Do Call-Captures work?

Question

I recently attended a seminar where they basically give you free lunch while they peddle their wares.  One thing that caught my attention was the call-capture system.  It seems like you would get a bunch of tire-kickers, but for $30/mo. it shouldn't be too risky.  Any experiences?

David Scheer · Answer

Call capture works.  But, it may not be the best solution for all applications.

If you want to attract certain types of buyers and run them thru a filter and make them jump thru some hoops before they can talk to you than by all means it works.    You can tweak your message and tighten the filters. If you are advertising a home with no money down and you want to filter out people who have no ability to get a loan, bad credit, etc...  than you will build filters in your recording so they will know that this deal does not apply to them. The others will hopefully leave a message or you can set the system to call forward to your cell phone, etc...

It's a system.. One of many.   You can employ 1 system or many systems at the same time depending on your creativity.

A great system is as michael says:   answer the phone.

Try: answering the phone - with some adds, other adds are call capture, others go to a website...  etc.. see what works best for you, your market and your personality and business objectives.

Carole Maldonado · Answer

I dont agree that they are a waste of time. They have been around a long while which is true, but they are perfect for what they are designed for. Generating calls some calls that could happen at anytime 24 hrs a day. If you have an office number and someone is looking at midnight they wont call but with this they will. All the neighbors will call and many of them will know someone wanting to live in the area.
You can always have a sign rider with your cell phone also.

When I had them they were 50-60 a month so it sounds like a good deal.
If you are an LO then dont believe the crap about giving it to your RE agents so they can be loyal to you. Not gonna happen If they have half a brain they can figure out how to get there own, and even though these companies sware they wont let your realtor sign up after you have introduced them to it, They will. Good Luck
Rates may fall .5 wow what a market!  :shake:

Mike S · Answer

Call capturing is a waste of money. When someone calls they don't want to talk to a machine and leave a message, they want a real person. Take your own calls or leave it with an answering service as Michael said earlier.

Barclay Smith · Answer

That sounds really interesting however, I am still at a loss as I am not sure where to look for it?

Account Closed · Answer

Answer youre telephone when it rings... My goodness. If you cant hire a service... Mine cost 125 plus 2 bucks a call and they ask my questions...

Imagine ordering a Pizza from a voice mail system... You wouldnt would you...

Sellers in distress, the only kind we buy from, will call until they find someone to solve their problem... You must be that person or they are going to call your competition...

I have been on contract signings when stupid investors call back...

Michael Quarles

Dick Green · Answer

It's been awhile...but I use to filter calls by using a series of pager numbers.  I'm a big advocate of answering the phone when it rings but, because of the market changes, I like the call capture system.  The current climate dictates that one should try to develop every lead, even those that may feel too intimidated to talk to a direct representative.

Great explaination Eric!  Now I remember.....it's like "The Talking House", products.

Eric Foster · Answer

Realtors and Mortgage Loan Officers have been using this for many years... It is nothing new… just being re-packaged and given new fancy names.

If you are doing marketing that generates a lot of calls (i.e. over 5 new calls a day) or you can not answer your phone when it rings, it can be a good. Many prospects do call on weekends and after hours. But, as always, it is best to answer the phone when it rings!

When using an answering call capture type service you will miss calls, since not everyone will not leave a message. But as you mentioned you get caller ID info on every call... blocked or not.

Some smart investors (like myself  :lol: ) have been using them for years. I have had mine for... 10 years!

Again.... if you are just capturing contact information, or have a informational recording you want people to listen to, or just have too many calls, it can be good.

We use it for about 1 in every 5 marketing programs that we do... Instead, the other 4 out of 5 times, I write real specific ads to cut back on the amount of calls… i.e. (For a lease option ad) - Buyers need $8000 down and verifiable income of $5000 per month in income"... the people with $2000 down, $2200 a month in income, and that can only afford $850 in monthly simply do not call.

Give it a try... There should be ones with little of no set up fees and about $20 to $30 a month. You don’t have to pay any $295 - $995 set up fess like I have seen at some seminars.

Dick Green · Answer

I'm not sure never tried it.  Where/how are the call being originated?

Jeremy Meyer · Answer

The 800 numbers on top of the for sale signs that offer recorded messages regarding the property.  The number that is calling has the option to contact you, leave you a message, or simply hang up.  The pitch is that the prospective buyer is more likely to call a recorded message than to actually call an agent just to infer about the property.  What the product does, is give you the number of the person who called, then you call back.  You have to reference the do not call list, but otherwise you have somebody who could be interested in buying.