I didn't know anyone still did cold calling except vacation timeshares and refinancing.  Oh, also ink salespeople from the other side of the world.  I haven't had a real estate agent call me since the DNC went into effect.  Does it work?

You might be.  I don't know that much about residential rentals.  I have done several commercial leases from the MLS and signs on windows.  Cold calling might be a good method for your type of business, so if it makes a profit, go with it.

I use a 1-800 service and once they call me they are now off the DNC list for the next 90 days. I've done things like contests, and actual advertising. It has worked wonders!

Here is a link to the 1-800 service I use

http://www.proquest-tech.com/postcard.asp?sc=21169

But don't you want to treat others as you would like to be treated? Do you want to be "bothered" by cold callers as you sit down to dinner and the phone rings with a bothersome telemarketer, how do you feel about dozens of spam email messages sitting in your mailbox as you wake up in the morning. Do potential clients want to be "bothered" any more than you do. I think not.

Nothing in the DNC rules can stop a real estate agent from cold calling if you understand the ruling. Go to the main page of the government site and click on the link "information for consumers".  Now click on the link "Will all telemarketing calls stop if I register?"  Then click on the link within the paragraph called telephone surveyors.  Here is what it tells consumers.

If the call is really for the sole purpose of conducting a survey, it is not covered.  Only telemarketing calls are covered, that is, call that solicit sales of goods or services.  Callers purpoting to take a survey but also offering to sell goods or services, must comply with the National Do Not Call Registry.

You can still make calls, you jusst need to make sure they are survey calls.  by understanding the rules, you will be able to continue prospecting for new business over the telephone without worrying about a fine.  All you have to do is make sure you ask survey questions.

I still farm and cold call without fear as I only do surveys with very good questions.

Rafael,

So what you are saying is that you are the reason the general public despises our profession. It is your tactics that try to skirt the rules, regulations, laws and ethics that gives us all a bad name.

wow Ken, that was rather rude

Rude but un-true? Do you like receiving solicitation calls masked as a survey?

Brian,

It's our understanding that you can not put an item in a mailbox without postage. We had an experience where the postmaster asked not to do that. Just  FYI.

Janet Gaut

Brian,

  I don't consider FSBOs eligible for the DNC list.  There's a reason why they put up a "for sale" sign in the first place, and that's to get the house sold. Only 80% of FSBOs end up listing their home on the MLS.  

  If we can't:  call, send a card, e-mail, knock on the door, or offer to shake a hand; how are supposed to sell their house? I cold call every Tuesday from 6 PM to 8 PM for prospects.   I let them know why I'm calling, and for the most part sellers appreciate it.  Why? Because I'm good at what I do. I watch Agents waste thousands on marketing and when the phone rings, they don't know how to sell.

Handling objections over the phone is a skill that you can't buy from realtor.com . There's no software that can turn a "no" to a "yes" over the phone. There's no cheap, meaningless designation that can distinguish you from your piers as a cold caller.  You see, what we do is an art.  Sellers that list with a "sales associate,"  want you to push their home to the highest bidder.  If you can sell your service over the phone, you can bet your sweet behind that people will list their most valuable asset with you.  

  When working with buyers, I pin point neighborhoods and call every owner that has the model that my buyer's looking for. I get great results because I'm giving the buyer the freedom to pursue ANY HOUSE he or she desires.    

Our postman said it was ILLEGAL to put flyers into a mail box. Just because others do it doesn't make it right...

As for disgusing a call as a survey as a a way to "get by" the rules.... well, I don't understand that mentality. Obviously the person does not want to be bothered by solicitation calls (and you ARE soliciting, whether you ask "survey questions" or not). How successful can you be by "cheating" so you can talk to someone that doesn't want to be talked to?

There is a Golden Rule out there, and it's a pretty good one. I despise getting sales calls, survey calls, etc. Why would I do that to someone else?

Brian you are a smart man. It is illegal to put anything in a mailbox. If you want a DNC scrub list there are alot of vendors who supply (for a cost of course - and that should be a cost paid by the broker, but that's another topic) a list. The broker can even down load a list that can be put in a MS Spreadsheet so you can sort it the way you need it. I had a broker once tell me to do cold calling without the DNC. I don't hang my license there anymore. As for the For Sale By Owner and expired list - that is a gray area - I mean if they allowed themselves to be put into the MLS then they have been a customer and can be called for three years - or am I reading that wrong. Rafael, don't call me. I might take the time to report you and I can guarntee you your broker will leave you hanging.

As I recall, when the DNC first came about, NAR advised we could call FSBO's and expireds who were on the list ONLY if we had a real buyer for that specific property. Not to solicit a listing. I don't know if they've changed their stance.

I don't believe the DNC list applies to mailers. Most of the heavy listers in my area mail daily to expireds and FSBO's. Some farm.

Brian- Our MLS supplies public records that show if a house is owner occupied. The tenants of non owner occupied houses would be a good group to call or mail to for your rentals.

Cold calling? In this day and age?  Would your time not be better served marketing and advertising on WIFM?  

If you advertise on WIFM, using your website and toll-free number with multiple extensions, you can get people to call YOU instead!  What is station WIFM?  Why, it' "What's In it For Me!"

I have found that by advertising on WIFM, I get people to call me - I now have a phone number or email address to work with.  I don't even consider cold calling any more.  And, if they call me, I'm free to call them back.  

You might want to consider using your website to advertise the available free reports.  Of course, you can also use a toll-free number (such as ProQuest or AdTrakker) to advertise free reports - such as How to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar, or How to Buy a Home with No Money Down.  They work. Try it and see!

Lew, how sly is that? An ad to a 1-800 number offering free "how to" information. I am starting to see spokes in the wheel. Thanks.

But, then again, that's not for me.

Good Luck!

It is Illegal to put anything into anyone's mailbox without postage. It's a FEDERAL Offense. You can go to jail for it. We had a class at our office over it recently. You can't put anything on the flag either. You can put something on the post though. Just because everyone is doing it doesn't mean it's right or legal.

Cold calling is something I don't do because I hate getting the calls from other people.