By Toby Welch
Greg Clarke, a Realtor with Royal LePage Kelowna in B.C., is bringing in the new year with fervour.
“I am fired up about getting off to a great start in 2014. Our market in Kelowna is poised to take off this spring and I am determined to make my skills available to my clients,” he says. “I will be actively educating my clients to show the value that my team adds to the real estate experience… We are going to create advocates by adding immense value to the experience of working with us.”
Creating a business plan can inspire you to face 2014 with enthusiasm. Use your plan as a blueprint for the real estate journey you want to follow; it can be an arrow to point you in the right direction. If you don’t know how to create a business plan, you’ll find a myriad of websites and books devoted to the topic.
Mark Gauley
Mark Gauley, a Realtor with Re/Max St. Andrews in St. Andrews, N.B., is going to face 2014 with a recharged attitude toward reassessing his current listings. “The start of a new year is a great time to revisit current listings with owners and most will be quite receptive,” he says. “When the property was originally listed, you would have discussed the appropriate pricing, but exposure to the market for a period of time without success may indicate that a price adjustment should be considered. The passage of time may also have an impact on a seller’s price tolerances/expectations, but we as Realtors need to advise in this regard. The market is not static, so keeping a close eye on recent sales and keeping your sellers informed on market conditions are important factors in pricing competitively.”
Gauley says: “We as Realtors are always trying to attract new clients but it’s as important to pay close attention to our existing clients. A new year with a fresh view, informed by the market realities at the present moment, will help everyone (Realtors and clients) put their best foot forward, in sync with the marketplace.”
As motivational sales trainer Todd Robertson points out in the Prospects Plus blog, “Ninety per cent of real estate agents ‘wait’ for the business (to come to them) as opposed to putting systems in place to go after the business.” You’ll have a leg up on the majority of your competition if you actively seek buyers and sellers. Determine your favourite effective way of prospecting and get going.
Greg Clarke
To keep your real estate life recharged, it’s vital to schedule regular breaks from the industry. Taking time off doesn’t make you a negligent Realtor; just the opposite is true. One caveat – when on your break, avoid the temptation to call and check how things are going at the office. Trust that the people you have in place are handling the necessary business and dealing with things that pop up. By taking regular breaks, you’ll return to your career refreshed and ready to attack the real estate world.
Get rid of the negatives in your life. Whatever it is that drags you down and robs your energy – whiny people, piles of paper, technology overload, commuting, over-committing yourself, Facebook, clutter, whatever – lose it. The result will be a positive life that inspires you instead of tying you down. Do the same to your work space; make sure it is an environment that energizes and recharges you.
Instead of mindlessly passing from year to year, set concrete goals or make an action plan; having something to work toward can be invigorating. But it’s imperative to go one step further and establish the steps you need to take to achieve your goals. Once you’ve done that, dig deep for self-motivation to accomplish every step.
Goals are different from New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions are something you hope for or an intention. A goal is a specified outcome with action steps clearly laid out to achieve it by a certain date. A Franklin Covey survey established that 80 per cent of people who set New Year’s resolutions break them; don’t be a part of that massive group. Set goals instead.
To keep you inspired in all areas of your life, assess what makes you happy and gives you a sense of satisfaction and then make a commitment to doing it. Whether it’s getting enough exercise or volunteering to help others or spending more time connecting with people you love, giving yourself the gift of positive action will recharge your new year. The same holds true in your career. Whatever motivates and inspires you needs to be included on your calendar. If training boosts your confidence and puts a smile on your face, sign up for classes. Does networking get your adrenaline pumping in a positive way? Attend networking events. You get the picture.
All that said, none of the above suggestions will be effective if you don’t have the right attitude and mindset. Continually visualize the future, focusing on what you want to achieve. Recommit to what is important to you. 2014 is yours for the taking!
