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15 Business-Builders You Can Do in 15 Minutes

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Real Estate Technology

Tara-Nicholle Nelson for Trulia ProThis business can be intense. Between competing for listings, showing appointments and servicing existing transactions, some months seem like they leave absolutely no time for the additional business-building that you know you need to do for the winter.

Have no fear – having only a few minutes here or there doesn’t mean you can’t engage in some serious business-building. To that end, here are fifteen tasks you can do to position your business for success come 2015, even if all you have is fifteen minutes.

1. Call two past clients. Check in, give them an update on something interesting happening in their neighborhood, a new comp, etc. and ask for their referrals to service providers or friends who are buying or selling.

2. Post a new listing or very brief market update for your highest priority neighborhood on Facebook.

3. Check how your current listings appear on Trulia to triple-check how buyers are seeing your listing results.

4. Review and update your Trulia profile. Our new Find an Agent directory has filters that allow buyers and sellers to search for a wide variety of detailed agent descriptors – make sure you’re showing up in all the right search results.

5. Email one recent client to request a testimonial you can use for your website and that they can post to your Trulia profile.

6. Call one seller you’re working with right now, just to check in on upcoming Open Houses, viewing appointments and marketing or pricing initiatives. Let them know of any new comps or new recommendations you have for getting their home sold.

15 Real Estate Business-Builders You Can Do in 15 Minutes7. Read one blog post or article on marketing.

8. Read one blog post or article on the real estate market.

9. Read one non-real estate related blog post or article on the front page of a major newspaper, for conversational fodder with clients and to keep your business in context.

10. Check to see what listings in your target area have expired over the weekend and put a reminder on your calendar to follow-up with the sellers.

11. Take one buyer you’re working with and search for homes in their target neighborhood that went pending or sold over the last week’s time. Call your buyer to discuss the new comp and any suggestions you have for how they should factor that information into their approach.

12. Place a Facebook ad for one of your listings. Headline it with the most compelling descriptor you can, and target it to people in your town or the home’s zip code. Set a $10 budget. Seriously – it only takes 15 minutes. Put a note in your calendar to follow up on it and see how it did in one week’s time.

13. Talk with your marketing manager or sales manager. Check in to see what market trends they are hearing about and to remind them that you’d love to take any walk-in buyers or sellers who come to their attention.

14. Call one agent friend from another area and remind them of your readiness, willingness and ability to take their referrals (and to send them yours).

15. Call one vendor you work with frequently (e.g., mortgage broker, home repair contractor, etc.) and ask for referrals.

There's my list. What other quick business-builders have you found?

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Want more tips about how to grow your business? Learn these effective lead-pick up lines to begin building your prospect list today!

10 Best Lead Pick-Up Lines for Real Estate Agents

Adam Hamalian
Hamalian Properties Group - Lafayette, CA
Walking with you on your journey home.

It is the bread and butter of our business and yet it is so easy to just focus on one thing.  Doing everything might drive you crazy but doing nothing will drive you  out of business.

Dec 01, 2014 11:16 PM
David Snow
New Homes at The Crossing,L.L.C - Louisa, VA

Nice Article! If you have any clients that want to move to Virginia in a beautiful setting,let me know.You can check us out at www.newhomesatthecrossing.com ...Thanks, Have a wonderful year!

David Snow

Jan 21, 2015 10:29 PM
Keith Strawn
www.ExploreBeaufortRealEstate.com (Ballenger Realty) - Beaufort, SC
www.ExploreBeaufortRealEstate.com

Well-said Tara. I have found that reaching out to old clients is a great way to develop business.

Jan 21, 2015 10:33 PM
Brian Clinger
Coldwell Banker AJS Schmidt - Cascade, MI
Brian Clinger ABR, GRI, CRS, SRES

Thanks Tara.  I will pick up the phone and make some calls!

 

Jan 21, 2015 10:37 PM
Debra Peters
Referral Realty - Manorville, NY
NY Real Estate Salesperson

What a fantastic post Tara!! If the list is followed, one is sure to see results! As I was told, if you do the work, the results will follow. Thanks again.

Jan 21, 2015 11:14 PM
David Barr
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty - Sarasota, FL

Since 67% of agents don't have a business website, creating one might be a good place to start.

Jan 21, 2015 11:21 PM
Adele Langdon
Los Angeles, CA
Exclusive Realty Inc.

Very good article Tara! I will get on it right away.

Thanks for the good advice.

Jan 22, 2015 01:27 AM
Chris Mamone
Keller Mortgage - Tacoma, WA
Senior Loan Officer

These tips are excellent Tara! I'm going to share these tips with other agents I work with! Have a great Thursday!

Jan 22, 2015 02:04 AM
Anonymous
Louise

Very good information I need to put some off this in action.

Jan 22, 2015 02:13 AM
#9
Jeanne Kozak
RE/MAX In Action - Martinsburg, WV
REALTOR and Broker/Owner in WV and VA

 a nice compact and easy to do list. Thanks. I will get on it right away..if not already done

Jan 22, 2015 04:10 AM
Marilyn O'Donoghue
Long & Foster Avalon - Avalon, NJ

Thank you Tara.  15 items in 15 minutes for a profitable 2015.

Jan 22, 2015 05:16 AM
Randy Elliott
RE/MAX Gold - Lodi, CA
REALTOR : Lodi / Stockton, CA

Great tips, Tara.  All are very doable and should be very helpful both short-term and long-term.  Thanks for your post!

Jan 22, 2015 10:47 AM
Eric Williamson
Phoenix, AZ

Thanks Tara. #16 - Take MASSIVE action - Learn to time block, rinse and repeat.

Jan 22, 2015 10:55 AM
Nathan Gesner
American West Realty and Management - Cody, WY
Broker / Property Manager

Good advice. The key is to stay proactive, always look for ways to strengthen your weaknesses and learn from the leaders.

Jan 22, 2015 12:24 PM
Jairo Arreola #SOLDBYVETERAN
PRG Real Estate - San Jose, CA
VA Home Loan Specialist - SF Bay Area

Great list. Being active and consistent is key.

Jan 22, 2015 05:23 PM
Debbie Walsh
SHAHAR Management - Middletown, NY
Hudson Valley NY Real Estate 845.283-3036

This is a great list and a great reminder of what we should have in our daily schedule.

Jan 25, 2015 11:47 PM