10 Things For Real Estate Professionals to Do on Holiday Break
It’s the time of year when houses aren’t moving, and the spring buying season feels like it’s eons away. Resist the temptation to hibernate. Now is the time to sow the seeds of success for the coming year.
Here are a few ideas:
1. Send New Year’s cards. It’s not too late to send out holiday greetings and a New Year’s card will stand out from the crowd. Leverage your contacts and keep your name top of mind to your clients.
2. Organize your email box. You might be reminded of correspondence you dropped the ball on or automated email lists that you can unsubscribe from. Bonus: Set up reminders to flag your clients’ key dates (anniversary, birthday, one-year post-closing, etc.) to nudge you to reach out on important events.
3. Sign up for training opportunities and industry networking events like REAL Trends’ Gathering of Eagles.
4. Leverage your technology. Successful agents are resourceful. Are you using your smartphone and other devices to their full capacity? A trip to your local tech center may help you realize their full potential.
5. Measure your performance. In a recent survey, 19 percent of real estate professionals used Google Analytics. If you’re in the 81 percent not evaluating your website traffic, you might be missing out on key insights.
6. Get involved in your community. What activities and events do you have scheduled in the coming year that will help you cultivate relationships in your area? The most successful agents have strong relationships built on a foundation of engagement.
7. Fine-tune your online presence. Make sure your LinkedIn profile includes the right keywords. Check out any online reviews—good or bad—on Zillow, Yelp and elsewhere. Address any lackluster reviews by posting a reply, keeping it positive, to demonstrate to your naysayer(s) that you are in this for the long haul. Pore over your Facebook contacts to ensure that you are up-to-date on developments in their lives; significant life events can signal the need to buy a new home.
8. Balance your books. Tax season is right around the corner, so this is a good time to get the receipts in order and record any expenses.
9. Make a charitable donation. Remember, tax season is just around the corner, plus it’s better to give than to receive.
10. Count your blessings—be grateful. The new year is a good time to reflect on the previous year. When you notice the good in your life, it tends to create a shift that improves your perspective.
