Trix are for kids - I go to the next one and the next till I get one who wants to do the job.

Pay them when they do work for you right on the spot when done. No delays, no chasing down the seller or buyer. That gets the contractor to come and get it. To do the work, to put the jingle in their pocket. If a handyman, electrician, plumber, contractor, locksmith, etc of any type of tradesman or service provider.

If I have to use a trick to get a return call it is not a contractor I will use or want to use. 

If it required a "trick" I tried to avoid them.

drop a name they know.... people who know people get results first.... just sayin

Mine either return my calls or they don't get my calls any longer - it's really that simple! 

I don't have any... I work with a couple of very select people who always return my calls as I'm a great source of referral business to them.

Move on to the next.  Some just don't want to work (or don't need more work).

It's hard, you can't control that. If they don't want to return calls I usually just move on, find someone else. 

Getting a bid on a home that is for sale, is too late.  Listing agent should have pest and home inspection prior to a For Sign going up. That's how I get free bids.  Before they know the home is going to be sold.  If you wait till you're in contract you'll suffer

Be more selective on what contractors you hire.

We've had this happen in the past and just moved on until we found the one that did the job, returned calls, and is very reliable!

They need to call if the want referrals.

In my opinion if they don't respond, they don't want the job badly enough and they're off the list.

Also, if they don't respond right up front, they can't be trusted to be on the job when they say they'll be there.

I tell them I received their name from another agent in the office.

No tricks, if you have to "trick" them they are not worth hiring. A

Invite them to lunch other than that no tricks

Nathan Gesner No tricks.

No tricks...they either want the work or do not

Let's see. You are asking a contractor, a small business owner, to offer their time FREELY to make a site visit, write up a proposal, wait for a response WITHOUT COMPENSATION.

Not everyone has the same mentality of real estate agents.

Home sellers and CONTRACTORS place great value in the assurance of compensation.

These folks just may be treating their occupation as a business and not a hobby. 

Your choice is call the ones who offer FREE ESTIMATES, mention the referral source (Your Broker) or inquire about estimate charge you will pass on to consumer. 

No tricks. If they do not provide a prompt response I move on. Once I do they may never hear from me again.

I do not have any.

I'm with Candice A. Donofrio - I don't waste time with those that don't return calls - obviously they don't want to sell their properties

the "trick" is to vet contractors before you need them. finding reliable contractors to recommend is an ongoing process in my practice.

if you have to "trick" someone to answer or return a call, not someone to recommend.

just go to Waffle House at 7 am where a bunch of wannabe's hangout and you have as much luck.

Must be my southern charm, but I don't recall having that problem and needing a trick

Trick em?  If they cannot return my call without being tricked I don't care to deal with them.

Tell them if the price is right you will pay them 10% bonus.

On contractors, I have two or three for each task. If they are available they come to start quickly.  I know what they charge for most tasks. When they show up I have a deposit $ for them and we get the materials or already know exactly what is needed.  When they are short handed I am available to give them a hand. 

On stagers, I am having a good time. Still shop around. Prices have shot through the roof in recent months. Close to get ripped off.

Have been going through this for almost all of July and August, would love to know the secret!    

I would be a rich man if I had a 100% successful answer

You have to toss them a bone !

Carol Williams nailed this one!

Nathan Gesner - set the deadline? Now if that cannot motivate them, nothing else can...

I built relationships years ago to avoid tricks to get them to call back. If they do not call back, it's time to move on.

Name drop someone that has used them where the experience was a good one all the way around. It's who you know that gets the attention.

Repetition.

I don't have much of an issue with the ones I am dealing with

Trick?  No trick either they want a job or they don't.  I have worked with a lot of the same guys/gals for years and they do call me back as soon as they can.

I find the ones i use, will go get bids for me. The new ones, forget it, cant get them to do anything, they must not want the work. 

Leave a detailed message, it interested they will call back, if not then they will not be bidding.