Want to shake things up? Merely attempt a vacation!

Jason,

You speak the truth!!!!  We need to plan vacations whether we're truly going or not just to get things moving!  I'm out of town this weekend and wouldn't you know it......I have a client that has decided to look at a "couple" homes over the long holiday weekend!  Isn't it wonderful to have friends and/or partners in this business!  Good luck to everyone who's traveling over the weekend!  

Jason, I agree. I always get busy when I am about to go on vacation.

Jason, glad you had such a productive "vacation".  Same thing happened to me -- didn't leave town, just planned to take off most of last week and part of this week for my daughter's wedding.  Last week, I had a closing (delayed from the previous week), was still negotiating an offer on one of my listings from the previous week, and a new client contacted me to list a property here (guess how he found me).  And of course, I had a few details to take care of for the closing scheduled for tomorrow, that we decided to move up to today!  I'm still trying to catch up -- have 3 clients on "hold" and need to catch-up with them.  I worked most of last week and managed to squeeze in all the last minute wedding details, dinners and parties and entertain guests (from out of town).  I'm exhausted from my "week off".

It's murphey's law - happens to us all the time too.  I'm expecting it to start happening even more (it's been crazy busy the last 2 weeks) next week as we are going on a short 4 day vaca.  We'll see!

Jason, I have been in real estate for the same amount of time as you and that holds true for me also.  I can be DEAD, DEAD, DEAD and plan a trip and people come out of the woodwork.  I'm taking a girl trip to New York City in September so we will see if that holds true.  Since I'm leaving my husband here he will be the one running around like a chicken with his head cut off.  Hopefully that won't happen or i might not be doing another girl trip.

Jason, while reading this, I am on the phone planning a trip, maybe that will help- and here all this time I thought it was the economy.

Jason - Good reminder. It never fails. All the "big listings" come when you're out of town. Always!

Jason - That is the story of my real estate career. If I would go out of town all the time every buyer coming to my area would want to look that weekend and listiings would defintely sell. i need a vacation!

It is amazing isn't it.  We definitely should go on vacations more often!!  I am very glad you have a partner you can count on.

I am visiting the in-laws right now have received an offer, have two new listings that want in now and another client ready to make an offer but I got great people working with me so life is good!!

We will never finish it all so we just keep plugging along and make sure we prioritize the right things!

When you achieve immortality let me know how that goes. 

Two of my biggest sales in the last year and a half came when I left town.  Once, I even made it to the edge of town on my way out before I had to turn back to make a listing presentation after weeks of dead air.  It really is amazing how it seems to happen that way more often than not.

I am with you too.  I take a vacation, every year around Christmas time to see my mother.  I inform my clients, yes, even prospective clients and let them know.  And it happens for the past 3 years! The buyers decided to come to town and buy, and we open escrow and rush to take care of what's needed.  Sellers also happen to have the urge to sell.  This summer was slow for me.  I needed to attend a family wedding, and prep my clients. Guess what, they decide it's time for them to come at the same time when I will be gone.  Yes, coverage is so important, but it will be nice especially for those buyer-clients who have been looking for a while, to plan their buying when we are around.

I need a vacation. Maybe you're on to something. Nice post.

Jason - ah ha ...  the well laid plans of mice and men ... no matter how hard we try getting away in this business usually means packing up the home office and taking it with you ... there is so much technology to our business today we almost need to take our tech store with us in case of failed batteries, fried hard drives, wireless from the deck only is out when it rains etc etc.

Jason - I know what you mean.  It seems like the minute I go out of town for half a day or go to an area where my cell phone signal is low, BOOM!  everybody wants to get ahold of me.  You're right - maybe we should go on vacation more often...  :)

Jason, how true this blog is. EVERY TIME I start to plan to leave town, it seems that someone calls every person I know and they start sending over the most complex, "you have to handle it personally" type of files around. It's an absolute struggle to actully leave, but the first day back is really the bomb. I still don't know why I even go through this, but this is supposed to be fun right?, the reason we're working so hard to start with to justify our leaving town a couple of times  a year.

I remember several years ago after I had neck surgery, just being home from the hosiptal, conducting business out of the recliner. Oh, the lives we lead. Good book material!

Jason,

I just returned from vacation yesterday and I am really proud that I spent the time with my family, checked email maybe two times and only took one phone call and placed two for business.  Feels like an accomplishment and I am really happy that I spent the time with the family.  Especially because school starts on Tuesday.  My most rushed moments were right before vacation.  By the time I left I was more than ready to go and felt a little drained that very first day- so many last minute things and trying to make sure everything would be perfect before I left.

Hah, that was my first mistake. 

Anyway, we all need to take vacations.  Instant communication be damned:-)

This is so so so TRUE.  It does seem every time I plan to go away; I have something come up.  A new client - an offer on a listing - something.

Having someone to rely on is HUGE!  Of course; me being the workaholic that I am; check email 2x per day even when on vacation.  2 years ago I negotaited a deal from a cruise ship off the coast of Italy.

I so need to learn how to relax!