You have probably heard it before; time is money. Although relatively accurate, I prefer to think of time as everything. Nothing, for that matter, can reward diligent real estate agents more so than time itself. With time on your side, essentially anything is possible.
Continue reading to learn how real estate agents — and all real estate professionals for that matter — can avoid the pitfalls of busy work and maximize the time they already have.
1. Refrain from taking on every task
Real estate agents have developed a reputation for working hard. Although the housing sector is full of attractive incentives, sales won’t simply be handed to those sitting idly by. You must work hard to remain relevant.
Running your own business requires a lot of sleepless nights and dedication. However, it is entirely possible for working too hard to become counterproductive.
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Those who insist on taking on every task that comes their way will ultimately ignore subsequent areas of their business that require more attention. What’s more, you could draw the ire of those you fail to produce for because you simply couldn’t say no.
If it is in your nature to say yes to everyone who asks you for help or assistance, refrain from doing so. Instead, remain selective in your efforts to help others, and don’t let menial tasks get in the way of doing what you need to get done.
That doesn’t mean you need to shut everyone out completely, but rather practice restraint. You must draw a line once additional tasks brought on by others become a burden.
If you are currently overwhelmed by the obligations you have made to others, do not muddy the waters and accept the next request that comes your way. Saying yes to someone you don’t have time to help might seem like a good idea at first, but the commitment could just as easily turn into a problem when time runs out.
Remember, real estate is a people business. Developing a working rapport with like-minded professionals is all but necessary. However, you need to recognize when you are being stretched too thin. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, and I am certain you will find more time to focus on the activities that matter.
2. Schedule time with friends and family
Working in the real estate industry has become synonymous with the dreaded 24/7 work schedule. If for nothing else, promising clients that you can be reached at all hours of the day should give you an advantage over the competition. Clients, for that matter, are probably going to appreciate a real estate agent that is essentially on call.
In my experience, nothing will take you further than the people you know and a little work ethic. After all, you don’t become an overnight success without putting in some hard work. However, far too many professionals end up working for the real estate industry, as opposed to working in it. Trust me; there is a difference.
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Although you won’t find a bigger advocate of hard work than me, there comes a point when everyone needs to realize that they are doing too much.
Vacation image via Shutterstock.
Don’t hesitate to step away from the industry for a moment. In fact, I highly encourage you to schedule time for the things that truly matter: friends and family.
Schedule a predetermined date and time to get together with those you care about the most. Not only will you be glad you did, but there is also a good chance it will enable you to recharge your batteries.
Take a step back and recharge from time to time. There is no better way to get your mind right than by spending time with friends and family. You would be surprised at how beneficial taking some time away might be. It’s entirely possible to return to work more productive than ever before.
3. Prioritize your daily obligations
This step is painfully obvious, but I have found that most real estate agents must be reminded to prioritize their daily objectives. At the beginning of every day or even before you go to bed at night, take a moment to write down a list of all the things you hope to accomplish in the coming day.
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Do not simply tell yourself what you hope to accomplish or take a mental note; physically write down what you must get done. You’ll be glad you did when you start to feel the pressure that coincides with completing such a task list.
With list in hand, proceed to prioritize the items you have managed to jot down. Move the activities you deem the most important to the top of the list, and move those that are less integral to your success to the bottom.
Not surprisingly, I tend to prioritize income-producing activities above all else. That’s not to say you have to do the same, but make sure the most important things for your business make their way to the top.
Ideally, agents should dedicate more time to the activities that matter and relegate those that are essentially unnecessary to the back burner.
Make a point of staying off social media outlets or watching TV. Instead, focus on what really matters. If you have done your job correctly, all of your important tasks will be completed early, leaving time for whatever you want to do later.
Remember, you can’t do everything at once. Focus on the most important tasks at hand, and chip away at them in order of importance.
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4. Take proactive measures
With more than a decade of experience working the real estate industry, one adage has served me better than perhaps any other: fortune does not favor the reactive professional.
Reactionary real estate agents are already one step behind their counterparts, if not more so. Those with aspirations of a successful career in the real estate industry need to be proactive.
Never expect anything to be handed to you on the proverbial silver platter. You must take action into your own hands. There is no other way, at least that I am aware of, to simultaneously cut back on busy work and increase productivity.
For real estate agents to understand the importance of taking proactive measures, they must first identify why reactive measure are ill-advised.
As the name would lead you to believe, reactive individuals react to certain scenarios. Their actions are, therefore, the byproduct of something that has already happened.
If you are not first in the real estate landscape, you might as well be last. Proactive individuals, however, are inherently motivated by the choices they have predetermined.
Their actions are planned, and therefore, function independently from the actions of others. Perhaps even more importantly, proactive real estate agents are not confined to following in the footsteps of others.
They are free to act on their own, and they are typically rewarded for doing so. Those who don’t need to wait for others to make a move have an inherent advantage over those who are otherwise reactionary.
Real estate agents have enough to worry about without the threat of busy work competing for their valuable time. Take back what is rightfully yours, and rid yourself of potentially devastating busy work that could be preventing you from achieving the success you deserve. Use these tricks to free up your time and open the door to a new world of possibilities.
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Than Merrill is the founder and CEO of FortuneBuilders and CT Homes. Connect with Than on LinkedIn or follow him on Twitter @ThanMerrill.
