A Courteous Communications

Answering for realtors and brokerages

Live telephone answering is the business of A Courteous Communications, which opened in 1986 in a small office in Central Florida. Its founder and president was the only agent at first, answering calls for a single physician's office, and the company says that practice still uses it. It has since grown into a firm serving businesses across the country, with a particular page of services for realtors and brokerage firms.

What it does for real estate agents

Its virtual receptionists work as a realtor's front desk and as an appointment scheduling call center. They monitor real estate telephone lines around the clock, every day of the year, and they give a mobile office a professional presence so that no call from a prospective buyer goes unanswered. During the selling process they dispatch calls to help close a sale quickly.

Answers to common property questions

Buyers often call with the same questions: the asking price of a home, the hours of an open house, how to arrange a private viewing and whether the brokerage has in-house financing. The service answers these on behalf of the agent, and can help schedule appointments, leaving agents free to work leads, show properties and look for new listings.

Why availability matters in housing

The company argues that agents who always pick up gain an advantage, since buyers move quickly and a missed call may go to a competitor. It also says that handling calls this way lets a firm grow while keeping overhead low.

Long-serving staff

The firm says it treats its staff as a family. Several of its managers, including those handling operations, billing and client relations, have stayed for more than 25 years, and employees have also taken part in community work such as packing meals for children in need.

A Courteous Communications is a live telephone answering service founded in 1986 in Central Florida. It began with a single agent, its founder and president, answering for one physician's office, and has grown into a company that works for businesses across the country.

The firm names some large brand clients, and its staff include long-serving managers.

What A Courteous Communications does

• Live answering: virtual receptionists taking calls around the clock.
• Real estate answering: appointment scheduling and property questions for realtors and brokerages.
• Line monitoring: watching telephone lines at all hours.
• Call dispatching: passing calls on during a home sale.

Clients

Realtors and brokerage firms in particular, plus businesses of many sizes nationwide.

Key facts

• Founded: 1986
• Based in: Central Florida
• Community work: staff have packed meals for children in need