Using Google Voice in your real estate buisness.

Getting renters is one of the most crucial components to running a successful real estate investment business.  In my experience as both an investor and casual Realtor, I have to deal with people calling on my properties asking questions about rent price, home size, etc..  What if you had a way to get your message out to the public, but didn’t have to pay a cent for it?

Google recently started a free service for the public called “Google Voice”.  It is a telecommunications service launched by Google.  The service provides the member with a free phone number chosen by the user from available numbers in selected area codes, free of charge to each user account.  It basically allows the user to have a second phone line and gives them many other options such as call forwarding, SMS, voice mail transcription and many other features.

As a real world example – I will show you how to get Google Voice and use it to advertise your rent houses.

The first thing you will have to do to become a Google Voice user is to get invited.  Go HERE (https://services.google.com/fb/forms/googlevoiceinvite/) to get your invite. If you do not have a Gmail account, I would suggest you get one before applying for your Google voice account.   It can sometimes take a few days before you get your invite, so be patient!

Once you receive your Google invite, you will next be able to sign up for Google Voice.  You have to click on the invitation you received in your email inbox.  This will take you to a sign-up form.  Use the same login and password you did for creating you Gmail account.  

Next, you will now get to select your phone number to use with Google Voice.  Since your a Noob investor, try to pick something that is related to real estate.  The cool thing I like about this is that you can choose some cool phone numbers.  For example, if your area code was 904, as it is in Florida - you might try 904-GET-HOME.  If this phone number is takien, keep trying..  You will surely find a phonetic phone number that is available.  Google Voice is still in testing phase, so not very many numbers are taken at this time.

Once you finally decide on a number, you are all set.  It is time to look around Google Voice and see all the options that are available.  Once your done exploring, you will finally want to start working on setting up your business line.  You can either choose to forward calls to your cell phone, home phone, or whatever one you registered to your Google Voice phone number.  Or, you can set up your phone to act as a answering machine. 

 When setting your Google Voice phone to act as a answering machine, you are now able to record information about a specific house you have listed for rent, or even multiple houses you have listed.  You can give out a web link to pictures of your houses, information on how to apply, or even use the message to direct sellers to contact you if they have a foreclosure that meets the criteria you list in your message.

My favorite feature of Google Voice is its ability to transcribe my voice mails and automatically forward them to my email.  Anytime I get a new message on my Google Voice phone line, I can read the message on my iPhone without ever having to call and check messages.  This saves me loads of time when I am weeding through good or bad prospects.

Here's how to set your greeting:

First, log into your Google Voice account, then..

1. Click Settings at the top right of any page and select the Voicemail & SMS tab.
2. In the Voicemail Greeting section, click the Add link.
3. Enter the name for the greeting you're going to record and click OK.
4. A Record Greeting box appears. Select the phone you want to call to record the greeting, from the Phone to ring drop-down menu.
5. Click Connect.
6. Google Voice will Call you!  Pick up the call and record your voicemail greeting when prompted to do so.
7. Once you've recorded your voicemail greeting, make sure the voicemail greeting you want to play is selected from the Voicemail Greeting drop-down of the Voicemail & SMS tab of your Settings.
8. Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.

After you have saved you message describing your rent home, go out to craigslist.com and the other free listing sites and start posting the phone number to your info line.  In no time at all, you'll have noob after noob calling to rent your houses!