The Best Time to Call Sellers

We’ve found the times that produce the most results for us, but any time is better than not picking up the phone.

Calling sellers can be awkward, especially for those with a disposition that doesn’t want to impose. A voice inside your head may say What if I interrupt their dinner, or family time on the weekend? That is a considerate and valid voice, but don’t let it become an excuse for inaction. Don’t let that drunk monkey sitting on your shoulder stop you from doing what you know you’re supposed to do.

Remember, you’re not a telemarketer. You’re a buyer and that’s ultimately what sellers want. Your role is to solve their challenge, problem or concern.

It’s always good to start off by asking is now a good time to talk, and if they say no, ask when would be more suitable. After all, the best time to call an individual seller is when they say. Keep in mind, however, that even leaving messages is fine since the motivated sellers will call back -- If and when you leave the right message!

From our experience, and those of our Associates, with thousands of sellers in many different markets, the best time to contact seller prospects is in the evening or on weekends. Most sellers work regular workdays and are just getting home, or still in their cars on the drive home. I cannot stress enough that I’ve always (and still do) call when I WANT TO CALL, but I use those other times to catch sellers I want to catch that otherwise couldn’t or to increase my lead flow on a given week if I didn’t hit my goals.

Back to “off hours” discussion: Of all the evenings, Thursdays are the most productive. There’s something about getting past the pressure of the work week that makes sellers more willing to have real conversations and let you know where they stand.

Another prime time for calling sellers is Saturday morning. They are more likely to give you an extra couple of minutes, which is what is needed to go into greater depth about buying properties as an investor.

Don’t let these best times become an excuse for not calling at other times, especially if you are busy on Thursday evenings or Saturday mornings. The most important thing is that you set a schedule for calling sellers, and stick to it. Consistency will bring better returns than any specific times. Putting that energy in motion will net returned calls and be far more productive than worrying about ideal times. The consistency is super important because what you do today is easier tomorrow because you’re building your phone muscles and habits.

We understand the appeal of getting the most out of your phone calls. If you already have a few set times that you follow, but have Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings open, try making one of those time slots a part of your set schedule for a month. You should get a feel for whether the ‘prime time’ calls are rewarding you with sellers more willing to talk (and listen) and use one of the days you already use to gauge the difference.