The holiday season may not be the busiest time of year for real estate agents, but it doesn’t mean your business can’t still thrive. Real estate agents need to be especially mindful of finding the balance between keeping business moving forward and taking some time off during the holidays. This can be extremely hard to do when there is so much to tempt you away from work.
Here are some dos and don’ts to help you juggle work and festivities this holiday season.
DO Make Yourself Available
Though people are busy with holiday activities, there are still plenty of active buyers and sellers out there who need their real estate agents to be available. This means you need to continue to market yourself during this time and make sure clients know that you are available throughout the holidays. Also, be sure if you do plan to take time off that you don’t do it when it will impact any business with clients, such as a closing or a home showing.
DON’T Miss the Important Moments
Making yourself available to clients doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the important holiday moments. If you have plans that you can’t or don’t want to miss, then don’t miss them. Whether it’s taking an entire day to prep for a holiday party or spending extra time with your kids when they are off of school, take the time to enjoy those moments.
DON’T Assume Clients Know the Difference
To balance these two, clearly communicate to clients when you will and will not be available to them. If you forget to share that information, it’s very possible they will call or try to stop by on days you are prioritizing those important moments.
DO Take Advantage of Slow Days
The slow time of year is perfect for catching up on administrative tasks that you may have fallen behind on during the busier times of year. If you have a lingering to do list, the holiday season is the perfect time to tackle the items on that list. It’s also a good time to brainstorm new ideas for growing your real estate business in the upcoming year.
DON’T Give in to Holiday Distractions
While you are working, stay focused. It’s easy to get distracted by everything else around you during the holidays, such as shopping online for gifts or browsing for holiday activities in the community. But, if you are going to put in the time for work, make it as productive as possible. That way, when you do take time off, you won’t have work to distract you from the fun.
DO Send Holiday Greetings to Clients
It’s important to continue nurturing your leads throughout the holiday season, even if they aren’t as active. Let your clients know you are thinking about them by sending them cards, emails, handwritten letters, or small gifts as tokens of appreciation. A little something will go a long way toward building stronger relationships.
Working through the holidays is all about finding the balance between enjoying some time off to celebrate and nurturing your business and clients. Following these tips will help any real estate agent navigate this time of year.
