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How to turn 5 minutes into an hour of productivity

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

How many times each week do you find yourself sitting at your desk or in the car – waiting.

You Don't waste those minutes - use them to workmight be waiting until it’s time to leave for an appointment, waiting for a scheduled phone call, or waiting for someone to show up. And as you know, time you spend doing nothing but wait does not increase your real estate productivity.

It might be only 5 minutes, but once it’s gone, it’s gone. And if you’re anything like me, you’re feeling annoyed at wasting that time. It’s like being put on hold, but not being on the phone.

So don’t waste it! Instead, use those 5 minutes to do tiny tasks.

  • Write a “Hi, how are you” note to a past client or someone in your sphere.
  • Pen a thank you note.
  • Download the last photos you took.
  • Write a comment on an Active Rain blog post.
  • Reply to a comment or two on your own blog.
  • Make some notes to yourself about your next blog post.
  • Share one or more of your posts or pages on Facebook, LinkedIn, or one of the other social sites.

If you’ve got 10 or 15 minutes instead, you can do even more to increase your real estate productivity.

  • Make a phone call to a past client or someone in your sphere.
  • Visit Copy by Marte and choose your next set of prospecting letters.
  • Upload a blog post.
  • Sort through those photos you uploaded.
  • Get up, go outside, and take a brisk walk.
  • Review some pages on your website to see if they need updates.
  • Proofread a post, letter, or article you've been working on.
  • Call someone you love, just to tell them so.

If you make good use of 5 spare minutes just 12 times per week, you’ll have added a full hour of real estate productivity to your week. If you routinely make good use of 10, 15, or 20 minutes that would otherwise be wasted, you could add 3 or 4 hours of productivity!

Make a list of everything you could do in 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 15 minutes.

Then the next time you find yourself “on hold” refer to the list and get busy.

Graphic courtesy of Stuart Miles @freedigitalphotos.net

This post first appeared at https://copybymarte.com/how-to-turn-5-minutes-into-an-extra-hour-of-real-estate-productivity/

Comments(9)

Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

I like your mindset, Marte. I must say, I'm never (rarely?) bored--there's always something I can do with a few extra minutes.

Jun 17, 2020 01:32 PM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Marte,

What a great list of suggestions...I am sure many will benefit from this,

I prefer to just sit there and enjoy the moment, and sometimes meditate.  Those moments center me for better productivity.

Jun 17, 2020 02:32 PM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Marte I guess I'm not that interested in 'keeping in touch' while waiting at a light.  But for those that are, you have jammed packed your post with a lot of great ideas. Now at the home or office that's a different story!

Jun 17, 2020 03:44 PM
Tina D Saporito, Your Dedicated Palm Desert, CA Realtor Since 2005
Ronald Christopher & Associates. Proudly serving Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio, Rancho Mirage, & Palm Springs. - Palm Desert, CA
Call (760)799-8460. www.JustListedinPalmDesert.com

Hi Marte, great tips for the busy Realtor lifestyle. I can always use an extra 5 mintues...now, I know where to find the extra time. :)

Jun 17, 2020 04:30 PM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

Great ideas for those of us who are time challenged 

Happy Wednesday evening  Marte Cliff 

 

Jun 17, 2020 08:33 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Love these ideas, and as agents we often end up waiting for clients. Good suggestions for filling the time.

Jun 18, 2020 05:39 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Lottie Kendall Good for you! There IS always something to do, but sometimes it's hard for me to remember what it is.

Ron and Alexandra Seigel Moments I choose do help me, but time spent just waiting annoys me.

Jun 19, 2020 10:52 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Anna Banana Kruchten Arizona's Top Banana! I wasn't really thinking of waiting at a light - more like waiting in the car for someone who is late in showing up.

Tina D Saporito, Your Dedicated Palm Desert, CA Realtor Since 2005 The trick is knowing what to do with that 5 minutes.

Jun 19, 2020 10:54 AM
Marte Cliff

Understood Marte!  Guess I don't wait in the car for folks just at lights and road construction projects here in  PHX!

Jun 19, 2020 11:00 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS I think only the truly retired are not time challenged. The rest of us keep running...

Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 Yes, I well remember sitting waiting for clients - it was never a favorite activity.

Jun 19, 2020 11:05 AM