You're walking a couple through a kitchen when your phone buzzes. Someone is parked outside one of your listings, looking at your sign, and wants to know the price. If they get voicemail, the next sign on the street is one call away. So what does an answering service for agents have to do, what should you ask before you sign up, and what does it cost?
The calls an agent gets
Sign and listing calls are the big group: a buyer asks about price, beds, baths or the open house. Then there are seller calls from people thinking about listing their home, a few renters, and other agents with a message for you.
These calls come while you're showing a home or driving to the next one, which is exactly when you can't answer. A good service answers for you, shares the listing basics and finds out whether the caller is buying, selling or renting, and what their timeline is. Then it books the showing, so the lead is still yours when you're back in the car.
What it has to do
- Answer while you're showing a home or driving.
- Ask buying, selling or renting, and which property.
- Answer listing basics: price, beds, baths, open house times.
- Book showings and seller calls into free times.
- Send leads to your CRM, so nothing gets lost.
- Speak Spanish, if buyers in your market do.
$99 a month. Cancel anytime.
Questions to ask before you buy
- Can it answer questions about my current listings?
- Can it tell buyers from sellers and other agents?
- Does it book showings into my calendar?
- Can leads go straight into my CRM?
- What does it cost in a busy spring month?
- Can I keep my number, the one on my signs?
What it costs
Live answering services charge for people's time, so they cost more per minute. AI services cost less, answer every sign call right away and book the showing on the call. Here are the public prices of the best-known options:
| Service | Who answers | Starts at | Books into your calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cally24 | AI | $99 a month, 240 minutes | Yes |
| Ruby | Live people | $250 a month, 50 minutes ($395 for 100) | Optional scheduling |
| Smith.ai | AI, live backup | $0 for 25 calls; Pro $150 for 75 calls | Calendly and more |
| Rosie | AI | $49 a month, 250 minutes | From the $149 plan |
| Dialzara | AI | $29 a month, 60 minutes | From the $99 plan |
| Goodcall | AI | $79 a month, 100 callers | Google Calendar |
Prices checked October 25, 2026 on each company's public pricing page. Prices change. Sources and the math for 100 minutes are in what an AI receptionist costs.
An afternoon with Cally
It's 2:15 PM and you're in the middle of a showing. A caller asks about the three-bedroom on Elm Street. Cally answers in your name, shares the price, the beds and baths and the open house time from your website, then asks whether she's buying, her timeline and her budget. She wants to see it, so Cally books a showing on Monday at 5:30 PM.
She also asks about financing. Cally takes the question for you, and it's in the lead summary on your phone, ready for your next call.
How Cally24 handles real estate calls
Cally answers in your name or your team's name, shares the listing details from your website, asks timeline and budget, and books showings into free times. Money and financing questions go to you. Each lead arrives by email, in your dashboard and as a phone alert, and can go to your CRM through Zapier. See lead capture. It costs $99 a month with 240 minutes included.
Agent setup checklist
- Your listings, or a link to them on your website
- Areas you work in
- Showing times you're free
- What to ask buyers and sellers
- Forwarding on for unanswered calls
See Cally for real estate, pricing, or hear your own receptionist, built from your website in 30 seconds.
Common questions
Can Cally answer questions about a listing?
Yes, if the details are on your website or in your dashboard: price, beds, baths and open house times.
Can Cally tell buyers about financing?
No. Cally takes their details and you, or their lender, can talk money.
What happens when another agent calls?
Cally takes their message and sends it to you like any other lead, marked so you can spot it.
