Peter DeHaan

A common question from people looking to hire a US Based Answering Service is “Where are you located?” Yet usually this isn’t the real question on their minds. They have a different concern, often several. But they don’t know how to ask it. Or they fear they might not be politically correct to voice what is on their mind.

This blog was originally published on 2/4/2019 and has been updated for relevance. You likely know that hiring a call answering service provides many benefits. And with businesses growing more each day, many turn to answering service companies to help solve their issues. Oftentimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

As a property manager, you provide a vital service to the building owner, whether it’s for a commercial property or a residential landlord. In doing so, you function as an interface between the owner and the tenants. You serve as leasing agent, building maintenance coordinator, and complaint department. And you and your team must do this 24/7. Sure you could hire more staff to work around-the-clock, but you're better off using a property management answering service.

Property management companies are responsible for handling the daily real estate matters for landlords and property owners who are not present. These companies typically charge a percentage of the rent collected, which motivates them to prioritize tenant satisfaction, maintain high occupancy rates, and ensure timely rent payments.

In looking at common answering service rate plans we warned that some answering services charge additional fees beyond the typical base rate and usage charges. Watch out for these ancillary charges. Left unchecked they can turn a reasonable rate into a budget buster. Here are some common monthly reoccurring answering service charges to watch out for:

Wouldn’t it be great if employees came to work when they’re supposed to? On time, every time? In an ideal world we wouldn’t need to worry about absent employees or those who arrive late. But we do. Attendance issues are something every company faces. And the larger the company the bigger the problem.

Toll-free numbers make it easy for people to reach you. Regardless of where they are in the country, this one number will work. There’s no guessing about using an area code or not. And there’s no need to pick from a list of many local numbers to select the right one. If you need a toll free number, you can get your own or your answering service can provide one for you. Here are five tips for successfully using a toll free number with a toll free answering service:

Some answering services offer free trials to entice wary businesses to use their service. Their logic is that if you try it you will like it. They pretend their service is so good that they have nothing to risk. In reality, if their service was that good they wouldn’t need to bribe you with a free trial.

Once the must-have communication status symbol, pagers have given way to the technology of the smart phone. Yet the pager has hung around in the healthcare industry as a preferred, reliable communication tool for many a long time healthcare provider. With the advent of secure text messaging it is now time to ditch the pager.

Hurricane season is officially upon us. Whether or not your business is in an area prone to hurricanes, it’s wise to be prepared for the unexpected. Though the threats vary by location, no business is immune to some sort of hazard.

While few people are happy with the current state of healthcare in the United States, one ray of sunshine comes from the growing role medical answering services and healthcare call centers play in providing professional, personal care and attention to patients and their caregivers.

Will a doctors answering service help you better serve your patients? If you’re not sure, learn what a doctors’ answering service can do for you. And if it looks like these are the outcomes that will provide a difference for your organization, you can begin by taking your first step to select the ideal answering service.

When we hire a call answering service, we have a set of predefined expectations that we want our answering service to provide. However, we often assume these critical items exist—or they may even be subconscious—so we forget to include them in our selection criteria. Then, we’re shocked if our call answering service misses one of these key areas.

Hiring an answering service is hard, and that assumes you’ve done it before. You know it’s too easy to make a misstep, and that there’s no guarantee it will work out. And hiring an answering service is even harder if it’s your first time. Your standing in the company, the respect of your boss, and even your continued employment may hinge on the outcome. That’s the bad news. The good news is that you can tip the balance in your favor. Ask these six key questions when hiring an answering service. Listen carefully to the answers. They’ll guide you to success.

The mission of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) providers is to keep people comfortable in their homes and at work. This means air-conditioning when it’s hot outside, heat when it’s cold, and proper ventilation throughout the year. For new construction this entails a properly designed and installed system. For existing buildings, it also includes regular preventive maintenance. And because these systems normally work the way they should, people tend to take them for granted—until they stop working. This brings us to the third element of the HVAC industry: repair and replacement.

For decades doctors have relied on medical answering services to provide after-hours phone support to their patients. And with the rapid changes in the healthcare industry, this is more important now than ever before.

With advances in technology and inexpensive telephone communications, it no longer matters where an answering service is located. Right? It’s true that answering service location ceases to be the key consideration it once was. However, location still plays a factor. To be more correct locations play a factor. This is because today’s best answering services operate out of many locations. Why does it matter for an answering service to have more than one location? In a perfect world, it doesn’t. However, problems can arise from any number of factors. Having a multilocation answering service provides a way to address these issues, whatever they may be.

Many years ago, to save money, companies began to automate their incoming telephone calls. Though this reduced expenses, it also upset customers. In response to the backlash of frustrated callers, companies are now switching back to having real people talk to their customers.

Property management companies provide a vital service to harried property owners who aren’t up to the challenge of personally providing around-the-clock availability to their tenants. Professional property management companies also provide a welcomed service to tenants who desire a professional response to their housing needs, questions, and emergencies—whenever they happen to call.

Are you considering hiring a virtual receptionist? If you have a telephone, you will benefit by using one. Speaking of benefits, here is what you can expect to gain: