Are you, a Realtor, on the new federal no-call list? You are supposed to be protected from receiving calls by vendors as a consumer, but because you are a real estate professional, you may still get calls from marketing and technology companies.

The Federal Trade Commission issued the latest version of the Telemarketing Sales Rule on January 29th, 2003, which included a provision to protect consumers from unwanted calls if they put their phone numbers in the National Do Not Call registry. Because they are "exempt from the FTC's jurisdiction," banks, savings and loans, and credit unions; common carriers such as telephone companies and airlines; and nonprofit organizations are exempt from the telemarketing sales rules.

As consumers, it is easy to forget that other important exemptions exist - namely, the business-to-business call. Specifically, "business-to-business calls that do not involve retail sales of nondurable office or cleaning supplies" are exempt.

What that means is that if you as a Realtor are on the do-not-call list, telemarketers may not sell you nondurables such as pencils, paper and ink, but they can sell you computers, software, marketing products, and other services because these goods can be used again and again as part of a Realtor's business.

Theoretically, you are protected from calls from vendors who are attempting to sell you goods and services that aren't directly related to your real estate business, such as carpet cleaning service calls that may come to your home. Most brokers supply a workspace for independent contractors, which eliminates the home office as a tax deduction for most Realtors. Therefore, carpet cleaning services can't call you simply because you are a Realtor and assume it is a business to business call.

You are in business to market, lease, sell mortgages and/or real property as a business entity, and are therefore not protected from phone solicitations by vendors marketing legitimate real estate-related and business facilitation goods and services.

Keep in mind that phone solicitation is a cost-effective way for many vendors to reach the mobile Realtor. Cost effectiveness in sales keeps purchase costs down for Realtor customers who use the products and services. Sales results demonstrate that many Realtors appreciate being called about a product or service they feel may give them a marketing or sales advantage. If you are on the do-not-call list, don't assume that others feel as you do.

However, there is nothing wrong with expressing your wish not to be called. Most vendors would prefer to remove you from their lists once you tell them that you do not wish to be called again.

To view the latest Telemarketing Sales Rules, click here.

Published: February 5, 2004

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

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. For more articles by Blanche, click here.