How to handle house and land enquiries after hours and on weekends.

Why after hours enquiries matter.

Buyers scroll listings and ads after work, after the kids are in bed and on Saturday mornings. That's when the enquiry forms get filled in. The agent who replies first usually gets the first real conversation, and by Monday morning the buyer may already be talking to someone else.

What to send straight away.

Keep it short, say who you are, and end with one easy question. Change the wording so it sounds like you.

WeeknightHi [name], it's [your name] from [company]. Thanks for your enquiry about [estate]. Are you buying to live in, or as an investment?

WeekendHi [name], thanks for asking about [package]. I'm out today, but I can call you Monday. Is morning or afternoon better?

Late nightHi [name], thanks for your enquiry. I'll call you tomorrow. What time suits you best?

Don't call at 9pm.

A phone call late at night can feel pushy, and a missed call with no message does nothing. A text lands quietly, the buyer can answer when it suits them, and you find out when to call.

Skip the generic auto reply.

"Thanks, we'll be in touch" tells the buyer nothing and asks nothing. A reply that uses their name, mentions what they asked about and asks one question starts a conversation instead.

Cover the weekend.

Pick one of these and stick to it:

• Take turns on a weekend roster within your team.
• Check new enquiries at set times, such as 9am and 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.
• Set up a reply that goes out in your business's name as soon as the enquiry lands, and pick up the conversation yourself.

Hand it over properly.

Whoever replied writes down what the buyer said: what they want, their budget, their timing and the time they want a call. The first call then starts in the right place. For what to ask on that call, see questions to ask a house and land buyer.

Stay on the right side of the rules.

Texts that promote your business fall under the Spam Act 2003. You need the buyer's consent, you must say who you are, and you must give them a way to opt out. If someone asks you to stop, stop straight away and record it.

If you want this done for you.

Our instant reply answers new enquiries straight away, even at 8pm on a Saturday, in your business's name. It asks a few quick questions and hands buyers who are ready to your team with a short summary. We run you in approval mode, so each reply waits for you to press Send. See how it works.