5-Minute Real Estate Resolutions for Power Agents
As we bid adieu to 2016, it’s time to consider both personal and professional goals for the New Year. As an agent, you are constantly looking for new ways to revolutionize and grow your business while increasing productivity. This year, try any (or all) of these 5-minute weekly resolutions to ensure your success continues to flourish all throughout 2017. Take time to schedule just 5-minutes each week to catch up with past clients and remain active in the industry and you’ll set yourself up for a successful New Year.
1. Check in with your sellers
One of the most important ways to earn trust and repeat business is to check in with your sellers. Keeping the lines of communication open can help manage expectations and create a great relationship with your clients. While there is no one answer when it comes to how often these communications should happen, one of your tasks as an agent is to know your seller and their preferences.
If you are dealing with a very busy contractor, you may find emails are most effective. If you are representing a client that isn’t Internet savvy, a good old fashioned phone call may be just the ticket. Plain and simple, just ask! In your initial listing meeting, take the time to find out how often the homeowner would like to hear from you and the method of communication they most prefer.
Now as part of your resolutions, make sure you take 5 minutes each week to review your current clients and be sure you are on track for meeting your communication schedule.
2. Record your inspiration
Great ideas don’t always need to be original. Take 5 minutes a week to find inspiration. Review what your competition and other agents are doing well. What do you like? Subscribe to their email drip campaigns, browse their websites and social media accounts and take screenshots or bookmark ideas that inspire you. Keep looking back at these for inspiration throughout the year and make a list of actionable items to incorporate some of these ideas into your business.
If you are a visual person, you may find a site like Pinterest to be a helpful place to collect and store your ideas, or maybe you prefer to print things and have them posted near your desk. Whatever way works best for you, discover it and never stop seeking inspiration!
3. Keep tabs on your brand
Just because people aren’t talking about you to your face doesn’t mean they aren’t talking. Any professional in today’s digital landscape needs to be aware of their brand reputation on social media. Take 5 minutes each week to Google your name, your agency and anything else associated with your brand. There may be reviews or conversations going on about you that you would otherwise be oblivious to.
No matter what you discover, good or bad, you now have a chance to be part of the discussion. Remember to be professional in all your replies. If you find a past client airing grievances about you or your team, be sure to address it with respect. This could be your chance to clear things up. If you read great things about yourself, take the time to personally thank the client or past client. Today’s clients rely on what their peers say (social proof) when they are deciding who to do business with.
4. Follow up with a past client
The New Year is a great time to look back through your past clients and reconnect. You never know who is planning on buying or selling in 2017. By maintaining these relationships, you may find yourself getting a new listing. Even if your old contacts aren’t currently in need of your services, you will stay top of mind for future business.
5. Be active on social media
Gone are the days of Facebook and Twitter being used purely for entertainment purposes. Many successful agents rely largely on their social media presence to help win future deals, meet new prospects and even learn new ways to continue improving their interactions with clients.
In addition to social monitoring (as mentioned earlier), use social media to speak with your clients, other agents and most importantly as a resource for you to ask questions and discuss trends with others.
6. Stay up-to-date on current trends
The real estate industry is constantly evolving so if you aren’t continually learning, reading and on the look out for current trends you’re going to be left behind. So how can you do this in 5 minutes a week? One great way to achieve this is find your favorite blogs and websites and subscribe to newsletters, blog updates and social media accounts. Dedicate 5 minutes one day a week to scan and search for current trends and conversations that can help you evolve and grow.
Try checking out Realty Check by CNBC, World Property Journal and Forbes Real Estate to get you started.
7. Scan your contact list
Look over your contacts once a week and take note of anyone you haven’t spoken to in awhile. Are there some worth reaching out to again? Whether it’s another agent you’ve networked with in the past or a potential client, dropping a quick email or leaving a voicemail may be worth sacrificing just a few minutes of your week.
Once you begin putting these ideas into practice, you’ll notice that just 5 minutes a week will allow you to start nurturing new and existing relationships, seek inspiration, participate in online conversations.
Have we left out any of your resolutions for 2017? We are featuring popular resolutions for agents in an upcoming blog post and newsletter. We would love to hear yours! Just head over to our Facebook page and share yours with us!
