2013 Is Not Over And 2014 Is Right Around The Corner
Halloween is behind us, Thanksgiving is just around the corner and I can almost hear Santa’s sleigh. While the holidays are a wonderful time of year to reflect and spend time with friends and family, do NOT let it interfere with the goals you set for yourself in the beginning of 2013 or impede your planning for an amazing 2014. No, I’m not trying out for the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, but I know how hard you’ve worked this year and want to see each of you get close, meet or hopefully exceed your professional goals for the year.
What were your goals in 2013? To close ten more homes than the year before, to increase the number of your listings or to market more effectively than you did in 2012. Did you achieve them? If you did, that’s a wonderful accomplishment, but DON’T STOP. If you didn’t, don’t worry, and DON’T STOP.
More than 15% of the year is ahead of us. Do not buy in to the “it’s the holiday season and things just slow down” mentality. Yes, certain buyers do in fact take a break from searching for the perfect home and yes, some sellers do not want to keep their houses looking like the president is coming to dinner. But that is no reason to stop growing your real estate business this time of year. In fact, this is the best time of year to give it everything you’ve got to finish strong or get a head start on 2014. Simply stated – This is the most important time of the year.
If you feel things are slowing down, there are plenty of things to do stay ramped up. Look at the strategies you implemented this year for success – figure out what worked the best and what did not (so you do not make the same mistake next year). Have you reached out to your clients from 2012 and 2013? These are the folks that already know how amazing you are. You MUST make sure your name stays on the top of their mind when a friend or co-worker says those words you all love to hear, “Do you know a great realtor?” Are you ready to send notices in January 2014 to all of your buyers from this year to remind them about filing their Homestead Exemption (or not to file, as the case may be)?
The long and short of it is – you’re never done – ever. It doesn’t matter if its April or November – they both have 30 days – not one day of which is less important that the other. While you may already feel like you have had an incredible year to date, make it even more incredible. Don’t just meet your goals, exceed them. You have worked so hard for ten months, DON’T STOP YET!!
As always, if you need anything at all, please contact me at (912) 484-1996 or jgerber@brannenlaw.com anytime (even nights and weekends).