On one hand it is clear that there is no such thing as a universal schedule of a perfect day. Each Agent creates their own best schedule based on personal and professional style and substance.
After all Real Estate Agents are the truest form of independent contractors. We are the most independent group of employed people on earth. When it comes to scheduling, this independence is also a great challenge.
After speaking to many Agents we were finally able to distinguish many common elements that will make every day more successful for you.
As you create your best daily schedule, enjoy the process. Enjoy your independence and the tremendous opportunity for success that is available to you.
Take advantage of your profession’s flexibility and experiment with a daily schedule that works for you. You will know if it works for you by the results you obtain. If your number of appointments, listings, and sales increases while at the same time you are able to carve time for yourself and your loved ones you have found your ideal structure.
You may experiences changes – don’t panic. Each change in the market, each change in your family, in your age and health, in your priorities and changes in unlimited other things affect the structure of your day. Those challenges and those changes are wonderfully human and consistent with the freedom and independence of our profession. Work through the changes and adjust your schedule accordingly.
What follows are suggestions for your personal schedule to help ensure a productive and successful day. First, there is a comprehensive list of activities broken down into categories. Second, these activities are broken down into a schedule that includes the most common days’ times and time frames of our highest producing clients.
These suggestions can be valuable tools and information to guide you in creating the schedule for your successful day, and how to make that day every day.
Communication
Checking and corresponding by e-mail – Daily first thing in the morning
Check and correspond to voice mail – including ‘A’ buyers - Daily first thing in the morning
Setting up Showings, inspections, Appraisals, etc. – Scheduled daily as necessary
Returning phone calls – Scheduled time in the morning and afternoon
Service Hour during which you call and report to all listed sellers, all pending clients and high ‘B’ buyers -Scheduled one day each week, Rich chose Thursdays
Success Hours during which you contact leads, referral sources, past clients, and people in your Spheres of Influence – Three or four scheduled days each week
Administrative functions: Paperwork, Processing, and Preparation – Daily
(A complete breakdown and description of the following will be available in Rich’s CD and workbook product of the same name as this article available fall of 2006.)
Listing admin
Sales admin
Handling personal finances
Personal Marketing
Conducting Broker’s Opens
Servicing yard signs, brochure boxes and other errands – Planned into daily travel
Sales Functions – Daily late afternoon
Buyer presentations and rehearsals
Show houses
Write offers
Present offers and Negotiate contracts
Attend mortgage appointments
Attend closings
Listing functions - Daily late afternoon
Listing presentations and rehearsals
Price reduction presentations
Staging listings
Attend and negotiate inspections
Lead Generating Functions
Success Hours and e-mail correspondence as above under communication
Conducting Open Houses – Sunday afternoons
Network meetings – Lunchtimes
Preview property - Daily late afternoon
Opportunity time – As scheduled
Planning
(A complete breakdown and description of the following will be available in Rich’s CD and workbook product of the same name as this article available fall of 2006.)
Organize the day – First thing each morning
Leadership Hour – Scheduled one day each week, Rich chose Friday morning.
Miscellaneous – As scheduled
Attend sales meetings and office caravans
Conventions and Continuing Education
Do research on new tools and services
Education time
Personal
Days off – At least one full each week, Rich chose Saturdays
Meals – Three times daily,
Recreation – Something daily
Exercise – Three to five times weekly
Loved one’s time – As often as possible
Worship or Meditation - Personal decision
Day’s end – Choose a time and honor it
In Summary
The same schedule will not work for everyone, but use these suggestions to help you create a successful schedule that works for you. Experiment with your daily schedule. Judge its success by the results you obtain. If your appointments, listings, and sales increase while at the same time you are able to carve time for yourself and your loved ones you have found your ideal structure.
Please remember to enjoy the process of discovering your best daily routine. Enjoy the independence of this profession. And look forward to the tremendous opportunity for success that is an inherent benefit of a Real Estate career. You are in a tremendous business at a great time. Please call on us to help you take advantage of it.
