It's time to go back to work. I wonder what that means to a real estate agent.

Hi Richard:

I was so busy over the weekend also...

I heard the same rumor about setting your own hours when you're an agent...

I think they meant "setting your own hours by the demands of your client's schedule".

They forget to give us that last part....   :)

Richard, I use to think I couldn't take any time off because I didn't want one of my clients to lose out on something because I wasn't there when they needed me.  I have finally learned that not only could I take some time off. I in fact needed to take some time off.  I needed to so that I would be a better Realtor when I did serve my clients.

This past weekend I took the entire weekend off.  I did answer a few phone calls but by and large I was off.  And it was fantastic.  In just a few days I am rejuvenated and ready to do my best for my clients once again.

Take a little time off.  I'll bet you deserve it.

I wasn't out with buyers, but I certainly took this time to catch up with some marketing "stuff" and still am not done.

Yep, who thinks that realtors have great schedules? Not me, LOL. 

Richard,

Real estate agents getting holidays off wasn't ratified in our contract. I was busy too and I was grateful...I didn't have to go shopping with the wife.

Rich

I have often thought it would be nice to punch a time clock, schedule a vacation and have paid benefits.  Then I think of how my day would be controlled by someone else and that stresses me a bit.  I love my job and being my own boss!

Richard, working your own hours is one of the enticements that brings people into this business. It's a different story though once you start working. Being on call 24/7 is the norm. Its still nice to be your own boss though.

Richard,

You are your own boss and it is solely up to you if you want to work 24/7. If clients respect you as a professional they will work around your schedule. I love my profession with the flexibility! Congrats on a productive week-end!

Richard...I have the pleasure of being the vacation home business and work longer and harder when everyone else is "OFF", the up side is I get to enjoy a mid-week day off while the kids are in school. Which means hikes,golf, kayaking or skiing are always less crowded for me.

Richard - excellent perspective.  I worked all weekend long!  Wow!

Like you said 24/7.  I answered calls while I was fishing.  Glad the wife wasn't with me.  Managed to stay fishing all weekend, but starting at noon...the free ride is over.

Richard, I took off with the family for the "TExas Rivera" to do some wind surfing, sun burning, seafood eating and generally goofing off! Yeah, it would get on my nerves hearing this from another agent but frankly it's the 1st time in awhile I have been able to pull it off and I had a lot of help from some of my associates who were covering for me while I was gone. I did have my phone and laptop with me & checked email often too! Of course I will do the same for them in the future. Your post is very good because MOST of the time our schedule has to coincide with our clients!

Holidays are great, but as long as you are in this business, you rarely get a day off. Even if you don't have appointments, you have to go out and do things that get appointments.

And sometimes we choose to take time off and spend it with our family....

"Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life!"

Richard:  I hate it when friends and family members assume I am miserable when they see me working so much.  I LOVE my job.  As you say, when I work it's by choice.  Luckily, I was able to take the weekend off, again, by choice.  My listings were maintenance free this weekend and I have a very understanding buyer who also wanted the weekend off. 

Richard - Your title reminded me of a time management technique that I heard from Bryan Tracy about 13 years ago.  If someone is too talkative in your office (i.e. always wanting to "chat"), you can just say, "Well, I better get back to work."  That reminds them to do the same thing.  It works.  :)

Richard,

So, so true!

However, after being in the business 17 years I figured that I couldn't DO EVERYTHING by myself and needed to start a team....viola!

Now, I can take off the weekend without worrying that my clients needs won't be met.

Never been happier!

Owning your own business does have some perks.  It is possible to schedule personal appointments easier, but at a cost.  In my experience I don't have one boss I have many.  It is not uncommon to have to work until midnight or after as well.

Would I give up my business, no way.  Primarily because I love helping people and this is the work I enjoy doing.

Richard, I too worked all weekend.  Wrote up a couple of offers on a short sale, only to have the buyers purchase a property from a friend.  I'm not going after them re-buyers agreement.  Just not worth it.