Real estate sales tend to slow down around the holidays, but if your goal is to increase your brokerage’s profitability in 2014, the end of the year is vital to your team’s success. Set the scene for a prosperous 2014, by encouraging your agents to incorporate the tips below into their year-end business goals.
1.) Resist hibernation: As we enter the months of November and December, real estate agents often go into hibernation, says Christopher Fox, a Director of Agent Growth in Southeastern Michigan. Avoid this! This goes back to the basics of sales – every real estate agent needs a sales funnel of clients either looking to buy or sell their home. Focus on prospecting clients to refill your funnel to start 2014 on a high note.
2.) Build a reliable network: Make a goal to create at least six new business relationships in different industries (ex: mortgage broker, professional stager, professional mover, real estate attorney) to give and receive referrals, says Kristine Wyatt (Broker Associate, Smart Click Realty). Surrounding yourself with a strong network will drastically improve your reach, and will also allow you to pay it forward.
3.) Master the art of time blocking: Regardless of the stage of your career, time blocking is essential to grow your business. Fox advises to allocate a certain time of day – every day – to complete the tasks that are key to growing your business, like prospecting, returning calls, or building your social media networks.
4.) Nurture past client relationships: You work so hard to build relationship with clients, but how do you keep in touch after the sale? Employ unique ways to stay in touch post-closing, like signing your clients up for a city-specific magazine so they will think of you when it is delivered every month; or help them turn their house into a home with a gift certificate to a local nursery. Fox says asking for referral business after completing the transaction is a vital part of achieving success. Thank everyone who refers business to you by taking them out to dinner, or sending a handwritten note with a Starbucks card.|
5.) Audit your business: In order to measurably improve your business, it’s important to understand the metrics behind your success. Michigan Broker/Owner Doris LaBeau advises to evaluate your year-to-date business results. How much are you making per transaction? Where are your clients coming from? How much do you need to make next year? What tasks, projects, enhancements, skills, and credentials can improve in the next month that will set you up for a successful 2014?
