Remember the last time you called a real estate company and were greeted with an automated attendant and given the option to dial by name to find the agent you were looking for? Not only is this extremely easy to set up, it is fairly inexpensive to do. (image by Library of Virginia)
What is a Virtual PBX?
A PBX is a Private Branch Exchange that allows you to manage your phone number(s) and / or extensions and because it’s virtual, there is no hardware to install. A PBX allows your calls to be answered with a custom greeting, callers can access a company directory, calls can be automatically routed, and it can and take voicemail and receive faxes.
A virtual PBX is a fairly inexpensive solution if you have numerous employees that each need their own extension. As real estate offices become more mobile, a virtual PBX is a great way to manage your voicemails and faxes (if you still receive faxes).
Key features of a Virtual PBX:
- Customize Greeting. You can set up a custom greeting letting callers know who they called and what extensions they can dial.
- Multiple extensions. Each employee can have their own extension and voicemail.
- Customize Hours. Route callers depending on what time it is or forwards callers to specific phone lines during certain hours.
- Find me Follow me. Ring multiple phones at once so you never miss a call.
- Voicemail to email. Have your voicemails emailed to you so you can listen to them at any time.
- Have faxes sent to your email as PDF files.
Today there are numerous options for a virtual PBX. Here are just a few:
1) RingCentral
RingCentral’s Plus plan offers 1,000 shared minutes and unlimited extensions for $24.99 / month. They charge $0.044 per additional minute. Their iPhone app is free.
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2) Grasshopper
Grasshopper’s Ramp plan offers 500 minutes and unlimited extensions for $24.00 / month. They charge $0.06 per additional minute. No iPhone app.
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3) eVoice
eVoice offers 1,000 minutes and 5 extensions for $29.95 / month. They charge $0.039 per additional minute. Their iPhone app is free.
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4) OneBox
OneBox offers 2,000 minutes and 4 extensions for $49.95 / month. They charge $0.049 per additional minute. Their iPhone app is free.
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5) VirtualPBX
VirtualPBX offers 1,000 minutes and unlimited extensions for $44.99 / month. They charge $0.047 per additional minute. They do not have an iPhone app.
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6) Phone.com
Phone.com offers 1,000 minutes and unlimited extensions for $39.88 / month. They charge $0.049 per additional minute. They have an iPhone and Android app.
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Questions to ask before signing up for a virtual PBX:
- How many minutes will I need?
- How many employees do I have and how many extensions will I need?
- Can I port my local number if I want to?
- Can I get a 1-800 Number and / or a vanity phone number?
- How much do they charge per minute if I go over my minutes?
- Is there a setup or cancellation fee?
Many Virtual PBX providers offer free trails. I would suggest signing up for a free trial to test out a service before committing to it.
A really nice feature of some Virtual PBX providers is the option for unlimited extensions. If your real estate office has unlimited extensions you could give every one of your listings its own extension. Publish the phone number and extension on the for sale sign so home buyers can call to get more information about the house.
Depending on how many employees you have a virtual PBX might be overkill. Smaller real estate and appraisal companies might be able to use a less expensive VOIP service such as Vonage.
My real estate appraisal company uses Google Voice to handle all of its business calls. Google Voice has almost replaced my need for a Virtual PBX, not to mention it is much cheaper (free). Google voice is open to everyone, no invitation required.
What do you use for your business calls, a landline, VOIP, or your cell phone?
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Very helpful blog about virtual PBX systems. I am a starter when it comes to this technology. And your post has benefited me a lot.
Interesting. Is this like someone else hosting the phone network instead of you have hardware? I know an insurance agent who had a very expensive phone system installed. It’s definitely more than 24.99 per month. I would be interested to compare a service like this with what he has.
Exactly Ryan. Someone else hosts the phone network so you don’t have to worry about any hardware. I use to have a business land line that was insanely expensive. I switched to Ring Central and it was cheaper and gave me great business features like routing my calls and receiving faxes all from one phone line. But because my appraisal business doesn’t have numerous employees I switched to Google Voice. A virtual PBX is great if you need several phone lines. I wonder how much your insurance agent friend pays for their phone system?
Great list. Very useful source especially in comparing the plans and pricing of different providers.
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