I'm a new agent just getting started. I have a business background, but no experience in sales yet. I've converted my personal cell phone to be my business phone and I've put the number on cards, etc. But I've just started to think about the proper way for a professional salesperson to answer his/her telephone. I know that I don't want to just say "Hello", because this makes the caller question who they are talking with, then they have to ask for me by name, in which I then say, "Speaking". So, how do you answer your phone?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.
(BTW: I searched the board and didn't see this issue addressed)

If it is a call that is see is forwarded from the main office I say, "CS & Company, this is Carla". Otherwise I just say, "Hello, this is Carla".

Normally I answer by just saying "This is Pam"

I usually just say "This is -----(my name)".....

But when I call someone (business related), I usually say "This is ---- with my real estate company name".

"Good morning (or whatever), this is (my name)!"

I concur with the above... Hi, this is James.

Oh, and ya gotta answer the phone really cheerfully - like you just won the lottery. Big smile, too.

my problem: half the time I say "Good morning" even when it's afternoon! LOL

I have to train myself to just say "Hello, this is Perky!"

Thanks for all the replies. I'll start answering "Hello, this is John" and doing so very cheerfully!

Thanks!

Perky... do you really use that name? I think you should!!!

I'll concur with the above... "Hello, this is Jennifer..."

And yes, be excited!!! You wouldn't believe (or maybe you would) how many agents answer their phone as if they're annoyed it had the nerve to ring. A side note... be sure your voicemail message is chipper too.

Your pen name of "Landlord" made me think of this. So many landlords have snotty-sounding voicemail greetings which scares off potential renters. Whenever I have a property to rent, I make my voicemail message SO DARN cheerful, callers can't help but love me!!

No, I don't use Perky. LOL

sometimes, Kooky might be more appropriate! hee hee

I usually make it a habit to answer my cell with "Good morning, this is Len!" "Good afternoon, this is Len!" or "Good evening, this is Len!" If for some reason I don't check the time fast enough to customize my greeting, I usually end up saying "This is Len!"

I hate when agents answer their cell with "HELLO?" Even better is when they answer saying "YEAH?"

I never thought about this topic. Where I am, everyone answers hello & I am use to asking for the person "duh, it's their personal cell phone". I like your suggestions, I will train myself to do this.

I've had many agents answer their phone "yeah?" and I'm not sure why it always surprises me, but honestly it gives me a bad initial impression. I've had spouses answer "yeah?" with no indication of who owns the phone or who I'm calling. I've had agents answer the phone and sound annoyed, with kids crying and/ or fighting in the background. I guess I just feel like when you use that as your MAIN contact number you should be professional and not act like the call is an interruption or annoyance. Just my opinion.