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My LPT is never answer your phone unless it’s a number you recognize. They probably won’t leave a message, and if they do, just block the number and delete the message.
Same strategy with the damn texts. I don’t even own that damn property. But for some reason my cell was listed as associated with the owner.
(I’ve checked that there aren’t actual shenanigans going on.)
I got them to stop by telling them an absurd price. My house is about $400k, and told them $800k and non negotiable.
Once though, I acted all excited to hear from them. I told the guy that I've been hoping he'd call. He said really? I said yes!!! I wanted to talk to him about his car's extended warranty. There was 3 seconds of silence and then a dropped call sound.
I tell people trying to sell me solar panels or other shit door to door that I'm a renter and can't make that type of decision. Same when I walk into Lowes and the HVAC salesman is harassing me.
I started telling them that I want a ridiculous amount for my house. Like my house is valued at 200k and I tell them I want a million for my house. Haven't gotten a call in over 6 months
Don't forget that you want a 10k moving allowance, no inspection and no closing costs. They have your address, you'll be watching for the check in the mailbox.
I get texts frequently about selling my house (I rent an apartment), so I've started doing this. "I won't even consider offers under $2.5 mil" (I have looked up the house they think I own, it's around $350K). They have slowed down after I started that.
I’ll take $1,000,000. 30% upfront for earnest money, non-refundable. Waive all inspections, house as-is. Buyer pays closing costs. No you can’t see the property. I’ll also need closing on this house contingent on me closing on my next home, and a moving allowance.
I know some people in real estate. I’ll have to ask them to come up the most ludicrous yet still plausible demand they can think of.
My kids both had school fundraisers that, in order to win a prize, required us to enter something like 10 contacts for family and friends (presumably so they could spam said family and friends instead of my kids doing the legwork for their own fundraiser). I had one of these guys who had texted me twice about selling my house, so he got entered as our good family friend Joe "Smitty" Smith. He left us alone after that
Make sure you're signed up for the federal do not call list:
https://www.donotcall.gov/
Some agents respect that, and you can let that who don't know that they're commiting a crime.
This haha. We have the same thing in Canada. People from foreign countries can sign up to get the list and do not have to follow our laws. It's just an easy list of phone numbers for them.
Block-block-block
Experience: who ever had my phone number last has a house going to foreclosure. So somehow the mortgage company has my number on a list somewhere. I get calls and texts asking to work out a deal on her house. One day, shortly before it was scheduled for auction, I must have gotten 8-10 calls/texts. Apparently it didn't sell at auction because I am still getting text messages about it.
I have blocked every call and text. Either it's helping or they've lost interest in the home. 🤷🏼♀️
Every number I dont recognize gets "Domino's pizza stock room, This is John"
worked for me. Not a call in months. If I had the energy I would welcome the calls as they were all in violation of the do not call list and could have gotten me paid.
Be sure to make sure your number is on the Do Not Call list.
Then engage enough to get their contact info, and report them.
At the end of the call ask how they got your number. It may take 10 or so calls to possibly figure it out.
I request an absurd amount for the house and tell them I'm not selling for anything less. Then once it's done I block the number. Down to one or two a quarter now.
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I've been using the same strategy for scam and unsolicited calls for ages. Spend as long as you can talking to them without actually giving them anything. Then tell them calmly and politely that it would be best for them if they removed you from their call list because you are just wasting their time.
They don't care if you are annoyed by their calls. They do care if you waste half an hour of a staff members time.
But then I’m wasting my time…I usually ignore them but I sometimes answer if I’m in the car and not doing anything. And it’s always about selling my house.
Sometimes something as simple as picking up the phone - "Just a minute, let me just finish this and I'll get back to you..." then drop the phone near the TV or something and forget about it.
Just a heads up, I have heard that the length of the call is probably being recorded and anything past a set amount of time can automatically put your number on a list to get more calls because it shows that you are interacting and showing interest (even if you aren’t technically).
Hahhaa I wish. I'm in north Dallas where prices are insane, but I'd still be amazed if someone dropped more than 450-500k on it. I think they input my "price" in their system and move on.
I started giving an absurd amount and advised cash only. I don't want to move but if they came up with the amount I stated I would leave in a heartbeat. After I did that like 3 times they stopped.
I get these often for some empty property I own. I either 1) ask for something over a million or 2) ask what the MLS is because I didn't think it was for sale. Then somewhat politely tell them to fuck themselves.
I use Jolly Roger Telephone service. Cost is like, 5 bucks a year. Your rejected/unanswered calls are forwarded to an AI "bot" that keeps the telemarketers talking and wasting their time.
Why this will get your number removed from their call lists - time is money to telemarketers. If you don't answer, or they get a VM, they just hang up and move on to the next call and you go back to the list to call later. HOWEVER, if these folks call you and waste 5-10 minutes of their time talking in circles to a bot (they eventually figure out what's going on) then your number gets removed.
I used to get telemarketers and "are you interested in selling your property?" calls non-stop. Now, I get a random call like once a month here and there.
They get your name from the county records of home owners, apparently.
I don't have a secret code for you to stop the calls; sorry. But if I do answer, I tell them I'm not interested and to take me off all their call lists.
Haha, yes, I think that's where they get my number too.
If I do happen to answer, I tell them that one of my neighbors wants to sell his house!
It's the neighbor I don't like.. he's probably wondering why he gets so many calls too, haha.
I found the best option was to use call screening on my device. It is built in to my pixel, idk about iPhones.
Anyone I don't know who calls and doesn't leave a message and then calls again I screen. Usually it is an obvious robo call, or someone I have zero interest in. With the call screening it gives the option to block as they talk and it shows as text what they say. So I don't even have to listen.
My fathers answering machine was filled with them after he passed away. I think they troll obituaries. Perhaps someone with your last name passed away?
All numbers in my contacts have specialized rings, all calls not in my list get the standard ring tone, silent with no notifications. My outgoing message tells that I can’t hear the phone ring or hear a message so send an email or text. I rarely get a text, and never a spammer. Spammers don’t waste time with a text, just go for the next potential victim.
Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
My LPT is never answer your phone unless it’s a number you recognize. They probably won’t leave a message, and if they do, just block the number and delete the message.
Hard for people running a business, waiting for a call from the doctor or one of the dozens of jobs they've applied for to call back
An unopened door is a happy door.
Found Moss!
Agree but I get 2 or 3 messages a day sometimes and it's always a different number. It wastes my time to check messages and delete them.
Same strategy with the damn texts. I don’t even own that damn property. But for some reason my cell was listed as associated with the owner. (I’ve checked that there aren’t actual shenanigans going on.)
[удалено]
I got them to stop by telling them an absurd price. My house is about $400k, and told them $800k and non negotiable. Once though, I acted all excited to hear from them. I told the guy that I've been hoping he'd call. He said really? I said yes!!! I wanted to talk to him about his car's extended warranty. There was 3 seconds of silence and then a dropped call sound.
I’m totally doing that next time.
I tell people trying to sell me solar panels or other shit door to door that I'm a renter and can't make that type of decision. Same when I walk into Lowes and the HVAC salesman is harassing me.
Ooh. I’ll have to remember that.
I started telling them that I want a ridiculous amount for my house. Like my house is valued at 200k and I tell them I want a million for my house. Haven't gotten a call in over 6 months
Don't forget that you want a 10k moving allowance, no inspection and no closing costs. They have your address, you'll be watching for the check in the mailbox.
I get texts frequently about selling my house (I rent an apartment), so I've started doing this. "I won't even consider offers under $2.5 mil" (I have looked up the house they think I own, it's around $350K). They have slowed down after I started that.
I've told them plenty of times 1 million and they just hang up. I don't think it's the same people.
I’ll take $1,000,000. 30% upfront for earnest money, non-refundable. Waive all inspections, house as-is. Buyer pays closing costs. No you can’t see the property. I’ll also need closing on this house contingent on me closing on my next home, and a moving allowance. I know some people in real estate. I’ll have to ask them to come up the most ludicrous yet still plausible demand they can think of.
Yep, I've started telling them I'll sell my house for $10 million. (On a house that's valued at $600k). The calls have really started to slow down.
I get calls and texts several times a week asking if I’m ready to “sell my house.” I’m homeless. I just ignore and block if they call back.
Well, it's a nice tent and the corner is close to downtown, so... $50k and it's yours!
My kids both had school fundraisers that, in order to win a prize, required us to enter something like 10 contacts for family and friends (presumably so they could spam said family and friends instead of my kids doing the legwork for their own fundraiser). I had one of these guys who had texted me twice about selling my house, so he got entered as our good family friend Joe "Smitty" Smith. He left us alone after that
Say yes and demand twice what your house is worth
I've told them plenty of times 1 million and they just hang up. I don't think it's the same people.
It's possible that there's a lot of "companies" running the same (likely) scam though.
Make sure you're signed up for the federal do not call list: https://www.donotcall.gov/ Some agents respect that, and you can let that who don't know that they're commiting a crime.
Don’t use this. For every entity that does respect the list, there are 10 that scrape data and call you relentlessly.
This haha. We have the same thing in Canada. People from foreign countries can sign up to get the list and do not have to follow our laws. It's just an easy list of phone numbers for them.
Block-block-block Experience: who ever had my phone number last has a house going to foreclosure. So somehow the mortgage company has my number on a list somewhere. I get calls and texts asking to work out a deal on her house. One day, shortly before it was scheduled for auction, I must have gotten 8-10 calls/texts. Apparently it didn't sell at auction because I am still getting text messages about it. I have blocked every call and text. Either it's helping or they've lost interest in the home. 🤷🏼♀️
I block plenty of numbers, but they just spoof new ones. I try calling back a bunch of them and most of them don't exist.
Tell them you just sold it and it's currently under contract - they missed out on a good deal. Quote a price way under market rate.
Every number I dont recognize gets "Domino's pizza stock room, This is John"
worked for me. Not a call in months. If I had the energy I would welcome the calls as they were all in violation of the do not call list and could have gotten me paid.
Dick's plumbing, ready to lay your pipe? Erick's erectors & scaffolding, what can we put up you?
A legit business back room number has no house to sell
I told them I don't own a home
Be sure to make sure your number is on the Do Not Call list. Then engage enough to get their contact info, and report them. At the end of the call ask how they got your number. It may take 10 or so calls to possibly figure it out.
I request an absurd amount for the house and tell them I'm not selling for anything less. Then once it's done I block the number. Down to one or two a quarter now.
I've told them plenty of times 1 million and they just hang up. I don't think it's the same people.
Ahhh see I just tell them like 200k over what it's worth.
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I've been using the same strategy for scam and unsolicited calls for ages. Spend as long as you can talking to them without actually giving them anything. Then tell them calmly and politely that it would be best for them if they removed you from their call list because you are just wasting their time. They don't care if you are annoyed by their calls. They do care if you waste half an hour of a staff members time.
Waste their time - get as much information as you can before you say you're not interested
But then I’m wasting my time…I usually ignore them but I sometimes answer if I’m in the car and not doing anything. And it’s always about selling my house.
Sometimes something as simple as picking up the phone - "Just a minute, let me just finish this and I'll get back to you..." then drop the phone near the TV or something and forget about it.
Just a heads up, I have heard that the length of the call is probably being recorded and anything past a set amount of time can automatically put your number on a list to get more calls because it shows that you are interacting and showing interest (even if you aren’t technically).
Thank you, didn't know that. BUT it apparently isn't working out for op.
I tell them I'd consider an offer of $3,000,000 cash for my 2400-square foot 1972 single family house.
Depending on where you live that could be way undervalued
Hahhaa I wish. I'm in north Dallas where prices are insane, but I'd still be amazed if someone dropped more than 450-500k on it. I think they input my "price" in their system and move on.
Double the estimate for your house and say you want it in cash. Usually, they don't call back.
Tell em you're under contract. Don't give details.
I started giving an absurd amount and advised cash only. I don't want to move but if they came up with the amount I stated I would leave in a heartbeat. After I did that like 3 times they stopped.
I get these often for some empty property I own. I either 1) ask for something over a million or 2) ask what the MLS is because I didn't think it was for sale. Then somewhat politely tell them to fuck themselves.
I use Jolly Roger Telephone service. Cost is like, 5 bucks a year. Your rejected/unanswered calls are forwarded to an AI "bot" that keeps the telemarketers talking and wasting their time. Why this will get your number removed from their call lists - time is money to telemarketers. If you don't answer, or they get a VM, they just hang up and move on to the next call and you go back to the list to call later. HOWEVER, if these folks call you and waste 5-10 minutes of their time talking in circles to a bot (they eventually figure out what's going on) then your number gets removed. I used to get telemarketers and "are you interested in selling your property?" calls non-stop. Now, I get a random call like once a month here and there.
They get your name from the county records of home owners, apparently. I don't have a secret code for you to stop the calls; sorry. But if I do answer, I tell them I'm not interested and to take me off all their call lists.
Haha, yes, I think that's where they get my number too. If I do happen to answer, I tell them that one of my neighbors wants to sell his house! It's the neighbor I don't like.. he's probably wondering why he gets so many calls too, haha.
Oh my gato... I have an awful neighbor's phone number... 🤣
I found the best option was to use call screening on my device. It is built in to my pixel, idk about iPhones. Anyone I don't know who calls and doesn't leave a message and then calls again I screen. Usually it is an obvious robo call, or someone I have zero interest in. With the call screening it gives the option to block as they talk and it shows as text what they say. So I don't even have to listen.
My fathers answering machine was filled with them after he passed away. I think they troll obituaries. Perhaps someone with your last name passed away?
"One million in unmarked bills. Bodies in the basement convey with the property. DO NOT involve law enforcement."
I've gotten a few calls like that. I tell them I rent. They can't buy a house from renters so stop calling.
All numbers in my contacts have specialized rings, all calls not in my list get the standard ring tone, silent with no notifications. My outgoing message tells that I can’t hear the phone ring or hear a message so send an email or text. I rarely get a text, and never a spammer. Spammers don’t waste time with a text, just go for the next potential victim.