Are you an endangered species? You may be on the list and not even know it. Today's savvy agent is relying on technology, market knowledge and plain old survival tactics. Darwin knew what he was talking about, when he coined the phrase 'Survival of the Fittest' and it still holds true.
How do you score on the real estate fitness test?
1. Do you show up for work five days a week? Someone once said showing up is half the battle and it's true. A few months ago I had a 'drop in' at my office. In the course of the conversation he mentioned his son was attending a few open houses and beginning to get serious about purchasing a home in Palos Verdes. A few weeks ago we closed escrow. The lead was dropped in my lap because I was there.
2. Are you procreating your own leads? Or are you procrastinating and passively waiting for the market to improve? While many agents are cutting back, taking a break, and hoping the market will change, the savvy agent is enlarging his piece of the real estate pie.
3. Do you have a plan of action each day? The key word is action. A plan is good, but without action the best laid plan will fail. You must interact with the principals who move the market--buyers and sellers.
4. Do you hold yourself accountable? Yes, the market is slow, but it is not dead. Breathe more life into your segment and stop commiserating with those who continue to suck the life out of it. Stop whining and start winning!
5. Are you making each ordinary day extraordinary in some way? Take a few moments and write down three, yes just three extraordinary things you are going to do today to bring more business your way. Three is a very small number but the results may surprise you. The elite pool of extraordinary agents has room for you. Dive in.
Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800
South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
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Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty
(310) 493-8333
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South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach. Based on information from the Association of REALTORS®/Multiple Listing as of the initial date of this article/blog publication and /or other sources. Display of MLS data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent.
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Excellent post! I'm going to flag it for a feature....
Bob Mitchell
ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc.
Bob -- Thank you for the vote of confidence. It's my 150th post and a feature would be a nice gift. More importantly, I'm glad you saw value in it.
Norma, Very well written and words we can all use. Congrats on your 150th post! I would like to see this post in the Real Estate Rookie group:)
#1. Show up at the Office!! I had almost made my mind up to start working more from home as I feel I can get more work done. Sometimes too much chatter at the office.
I really do not keep in good contact with past clients as I am a socializer at the office.
This is one of my worst weaknesses.
Jeanette Hemmer, Re/Max Plus Realty, Clarksville,Arkansas
Karen - Thank you and I'll post this in the Rookie group.
Gene - Sometimes we need to work smarter and harder!
Jeanette - Time management at the office is a challenge for many agents. It's so easy (and often more fun) to chat with others than to do something extraordinary.
Norma, these are such great points. I'll be honest, the word extraordinary is really intimidating to me...if I think about it too much it just bogs me down into a paralysis or analysis. I've compromised with myself and now try to do the ordinary, extraordinarily well.
You hit the nail(s) on the head with all of your points! Just doing the things on my list would make an ordinary day extraordinary. Oh wait, that's one!
Seriously, great post and good advice for all of us.
Colleen - Doing the ordinary extraordinarily well is extraordinary!!!
Rand - It's so true, if we do the things on our lists most ordinary days would be bumped up to extraordinary.
Thanks, Norma, for your post. It's amazing that if we do the things we know we should, good things happen. Have a great day!
Paul
Thanks Paul and I hope your day is extraordinary.
Well said! Thank you so much for sharing them! You make me want to go out and do something extrarordinary!
I am printing this one and posting it above my desk as a reminder of how little it really takes to become extraordinary! Thank you, Norma.
The key word is action, I make an effort to get off my duff each day and act.
You are right! We will be losing a lot of agents this year.!
Kathy - I'm glad you're feeling motivated. Go get em!
Elaine - My pleasure, and a little effort goes a long way.
Dee Dee - Movement is good--we have to make it happen!
Judy - The office parking lot is a good market indicator. When the market goes into an inactive phase we must be more active and more visible. It's about restoring consumer confidence.
Thank you for that! Incredible post- love it.
Kristen Coppa
Thanks for the reminders and encouragement. The power of positive thinking is so simple. I appreciate your "can do" attitude!
Kristen - You are welcome. Glad you enjoyed it!
Doreen - A few small changes are capable of producing big results.
Norma very Interesting post It got me to thinking before I was even done reading the post I had all ready thought of 4 Things to ad to my list.
Thank you
Makea - Wow, that's what I'm talking about.
Items 3 and 5 are extraordinary pieces of advice. I was doing this each day. I'd take a notecard, cut it in half and use one half per day to write down my Critical Six.
My goal was to finish ALL of those items per day. I'd write down things that got me out of my comfort zone - "Call on a Realtor I don't know."
I'd put the hardest ones first and once I got those accomplished I felt so refreshed.
On the back of the notecard (the un-lined) section I'd write a quote or a statement : "This market is full of home buyers and I'm going to find them."
Keep your card in your pocket (I'd prop mine up behind the F1, F2, F3 keys on my laptop) and refer to it all day long. This sounds gross, but I'd pull mine out of my pocket when I was in the "room of rest" and read over my quote or statement and take time to ponder it. I guess you could call that "Quick Comode Meditation." hee hee
Sarah - I like your creativity and wise use of time!
Great post thanks for sharing! I think it is important to make an action plan every day!
Yes, time flies, but we must remember we are the pilots and make wise use of it, otherwise the days slip away with little accomplished.
Excellent advice. Procrastination is a sure fire way of ensuring your business doesn't have too many tomorrows!
Brilliant blog. Simple advices but go a long way :)
Cheers,
Cindy
Cindy - Thanks, and the basics are always a good foundation to build on.
Norma: Fabulous post! It's really difficult to stay focused in a slow market. Thanks for the advice.