How to Get a Free Business Phone Number for Your Real Estate and Property Business
Christian
10 min read
Setting up a business phone number should be one of the first things on a business owner’s to-do list. It projects a professional image and helps you stay organized. With many free and paid options, there’s no reason not to have one.
Technology keeps shaking up real estate, but the business phone call stays essential. Success in the property industry requires trust, and speaking to customers in person and on the phone helps you build it.
AI assistants and chatbots have their place but research from OnePoll shows that 78% of customers contacting a property business want to speak to a real person.
So, this article explores how to get a free business phone number for your real estate/property business.
Why a business phone number matters for real estate professionals
No matter what hours you work, leads and existing customers will call at all times. SignMore research found that 25% of property sector calls come outside 9-5 office hours. And there are hidden costs of missed calls: missing out on leads, upsetting clients, and productivity drops – just to name a few.
Taking calls with a personal number becomes a headache. Integrating these phone calls with your systems is messy. And it’s a constant intrusion on your personal life. You are always on call.
Switching off from work is hard enough when you have a smartphone in your pocket. Your time off is tarnished when you see voicemail and emails building up on top of personal messages. You can’t help but fear you’re upsetting clients and missing opportunities. And occasionally, you end up taking a call and find yourself working. Again…
A business phone number gives you greater control over your work-life balance.
Business phone number services can offer:
Call routing: Send calls to the right team member/department following your protocols.
Caller ID: Brand outgoing calls with caller ID so clients always know it’s you calling. It’s a professional touch that builds familiarity with clients. Agents are in a better position to deliver your real estate cold-calling scripts once someone knows who is calling. Unknown numbers naturally create some skepticism.
Local area code phone number: Fit into the neighborhood you’re serving with a phone number that matches the local area code.
SignMore offers all of the above and more as part of your plan to grow your real estate business. Find out more about how to get a business phone number with SignMore.
“Now I know that my calls are answered 24/7 by US-based trained operators, always professional, and most importantly they JOYFULLY ANSWER MY BUSINESS CALLS! Highly recommend.” – Laura Diss, Q Boutique Specialty Realty, Inc
How to get a free business phone number
Businesses often search for how to get a free business phone number. Affordable communication options make sense as they aim to keep costs low while they find customers. The demand for free options is huge, so there’s no shortage of options. You can get up and running with a business phone number within minutes.
How to get a free phone number for business:
Google Voice: You can link your current phone number to a Google Voice number. When you receive a call, it’s forwarded to the linked personal or office number.
Messenger(from Meta):The popular messaging app also has a voice call feature that can be used from the chat screen.
WhatsApp Business: A WhatsApp number can be transferred to a WhatsApp Business account.
Voice over IP (VoIP providers): Many popular platforms such as Zoom Phone and RingCentral offer free calls with limited functionality.
A free business phone number has its place but it’s key to remember how important your customer experience is. 80% of customers say the experience a company provides is as important as its products/services. You may outgrow a free business number fast, which could affect your customer experience.
What are the pros and cons of a free business phone number?
The pros of a free business number:
Keeps costs down: The obvious one – it’s free!
Rapid setup time: Free business phone numbers can be set up in minutes.
Flexibility: You’re not tied down and can change platforms as often as you like.
Great for proof of concept: If you have a business idea you want to test, setting up a website and free business number is a great way to test whether there’s a demand for it before you level up your systems.
A good emergency option: Learning how to get a free business phone number is a helpful trick. Should you have an issue with your business phone number, a free business number can be used as a temporary resolution.
The cons of a free business number:
Limited features: The free options are basic and don’t give you much control over real estate call management. This can hurt your customer experience and work-life balance.
Brand image: Using a free service may put customers off. Some may see it as unprofessional. And free tools often include ads too, which nobody wants. Plus, the big social media platforms are often involved in negative PR storms regarding data breaches, content moderation policy, and ethical concerns. You might not want your brand to be associated with them.
Customization: Free services offer a limited level of customization, which takes away from your brand experience.
Customer service: Huge social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are notorious for making it nearly impossible to speak to a customer service agent. Should you have issues with your free phone number, you might struggle to get help.
Accessibility: Requiring an app to contact you is an obstacle for those who don’t have it or aren’t tech-savvy enough to download it.
Limited capacity: Free options don’t tend to have the features to manage call spikes. Every call is an opportunity, so you could be losing business.
How to choose the best option for your business
Trusting your systems gives you more headspace, convenience, and confidence to focus on your most important tasks. No business owner wants to tinker with phone numbers and fumble calls. Explore all options so you can set up a business phone number that works for you.
Compare business communication tools based on:
Features: Assess how to get a free business phone number and the paid options too. Look at your customer base and assess whether you need international calling, call recording, voicemail transcriptions, etc.
Brand experience: Once you’ve chosen a business phone number and calls are coming in – does it provide a professional brand experience you’re proud of?
Performance: Write down your customer experience, your systems, and how they will hold up during a call spike. Is this a solution you can count on year-round?
Coverage and scalability: Internet-only options may not give you the coverage you need. Assess the audience you serve and whether you can get away with having an internet-only option.
Compatibility: Using many different tools can fracture your way of working. It’s annoying and requires lots of manual work. So check that your business phone number integrates with your CRM and marketing software and fits into your workflows.
Integration: Check that your business phone number can integrate with your CRM and marketing tools. Make sure it makes your workflow more productive.
A business phone number is essential in real estate and property businesses. It projects a professional image and helps you maintain a work-life balance. There’s no shortage of options when you search for how to get a free business phone number. The right solution is the one that works for you and your clients.
How SignMore helps you grow.
SignMore’s 24/7 live receptionists help you build better relationships and sign more deals around the clock. Our plans include a unique business phone number you can use with a local area code that your clients know. Send business calls to your cell or let a SignMore receptionist answer calls and live chats following your protocol. You can even send text to clients from the SignMore app to keep your business and personal life separate.
10 min read
