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How to Make the Most of Your Opportunity Time - 8 TIPS

8 Tips for effectively using your Opportunity Time.

Many offices provide Opportunity Time or "Up Time" for their agents . This is a great time for realtors to take advantage of pre-scheduled time blocks to be in the office and to get a number of things accomplished. I am a great fan of up time but ... often...many people do not use this time to their full advantage. I have compiled a list of suggestions to help agents get the most of their time spent on UP TIME so it is TIME well spent.

1. Read the Real Estate section of the Newspapers. Okay, some of you may be smiling. No kidding you may say.... How many of you really read beyond the classifieds and gather the fabulous information that can be gleened AND shared with you buyers or sellers. I take time from each UP TIME to review news and current events so that I can share the information with both buyers and sellers. I copy the articles - if necessary to share. I take special note of what my competition is doing with their marketing and advertising materials as well.

2. Write a Letter. Each up time, I take the time to write either a letter or post cards to my farm or an area in which I am currently marketing a home. The letter either goes to a FSBO, buyer or a particular area. The post cards market my services AND showcase area homes that I have listed. I make sure these letters go --- every week.

3. Review Current Advertising. Are you on track with your advertising and promotional material? Are you getting results? How do you know? Now is the time to review your ads, see if calls have come in for a particular home or see if your recent mailing has generated any leads for you. You must always review your marketing materials to make sure the time and money you are spending generates results of value.

4. Role Play. Up time is a great time to rehearse different scenarios. I always jot questions from buyers and or sellers in my composition book ( I have been carrying a composition book since grade school). I go back to my book, look up answers to questions and really think about how best to handle situations. This is a terrific time to work with another agent in the office to see their point of view. This helps you see things from a different perspective because...sometimes you are too close to a situation or there may be more than one approach to solve the problem.

5. Contact fellow agents. Standing around the water cooler is not a bad thing if you use the time effectively. In the corporate world we called it MBWA or Management By Walking Around. This keeps your network intact AND you can garner a real estate "pulse." I always ask other agents how their open houses are going and what, if any techniques are working with buyers or sellers. Always learn from other agents and share something that may be of help to them. Your office network is KEY to success in the business of real estate.

6. Call 10 people. I go through my book, roladex and phone to make sure that I make 10 calls ---- even if it is to the dry cleaner or in the neighborhood. This friendly chat --- is a reminder to others that I am a professional, I am at my office routinely and deligently and that I am in the business. This chat often conveys that I am doing business with the local retailer as well so that when the opportunity comes up...they can recommend a REALTOR that shares business with them in the local area.

7. Mini-Market Analysis. Often, I use my up time to review the sales DATA on a town-by-town basis. I always to a weekly mini- CMA in the town where I have listings. This is a fabulous way to keep in touch with the market and there are many ways to use this information --- particularly when talking to people when they call. Statistics are fresh in your mind so you can convey to others that you really know your business and that you know the market in which you are helping someone buy or sell a some. After all, real estate is LOCAL not just data in the national news.

8. Blog. With all of the above, I always take the time to blog during up time. It helps with the calls that come in ( or even when they don't ). A routine time each Up Time helps to feed and sustain your blog with information that is timely and relevant. More importantly, it helps you build a live dialogue with your real estate business.

So, look forward to your Opportunity TIME. Use it wisely and it will pay off for you in the long run.

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Thinking of buying or selling your home in Northern New Jersey?

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Let me help you. Know the sales value of your new home and your new neighborhood * based on actual market comps. Allow me to present a Comparative Market Analysis to you that is customized to your home, finances and your specific needs. This will give you detailed information about pricing and selling your home in the current market or BUYING your home in your new neighborhood.

For more information about buying or selling your largest financial asset, contact me at CupaT@aol.com.

Copyright - Pamela Stetson 2008, http://www.pamelastetson.com/

Abbott & Caserta Realtors, 10 Sycamore Avenue, HOHOKUS, NJ 07423 201.447.6600 x 007

All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Posted by Pamela STETSON on 08/04/2008 09:11 AM

Comments (20)

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20 Comments on How to Make the Most of Your Opportunity Time - 8 TIPS

AUG

2008

Good tips for productive work. You must be very organized.

Pamela,

Get points and a nice way to look at my Monday...I do alot of these, yet the newspaper and Agent calls I do not do enough.

Have a great week.

Hi Steve:

Thanks for your comments. I try to stay organized. Sometimes, this business and it's constant flexibility doesn't help organization so that is why... I try to stay on track during up time. Thanks again for reading.

Hi Dan --- Yes, it is a nice way to look at a Monday. And, a nice way to stay on track. Thanks for your comments and enjoy the week.

Good advice - I will pass it on to my fellow agents! Thanks for sharing!

Time blocking and being consistent with that is a very effective tool - especially with newer agents but also for more seasoned agents. I think most important of that list is making the phone calls, sending the emails... the follow-ups, the face time, schedudling appointments... and now of course, blogging !! : )

Philadelphia Real Estate

You are so right, sometimes it is the only down time we really take to just do things we

don't get to otherwise. It can be a great time to review files, listings, and make fresh

changes to the MLS.

This is great advice Pamela, so many agents I meet today view this as down time. I am forwarding this out to my referral partners, Thank You

AUG

2008

These are all great suggestions. However, where I am located, the Real Estate section of the newspaper has no information whatsoever about what is going on locally. All it has is builder advertisements and other agents listings for sale. I am highly disappointed in regards to the local coverage our newspaper provides.

Thanks Norma! I appreciate your comments.

Hi Christopher and Stephanie --- You are so right. Phone calls and Face time are key...Using up time and taking advantage of it consistently really helps your business. Thanks for reading and your comments.

Sandy --- thanks for reading and commenting. Yes, refreshing the mls is a great idea, too.

Hi Bob --- No time is down time if you use it efficiently! Up time is great because it is scheduled and it forces you to use time wisely...thanks again for stopping by...

Hi Troy --- that is a drag. Try to use the internet to broaden your "local" search and you may find topics that are relevant. I also read the NYTimes, SanFrancisco Examiner and the Washington Post online, too. I review them weekly to get a pulse from other areas. Of course, I am a news junkie....

Pamela, This is an excellent post for realtors, stagers or it could be applied to any line of work.. I love your composition notebook idea.. I too, carry notebooks - just can't seem to find the right one- I have too many !! Also, like the MBWA.. Thanks for helping with my metal table question.. God bless,

Hi Cheryl --- You are very welcome and thanks for reading my blog. Good luck with your table. I bet it turns out beautifully. PS - I carry an inexpensive hard covered composition book . You can buy them in bulk at Costco or at the local staples.