Buying a home is a pretty big deal - one of the top 5 biggest in most people lives (next to marriage, birth of children, death, and divorce).

With that in mind, I try to take a highly organized approach with people, and let them know what's going to happen ahead of time, what their options are, and what the 'other guy's' options are.

I developed a detailed flowchart of the process and a checklist/calendar of events that I give to people so they can follow along at home.

Finally, I make it clear that I try my best to be easy to reach; but because I set them up ahead of time, it's not often I get calls at crazy-odd hours.

Hank Dugie not a good idea to work 24x7.

Once you set that expectations, your clients may want an answer immediately - even at midnight!

It is not a good idea to advertise 24/7. You are young and can work long hours when needed. Keep a close eye on the messages because you need to be responsive to be competitive. 

Do set aside quality time with your family. Treat those times like appointments and take no calls.

I agree with Nina Hollander .  It is up to you to set expectations with your clients.  If they trust you will respond in a timely manner, then you do not feel as if you have to stop every single second and respond immediately.  Or respond at midnight or 5 a.m. unless you want to.   Just let them know upfront what they can expect and then stick to it.

Not so good to be open 24x7.

It all depends! Some clients can contact me any time!

Upon signing up either a Seller or a Buyer I let them know my hours.   My phone is only on from 8 am to 8:30 or 9 pm, and shorter hours on Sunday, unless I am in negotiations. 

I typically stop answering the phone around 8 PM.  Unless I'm waiting for a pre-arranged call for something urgent.

I don't advertise 24/7...I take Sunday off and am very upfront about it from the beginning.  I will make allowances, but that only makes my clients feel more special.  I tried being the 24/7, drop everything, anytime agent...but I found that the clients that expected that would drop me the second I couldn't respond to their every whim.

I have never told a client I am available 24/7. I set expectations up front and tell them I am available from 8:30am till 6:30pm. After 6:30pm only if I'm negotiating on their behalf. They get it and they respect my righ to have a personal life outside of real estate. But it is in the setting of expections and the tone with which you do it.

I dont have posted hours, if I am available I answer, but if I am not then I wont.

Our receptionist is open 24/7/365.

We aren't.

I never say I work 24/7.  Doing that sets your clients expectations very high when it comes to your time.  Yes, I am one who works late but it is usually when I want or need to, not because I have made that statement.  I have learned that there are times when I have to say, "I have an appointment"  and that appointment is my family.  

I would not advertise that I am open 24/7. It may be misleading. I say I work 7 days a week.

Why would you suggest your business is based on anarchy, without proper priority or boundaries and based on false promise?

Your first FALSE assumption is you need to be a emergency 1st responder....is it because someone told you that is beneficial?

The TRUTH is folks simply want to know that you will respond and when. You must full fill both expectations with the 'or sooner' modifier. 

24/7 should be a red flag to any consumer indicating the promise of from somenone comfortable with misrepresenting their services.  Hopefully some will choose to call at 3am, just to confirm a real person does not respond...24/7.

Hey, everyone else is doing it so why not you? 

A lender I know longer use issued a rate lock to my buyer and when closing approached, they imposed a different rate. The fine print stated the 'Lock' was a 'floating lock' which means it not a lock at all. So I do not refer folks to movement mortgage.  If you state you are 24/7 but you are not really 24/7 then you are misrepresenting yourself and that misrepresentation is attached to everyone in the industry. Did you ever observe folks express you can't trust a real estate agent?  I wonder where that starts?

I see a lot 24/7, but I never tell that I work 24/7 since I have kids and need some schedule to my day. However, I answer texts very fast any time of the day or even night if it is necessary.

That depends on the clients. You work when they are available and you can fit them in.