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Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude (eXp Realty of California, Inc.)

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Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Jeff,

It is off limits.  Last evening at our meet up, no one checked their phone until we were ready to go.  It was a pleasure.  When Ron and I go out to lunch or dinner the phone is never included in the setting.....A

Jan 26, 2016 12:35 PM
Rainmaker
846,475
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

No-I am old school in that department.

Jan 26, 2016 06:38 PM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     Last year, I agreed to meet a potential business partner for lunch.  She had approached me about a business venture.

     About halfway through the meal, she took a phone call... nothing important... just a friend.  She proceeded to chat out loud, at the table, for over 10 minutes!

     I finished my lunch, then coldly shook hands and left.

    The next day, she left me a couple of voice mails and emails.  I deleted them. 

Jan 26, 2016 12:06 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Nop, I do not ans phone at dinner time. I get back to them after wards..

Sam Shueh

Jan 26, 2016 11:53 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Doesn't the phone interfere with the television?  LOL   

There are many times and places where a phone should not be allowed but I don't want to give the California legislature any ideas.    

Jan 26, 2016 09:58 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

No, I don't allow them at the dinner table or at any meal. My phone is also never in my bedroom after a certain time in the evening.

Jan 26, 2016 09:46 PM
Rainmaker
1,711,988
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

No! Nothing can be more annoying than someone constantly checking their phone at a dinner table or any gathering. 

Jan 26, 2016 09:25 PM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Off limits; however it is just my wife and I.  She doesn't know where her phone is half the time.

Jan 26, 2016 09:23 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 No.

Jan 26, 2016 05:15 PM
Rainer
57,189
Jack Gerbehy
Egg Harbor Township, NJ

no but those calls do need to be taken care of sometimes.... when waiting for "that call" add a ring tune to them

Jan 26, 2016 04:56 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Jeff. Our phones are not touched at the dinner table, call will just have to wait.

Jan 26, 2016 04:54 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Jeff Dowler CRS - I leave my phone near my home-office desk!

Unless I know something will make or break the deal, I usually do not even keep my cell phone next to me.

Jan 26, 2016 03:34 PM
Rainer
216,904
Sharon Altier
Coldwell Banker Realty - Elmhurst, IL
Luxury Property Specialist, CSC, SFR

Great question!  No, not when I am at the table.  Particularly annoying is when someone tries to pull it out at a restaurant.  Look around and it is amazing how many people are talking on the phone while their dinner companion stares out in space and is completely ignored.  So rude. 

Jan 26, 2016 03:19 PM
Rainer
68,845
Sandra Graves
Keller Williams Realty - Folsom, CA
Realtor

I was at a family dinner tonight and no one had their phones at the table. I don't recall ever having my phone with me at the dinner table unless someone asked me to Google something for them. 

Jan 26, 2016 01:39 PM
Rainmaker
856,061
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint-Idaho
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227

I have tried it both ways and Halley does not seem to care one way or the other. She sits and stares hopefully either way.    Mark

Jan 26, 2016 01:31 PM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

No, we are both catching up while waiting for dinner to be served.

Jan 26, 2016 12:34 PM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

We usually don't answer during dinner. 

Jan 26, 2016 12:24 PM
Ambassador
3,383,334
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

When it's dinner time, phones are left on the desk...in the office...in a room...far, far away.

Jan 26, 2016 12:16 PM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

No need to prohibit, they all know that it would not be polite.

Apr 21, 2019 08:09 PM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Jeff - Absolutely no cell phones at the dinner table. I never try and use my phone when in meetings, or during conversation with others as well.

Jan 29, 2016 09:44 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I live by myself, but have to say when I go to dinner with friends, it is quite annoying when another is constantly on the phone, especially if it is only for an hour.    I think that everyone can "be in the conversation" for at least an hour without being connected.

Jan 28, 2016 10:46 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Just mine and only when I am waiting for an improtant call that is late in calling

Jan 27, 2016 10:45 AM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

When my daughter was growing up that wasn't allowed. It was also off limits during family time. 

Jan 27, 2016 10:27 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

No. We do not use phones at the dinner table. Calls go to voice mail.

Jan 27, 2016 04:26 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Yes, but then again I live alone...

Jan 27, 2016 03:26 AM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Jeff,
Between clients, kids and grandkids who live close by I leave the phone on but it rarely rings during dinner. When it does it is usually best to take the call.

Jan 27, 2016 02:35 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Jeff,  Yes. My son knows not to take his phone out when we spend time together.  That said, he does go to the bathroom frequently ... at least he is not checking his phone while we spend time together.  

Jan 27, 2016 02:23 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

I, perhaps, am the guiltiest of all on this issue. OK, Jeff; I will turn over a new leaf and stop.

Jan 27, 2016 12:37 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

If they're a phone owned by a real estate agent, YES!!!  my daughter, Tammy, will always have her phone with her and if it rings, I would fully expect her to answer it.... if she gets a text, I would want her to respond to it....

Jan 26, 2016 11:27 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,648
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

NO, dinner time is dinner time!

There is a great invention built in your phone called "Voice Mail Inbox", I use it during this time so I can enjoy the company of those sitting at the dinner table with me.

Jan 26, 2016 11:27 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Jeff...when I have product...that phone (my office) goes everywhere always

Jan 26, 2016 11:12 PM
Rainmaker
1,661,936
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Guilty of phones.  It never fails a business call comes in during a meal.

Jan 26, 2016 10:33 PM
Rainer
80,653
Linda Guess
Keller Williams Tri-Lakes Branson, MO - Branson, MO
Branson area real estate sales.

If I get a business call during dinner, I answer the call.  Luckily it doesn't happen often.

Jan 26, 2016 10:18 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Nope.

Jan 26, 2016 10:16 PM
Rainer
23,821
Angelia Bynum
Maximum One Greater Atlanta Realtors - Atlanta, GA
Realtor® serving all of Atlanta

Absolutley not; there is a time and place for everything and phones at the dinner table is off limits.  Great question!

Jan 26, 2016 09:59 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Unfortunately others use it. I do not.

Jan 26, 2016 09:52 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

For me i violate my own rule as i deal with many west coast banks who are ramoing up their work day when i sit for dinner, so answering emails or excusing myself for the phone is common place. Most often though no phones at table or when out to eat, no facebook, no snap chat for the daughter.

Jan 26, 2016 09:48 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

No!

Jan 26, 2016 09:46 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

If my son or daughter-in-law call! That's it!

Jan 26, 2016 08:02 PM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

If there is a good reason.

Jan 26, 2016 04:02 PM
Rainer
231,224
Mike Rock
Complete Design - Granite Bay, CA
Granite Bay Luxury New Construction...For Less

i leave it on vibe... if its important, i take it...if not i dont. i love what i do... if i didnt answer i would be grumpy. if its a sales call i take it...sometimes i set voicemail to like " hi its mike its 5 pm on tue the 26th, i am going to be walking property and cell reception is bad. pls leave a message and i will call you back when i am down the hill

Jan 26, 2016 12:34 PM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

if we had a family at the dinner table, I would say no, but with Evelyn and I both being in Real Estate, the answer is "sure we do!"

Jan 26, 2016 11:52 AM