How Real Estate Agents Can Avoid Wasting Time on Invalid Phone Numbers

As a real estate agent, every second counts. Whether you’re following up with a new lead, scheduling a showing, or closing a deal, having the right contact information is essential. But what happens when the phone number you’re dialing is invalid? You waste valuable time chasing dead ends—time that could be spent connecting with real buyers and sellers.

Invalid phone numbers in real estate can be frustrating and costly. Whether due to typos, fake entries, or outdated contact lists, bad numbers can slow you down and hurt your conversion rates. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent this. By using phone number validation for real estate, agents can ensure they’re only reaching out to genuine leads-saving time, boosting efficiency, and improving results.

In this guide, we’ll explore why invalid phone numbers are a common problem, how they impact your real estate business, and the best strategies to verify phone numbers before you ever pick up the phone. Let’s dive in!

What Are the Hidden Costs of Invalid Phone Numbers in Real Estate?

Imagine spending days nurturing a lead, only to realize the phone number they provided is fake or disconnected. It’s not just frustrating—it’s a waste of time and resources. In real estate, where speed and efficiency are everything, invalid phone numbers can seriously hurt your business.

• Missed Opportunities and Wasted Time

  Every call to an invalid number is time taken away from speaking with real prospects. Agents who rely on outdated or incorrect contact details often find themselves chasing ghosts instead of closing deals.

• The Frustration of Disconnected or Fake Numbers

  Nothing is more discouraging than dialing a lead’s number, only to hear, “This number is no longer in service.” Whether it’s due to typos, intentionally fake entries, or outdated records, these dead-end calls add unnecessary stress to your workflow.

• Lost Revenue from Poor Lead Data

  Bad phone numbers don’t just waste time—they cost money. If your CRM is filled with invalid contacts, your marketing efforts suffer, follow-ups fail, and potential clients slip through the cracks. Without a reliable way to validate numbers, agents risk losing out on valuable business opportunities.

As you now understand the costs of invalid phone numbers, let’s take a look at the main sources of invalid phone numbers:

Common Reasons Real Estate Agents Encounter Invalid Phone Numbers (Main Sources of Invalid Phone Numbers)

Real estate agents frequently encounter invalid phone numbers for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common causes:

1. Typo/Entry Errors: Simple Mistakes That Cost Time

Whether a lead mistypes their phone number on a form or an agent enters the wrong digits manually, small errors can turn a valid contact into a dead-end. A single missing or misplaced number can make follow-ups impossible.

2. Number Turnover: When Contacts Become Outdated

People change phone numbers more often than you might think—whether they switch carriers, move to a new location, or disconnect their old line. If your database isn’t updated regularly, you could be calling numbers that no longer belong to your intended lead.

3. Intentional Fakes: Leads Trying to Avoid Contact

Some people provide fake phone numbers because they don’t want to be contacted. Whether they’re concerned about privacy or just browsing properties with no serious intent, these bad numbers waste agents’ time and resources.

4. Poor Data Quality: The Risk of Purchased or Scraped Lists

If you’re using third-party lead lists or scraped data, there’s a high chance that many of the numbers are incorrect, outdated, or even completely fake. These lists often contain recycled or non-working numbers, leading to inefficient outreach efforts.

5. CRM/Import Issues: How Bad Data Sneaks In

Even well-maintained CRMs can become cluttered with invalid numbers over time. Faulty data imports, duplicated contacts, and lack of routine updates can result in agents calling numbers that are no longer in service.

6. Unqualified Lead Data: When Bad Numbers Come from the Source

Not all leads are serious buyers or sellers. Some prospects enter incorrect numbers just to gain access to listings or resources without intending to engage. Without proper validation, agents can waste time following up on contacts that were never real.

How Real Estate Agents Can Validate Phone Numbers to Ensure Quality Leads?

Traditional phone number verification methods often stop at ensuring the number adheres to a specific format. Modern validation tools, however, delve much deeper, providing a comprehensive analysis that helps Real Estate agents to make informed decisions:

1. Line Type Identification: Distinguishing Mobile from Landline

A crucial aspect of lead qualification is understanding the line type associated with a phone number. Validation tools can accurately identify whether a number belongs to a mobile phone, landline, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), or even a toll-free service.

• Mobile Phones: These are often the most valuable for real estate agents, as they indicate a higher likelihood of direct engagement and immediate communication. Mobile numbers are also preferred for SMS marketing, which can be a powerful tool for lead nurturing.
• Landlines: While not inherently bad, landlines might indicate a less mobile individual, potentially impacting the speed of communication and property showings. They may also indicate a business line, which may not be a valid lead for residential real estate.
• VoIP: VoIP numbers can be associated with both businesses and individuals, requiring further investigation to determine their suitability.
• Toll-Free Numbers: These are usually associated with businesses and are generally not relevant for individual lead generation.

By accurately identifying the line type, agents can tailor their communication strategies, prioritizing mobile numbers and adjusting their approach for other line types.

2. Identifying Known Litigators

When Real estate agents reach out to potential clients by phone, a growing concern is the presence of individuals who intentionally provoke legal issues. These people, sometimes working in groups, are known to try and create situations that lead to lawsuits about calling rules.

That’s why some phone number checking tools now offer the ability to remove known litigators from your contact list. By comparing numbers to lists of people known for this type of legal action, these tools help protect you from unexpected and expensive legal problems. Effectively, they allow you to filter out and avoid potential legal threats before you even make a call.

3. DNC Compliance: Safeguarding Reputation and Avoiding Penalties

Another critical feature of advanced phone number validation tools is their ability to check against both state and federal Do Not Call (DNC) registries. This is essential for maintaining compliance with telemarketing regulations and protecting the agent’s reputation.

• Federal DNC Registry: This national registry lists phone numbers of consumers who have opted out of receiving telemarketing calls.
• State DNC Registries: Some states maintain their own DNC registries, which may have additional or different regulations.

By integrating DNC checks into their lead validation process, Real estate agents can:

• Avoid costly fines: Non-compliance with DNC regulations can result in significant financial penalties.
• Protect their brand reputation: Calling individuals on the DNC list can damage the agent’s credibility and create negative perceptions.
• Focus on compliant leads: By filtering out DNC-listed numbers, agents can concentrate their efforts on prospects who are more likely to be receptive to their outreach.

4. Increased Data Accuracy and Lead Enrichment

Beyond line type and DNC checks, sophisticated validation tools like LandlineRemover can also:

• Verify number validity: Ensure the phone number is active and in service, eliminating wasted time and resources on disconnected or invalid numbers.
• Provide carrier information: Identify the mobile carrier associated with a number, which can be useful for targeted marketing campaigns.
• Geographic location data: some tools can provide location data associated with the phone number, which can be useful for lead segmentation and targeted marketing.

After filtering the phone number list using a phone number validation tool, another layer of validation involves confirming the lead’s phone number through SMS or voice calls. Here’s how:

One of the easiest ways to do this is by sending a quick SMS confirmation. A simple, friendly message like “Hi [Lead’s Name], thanks for your interest in [property or service]! Please reply ‘YES’ to confirm your number so we can assist you better.” can do wonders. If the message fails to deliver, you immediately know the number is inactive. If they reply, you have an engaged lead ready to move forward.

Another method is placing a verification call. This doesn’t have to be time-consuming—an automated call can prompt the lead to press a key to confirm their number. Hi, this is [Your Name] from [Your Agency]. If you’re interested in receiving more details about [property/service], press 1 to confirm your number.” If the call reaches voicemail or is answered, you know the number is legitimate. If it gets disconnected or repeatedly ignored, it might be a dead end.

For high-value leads, adding two-step verification (2FA) is a great way to prevent incorrect entries. Requiring the lead to enter a one-time code sent via SMS ensures they’re using a real, accessible number. This is especially useful when offering gated content or premium property listings.

5. Cleaning Up Invalid Phone Numbers in Real Estate CRM Systems

Cleaning up invalid phone numbers in a Real Estate CRM system is crucial for effective communication and maintaining data integrity. Here’s a breakdown of the process:

• Regularly audit databases to catch outdated, disconnected, or duplicate numbers. Use phone validation tools to flag inactive or fake contacts.
• Integrate real-time validation tools into your CRM to prevent bad entries. Set up periodic revalidations to keep data fresh.
• Offer incentives like exclusive property insights to motivate leads to provide real numbers. Use SMS verification to confirm authenticity.

Conclusion:

Stop wasting valuable time and resources on invalid phone numbers that lead to dead ends. With LandlineRemover, real estate agents can ensure every call and text reaches a genuine prospect. By filtering out landlines and disconnected numbers, you can focus on high-quality leads, maximize engagement, and improve conversion rates. Don’t let outdated contact information slow you down—start using LandlineRemover today and connect only with real, reachable prospects. Optimize your real estate outreach and watch your success grow!