I'm confused is whether I should use view those two pieces separately (one company for voicemail/toll-free phone service and independently determine if I need an answering service). Can someone explain all of this to me? What companies are good for toll-free numbers? I've been googling stuff, but I'm really confused. Thanks,
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Mike S.Real Estate InvestorMinneapolis, MN 
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Hello,
You can set up how you receive the calls several different ways, all done online. I chose to have the caller's message go directly to voicemail. I know it is better to answer the calls directly, and if you want to you would have to have an answering service with a live person - more expensive. But since I work another job I can't do that, so I have it go to voicemail. The voicemail system notifies me on my cell phone that I have a message. I can retrieve the message through my cell phone by calling the service, or I can access it via the website, which stores them, and yuou can play the message right on your computer. Also, the service captures the caller's number even if they decided to hang up, so I can call them back. I get this for about $15/mo. Check it out, and keep asking what the other guys use. Good luck! |
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Aly L.Real Estate InvestorNew Jersey 
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I use www.ureach.com I used to work for them in their start up days. You get an 800 number, similar to Ringcentral.com it sounds like. The 800 number can redirect to several extensions and you can set it up by day/time as well as with different greetings. For example, have it go to a particular number Monday through Friday, and a different one on the weekends. The calls can also be routed from one number to another for up to 5 numbers I think. So if you're not answering your cell, the call can ring to your home or office number. The service also has a " preview" kind of feature, where the caller has to announce their name, which you hear, and decide if you want to take the call or send it to voicemail. The caller doesn't know you're screening their name, they just hear ringing. It's a unified messaging service. You can get calls forwarded to other phone numbers, you can hear the call on the web site (as a .wav file), and if someone emails you, the service will " read" the email to you over the phone. Your 800 number is also your fax number. You pay a small fee for the service, and for a package of minutes. I haven't worked there in over 5 years but still use the service. |
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Jeff S.Portland , OR
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I looked at a lot of services, and finally went with a prepaid Verizon Wireless account. I think it will be temporary until I get going, but it is month to month with no contracts, relatively cheap, and I can forward it to my personal cell phone without giving out my number. The disadvantages are many though: when it is forwarded to my personal cell and goes to voice mail, it goes to my personal voice mail instead of reverting back to the prepaid account's vm; it means having another cell phone; and I had no choice in picking my number. But I did get a local Portland OR number, which was unavailable through Ring Central and a few other providers. Obviously, you're talking about 800 numbers, so everything I've said has no bearing on you, but just in case anyone else was wondering. In the future, when I am able to get a more secure and steady internet connection, I think I am going with VOIP. |
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Brendan D.
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starting out i used ding-a-ling answering service (seriously, that's their name) and I got my toll free number from another vendor. why? if i ever decided to go with another service, i wouldn't have to change my marketing. since the number's mine i can switch answering service providers at will. there are tons of services, patlive, unicall reisupport etc. Check out a few and see which one best meets your needs. also go to your local investors group and find out who your local colleagues are using. |
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Jason H.Real Estate CoachOakton, VA 
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I have been very happy with ringcentral.com If you want a live operator try patlive.com |
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Robert M.Real Estate InvestorBergen County area, New Jersey 
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Grandcentral.com gives you a phone number which you can have directed to your cellphone, home phone or any other phone you'd like. So you are hiding your actual cell number, however its only for inbound calls... youmail.com lets you customize your voice mail for anyone on your contact list and you can have a different voice mail message for people not currently on your contact list.... Both services are free, grandcentral I believe you need to get put on the waiting list.. took me about a week to get a password emailed to me... |
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Austin M.Real Estate InvestorSartell, Minnesota 
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I've also had excellent experiences with ringcentral. As far as I know all they don't offer that you will eventually want is fax on demand and message mailbox services (recorded marketing messages). |
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Posted: 04/07/2008 at 12:42PM
