Approximately 95 percent of Realtors use cellphones, spending about $100 monthly or more, say sources at the NAR and its REALTOR VIP partner, A T & T Wireless. But that doesn't mean Realtors are happy about the service they get. Like other consumers who recently complained to Consumer Reports, Realtors may be experiencing higher monthly bills than they would like, due to confusion over calling plans, high penalties for ending subscriptions, dropped calls, and other reasons.

Put the NAR in your corner

If the wireless industry seems to be taking advantage of consumers, there are ways you as a mobile professional can fight back. What can you do to control cellphone costs?

For one thing, you can use the NAR's REALTOR VIP arrangement with A T & T Wireless to get five percent off your monthly cellphone bill, (excluding taxes.)

How many minutes do you need?

If you've never had a cellphone before, estimating the minutes you'll need without going over your plan is not as hard as you might think.

"Carriers charge by buckets of minutes," explains Mary Dernedde, senior offer manager enterprise marketing for A T & T Wireless.

"The average phone call is 2.5 minutes," explains Dernedde. "Promotions for new activations are usually for a medium bucket of minutes - 200 anytime minutes. You can evaluate your usage after one month or so. We're flexible about altering your plan. There's a fee only to cancel outside of your contract period, not to change plans."

Dernedde explains that "buckets of minutes," consist of monthly recurring charges (MRC,) long distance and roaming charges (when the subscriber is out of the A T & T market area.) What influences the charges is that each wireless carrier owns the license to operate in certain areas.

"The FCC regulates the licenses to own and operate in each market," she continues, "but you can get A T & T service coverage anywhere. You want to customize a rate plan that includes roaming. Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin include roaming, and if you traveled to Memphis and you were calling New York, you would be outside your home area and incur a roaming charge. If you are traveling, you want to be aware of roaming as you could incur roaming charges."

The trick is preventing over-minutes costs, so you need to know how and where you are going to use your minutes.

"If you are going over your bucket of minutes every month, it's easy to switch rate plans," assures Dernedde.

Will your cellphone be your sole tool for communication out of the office? Do you do a lot of relocation work? You may want to up your minutes.

Pick the right plan

A T & T Wireless offers three rate plans that can be customized at the customer service level. The plans include roaming and long distance for when you are out of your service area. If you are a new agent and aren't sure what to get, visit a local store or call an A T & T Wireless representative at the special coded NAR hotline - 1-800-NAR-0707. Be sure to mention Code 5000063, and that you are a member of the NAR.

The representative will ask you specific questions to help you pick the best rate plan. Tell the representative how you work by defining your territory, where your office is and your target market area. If you are a broker with properties in several states you might want a regional or national plan which would waive roaming charges. If you stick close to home, you may be better off with a local plan. If you do a lot of relocation business, you want a plan that will reduce your long distance fees. Remember, the more information you give the sales representative, the better the company can customize the rate plan for you.

Pick the right equipment

Next, focus on the type of equipment you will need. Do you want a large or small phone? Do you have a hearing disability? Do you want the phone to be able to page you? How many contacts do you plan to store in the phone? As many as 500?

Based on knowing how you like to work, the representative can show you the types of equipment that are available, and you can customize the equipment you choose.

Have a budget in mind

Cellphone plans are very competitive, but getting the right one will make it more affordable. Have a budget for your phone like you do your other technologies.

Get a cellphone check-up

Through the NAR, A T & T Wireless will perform a complimentary check of any Realtor's cellphone usage to help you determine where you are overpaying and if you need an upgrade in services. This is true whether you are a customer of A T & T or not. Just call NAR's customized VIP number - 1-800-627-0707 and ask to speak to a representative.

Suggests Bob Goldberg, NAR's senior vice president of marketing and business development, "With regards to the benefit program, it is not just for new people, it is also for existing subscribers so they can convert to the discount plan immediately. Just call and A T & T will put you on the association discount plan immediately."

Published: January 27, 2003

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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.