3,125,954
I am reluctant to answer the phone with an out-of-area prefix unless expecting that call. Consumers may be weary as well, thanks to the scammers of the world! All real estate is local Donald and Kat Palmiotti has a fantastic solution for you!
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
2,436,470
I think it's important, and if you have an iPhone X, you can have two numbers on the same phone. So I still have my NY number (still licensed there) and I also have my MT number on the same phone. When a call comes in, I can tell which # they called, and when I make calls, I can choose the number I have as my default, or I can switch to the other.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
5,230,130
I believe it's important. Just get a second number and forward it to your current phone. No data needed - just a LOCAL forwarding number.
My theory - if I'm local - I want someone who KNOWS local. If I'm from out of state, I don't want someone with my same area code that perhaps JUST moved to the area and probably doesn't know it well. Whether you do or don't, that's what your callers will think - in my opinion...for what it's worth!
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
465,498
I have been using Google Voice for years. I picked a number in an area code and then I paid $10.00 to change the number to a local exchange, otherwise it is free. Calls to that number ring on any device I want it to, including multiple devices (cell phone and office phone).
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
225,526
Changing your phone number is very important. Just think about it from a buyer's perspective. Who are you going to call? An agent that is local or one that is not in your area code?
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
3,416,038
I think it is a MUST as i see so many MA agents move to NH and keep their MA number. The public sees a MA number and may ot want to call them. Actually then they may call me... so it is good that many do not change their number LOL
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
921,504
Few people answer their device. No one answers when it's from an area code they are unfamiliar.
You will be a 2 phone person for a while or create the skill to deliver an very compelling message that delivers the action wanted.
Eventually you will need to have a business number that suggests you are not renting time and space.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
3,164,294
not as important as it used to be, but I do believe that a local number would get more calls from local people who know the local area code and exchange.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
660,906
Donald, great question, and great answers. My first thought was to have two phones, but with today's technology and after reading the responses here, it seems more options, less bulky, are available.
The important thing is to have a local number where you are, and not to lose your contacts from the location where you moved.
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
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Candice A. Donofrio
Fort Mohave, AZ
6,393,609
It depends, do you want to look like a local expert, or someone that just arrived?
Get a google number, they are free and can work over the top of your existing number.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Bob Crane
Stevens Point, WI
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
1,311,397
Make a change. I don't answer most calls that do not come in with caller i.d. Out-of-area calls are mostly spam. Even in the same area code, unidentified calls are probably 75% spam.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Kathleen Daniels, Prob...
San Jose, CA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
900,228
It would definitely help.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
2,390,630
I certainly wood Donald Kolenda . I'd say it's very important to the Baby Boomer Generation. If you are listing a Boomers home they want potential Buyers to know they are dealing with a local agent.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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John Juarez
Fremont, CA
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - W...
St. George, UT
3,345,091
The best solution is what works best for you. I'd get a second local number and forward it to my phone much like Debe Maxwell, CRS suggests.
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
1,052,211
I personally think you should have a local area code to the service area . . . or a toll free that points to your out of state cell.
Perception (that you are a local expert) is reality!
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
5,868,565
I would think the agent is from out of the area, and not an expert if they have a cell phone from a different area/state.
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
1,543,833
I changed CA cities and changed my number in 2003. I went from The Bay Area and 415 to La Jolla/San Diego and became 858 to brand local.
That said, 40% of my incoming "local resident" calls are not San Diego prefixes, so I think it matters less today than ever before...but, personally I'd still want to look professionally local in my brand as an entrepreneur.
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Joan Cox
Denver, CO
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
378,517
I believe local numbers are important to be seen as the local expert.
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Tammy Lankford,
Eatonton, GA
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,197,518
I am not sure it is an important as it once was. I live in a community where there are very few natives.
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
2,781,273
This bears looking into and is worthy for discussion....
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Thomas J. Nelson, REAL...
La Jolla, CA
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Steffy Hristova
Tempe, AZ
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
1,844,301
I think that it is important to change to the area code where you do the most business. If not, you'll be looked at as spam.
I would keep your old # for a few years so that you can continue to get business from your old location also.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
7,836,431
It depends on the market. In Maryland, many agents work in DC and Virginia as well.
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Minot, ND
763,883
Mandatory, essential in my opinion. Keep your old number and have it automatically forwarded to the new number.
135,724
had an out of "area" area code that never seemed to hurt, out of state might be a different story.