RealTown's RealTalk

Every now and again you read something that makes you just stop and really think about what you are doing.  I am a regular reader of Dan McGinnis, Success Strategies.  

I quote here from a section of his latest newsletter.

“You hear about real estate agents who work seven days a week. They arrive in the early morning to make their calls and organize their day. They work on paperwork and then the phones start ringing and they field calls and put out fires until late in the evening. They may show property when a client gets off work, and they skip dinner. These agents are always available. Their cell phone or pager is always going off as they jump from one thing to the next.”

Many of my clients and myself are guilty of the behaviors Dan describes. I gave up the 9-5 to have flexibility but…. I want to make some changes.

So, I ask you, how do you structure your day?

Caryn,

One of the great things about real estate is the flexibility.  Really this is an issue of personal boundaries and priorities.  Someone who is single with no kids will have a much different work schedule than a parent.  I did a time study for myself to see how I was spending my time at work, and I encourage you to do the same.  I could see where I was efficient and where I was not.

While I work most Saturdays, I work maybe 1 Sunday a month.  I also don't schedule any appointments on Thursdays, as I volunteer at my son's school that day.  I am personally not at the beck and call of my clients.  I rarely work on holidays (sometimes you have to if a client is coming in from out of town).  Time off is very important.

I am really clear with my clients what my work schedule is.  Buyers know that I am available Thursday nights, but not during the day for example.  Sellers know that I have days off and work to schedule property showings around those days.  I have only had one prospect for a listing call someone else because I wouldn't drop what I was doing to meet him in a hour to list his house.

For me, I schedule in my family events for the week first, and then put my work schedule in around it.  I am available by phone/email every day for my clients, but I try to work with people that I respect and who respect my time.  You might lose a little in salary this way, but I think I'm happier for it.   I think it is important to not be working all of the time.  It's the way to have no friends, family, and get seriously burned out.

I also think a key to your schedule is to be proactive during a transaction so that you aren't spending a ton of time putting out fires.  Surprises happen to all of us, but by checking in with all parties regularly, you can avoid a lot of those last minute fires and be more efficient.

Melina Tomson, MS
ABR, e-PRO
melina@tomsonburnham.com
www.TomsonBurnham.com
ph: 503-371-6515
fax: 503-588-1628

"how do you structure your day"

This has become one of the most difficult things for me to manage since the market has been a bit slower.  When I am busy I have no problems but now it is hard for me to focus on the tasks that NEED to be done.  Rather, I do the easy things and procrastinate the rest.

I just moved my office home and am hoping that setting up my desk and office will help.  I find myself with my laptop on the couch with my cell phone and besides being bad for my posture it is not productive.

I have contemplated hiring a coach to get me on the right track.

Tammy Anderson

1520 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC  27608

Tammy@TammyAnderson.com

919.271.7997 cell

"how do you structure your day"

This has become one of the most difficult things for me to manage since the market has been a bit slower.  When I am busy I have no problems but now it is hard for me to focus on the tasks that NEED to be done.  Rather, I do the easy things and procrastinate the rest.

I just moved my office home and am hoping that setting up my desk and office will help.  I find myself with my laptop on the couch with my cell phone and besides being bad for my posture it is not productive.

I have contemplated hiring a coach to get me on the right track.

Tammy Anderson

1520 Glenwood Avenue

Raleigh, NC  27608

Tammy@TammyAnderson.com

I too need help in structuring the day.  The more I have to do, the more I get behind.  The less I have to do, the more I get behind.  I am willing to make changes so that I can get on track.  I work from home and seem to get distracted there too.  If anyone has suggeestions or a time chart, please share it with those of us who are struggling with time management.

Angie Pitman

Century 21 Bob Capes Realtors

201-A W Wade Hampton Blvd.

Greer, SC 29650

angie@angie-pitman.com

Caryn,

I thought about this some more and wrote this.  I worked as a child and family therapist prior to becoming a real estate agent and boundaries are essential for emotional survival in that job.  I thought I would share some of the things I learned there, to hopefully help some of you.

1.  Write down on a piece of paper what your priorities are 1-5.  You need to make sure EVERY day that you hit one of those priorities in your schedule at least once.  Mine are 1) spending time on myself, 2) spending time on my hubby, 3-4) spending time on my kids and 5) exercising.  For those of you new to balancing your life, write them in as an appointment.  If you have kids, show them where they are in your schedule.  They will help to hold you accountable, until you can do it yourself. I work a split schedule (in the morning while the kiddos are at school, and then in the evenings after my hubby is home).

Someone who is single would look very different. Boundaries are personal and not for comparison.

2.  Do a time study of how you work.  I think you will be surprised at how much time you WASTE doing irrelevant things, or being disorganized.

3.  Be proactive.  I spend a lot of time checking on things, writing summaries, calling for feedback, so that I have very few fires to put out.  Putting out fires is a TIME SUCK.

4.  Put it in perspective.  If I don't handle this right now will someone die, will something horrible happen?  Your client not liking you because you didn't call them back within 30 seconds doesn't count.  I mean really, will someone die if you don't call your client back at that very moment.  This sounds dramatic, but people with poor boundaries can't prioritize relevance and importance well. 

5.  It's okay.  This should be your mantra.  It's okay if my clients are not my best friends.  It's okay if they don't' like me.  It's okay if I don't like them.  It's okay to be selfish sometimes.  Take a deep breath and say to yourself. I am okay.

6. Let go...Yep, I'm talking about those clients that will treat you like a doormat.  Walk away, let go.  The money you will get from the commission can go towards your triple bypass surgery you will need in 10 years from being so stressed out.  Would you rather be happy and poorer, or rich and lonely?  Okay we really all want to be happy and rich, but IF you had to choose...

7. Practice.   Setting boundaries is not as easy as it looks, so practice. Start small.  For those of you that compulsively answer the phone, start with one time a day (or week if you are really bad) that you PURPOSELY don't answer the phone.  Wait 30 minutes BEFORE you check to see who called, and then call them back.  Ask yourself, did the world end over those 30 minutes?  The hitch, during those 30 minutes you need to be doing something related to your top 5 priorities.  Whatever your boundary issue is make a small plan for yourself and build up.  If you can't not answer the phone, then answer it, and tell the other party you "can't talk right this very minute, but will call them back in 30 minutes."

8. Don't apologize.  "I'm sorry I didn't call you back right away..."  Ugh...Tell yourself you have a right to have a life. Don't be sorry for that. You will actually be a better agent in the long run.  Instead say," This is Melina calling you back. How can I help?"  No apologies, just professional. 

9. Take off one day a week, and let your clients know about it.  I don't typically work on Sundays or Thursdays (only when I can't work around someone else's schedule).  My clients know this when they list with me and they know it when I help them buy.  Haven't lost a client over it yet.  Believe it or not, people get boundaries and respect them.

 You can give people excellent service, be professional, and enjoy your job.  The flexibility of real estate allows you to completely set your own schedule on your terms.  Setting your boundaries is about defining those terms.  Take some time, think about, and practice. 

Melina Tomson, MS
ABR, e-PRO
melina@tomsonburnham.com
www.TomsonBurnham.com
ph: 503-371-6515
fax: 503-588-1628

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond with helpful advice to help me structure my time.  I can’t thank you enough.  I just hope I have the ability to take your advice and put it into practice.  

I really appreciate it!  I will let you know how I do.  It does seem when things are slow I have more of a problem than when I am super busy.