I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. True, I don't want to get out of bed most mornings, but today it was because there was a definite chill in the air, and it came right through my open bedroom window. Now, my inner child got very excited. Fall is coming! Piles of leaves to jump in, warming your insides with a steaming mug of hot apple cider, pumpkins just waiting to be carved. Even as an adult, it is still my 
favorite season. In Colorado, it always sneaks up on us early, sometimes giving us a blanket of September snow, and then a wonderfully long Indian summer settles in until around Halloween.
But, it's not just the air changing. As the days grow shorter, my business starts to dwindle, too. The grand plan is to make enough income in the good months to carry me through the not-so-good months. When I sold real estate, I used to notice the irony of the holidays. With business being slow, I had all the time in the world to shop for presents...just no money to pay for them.
This year, I am asking myself "Does my business have to slow down?" There is no doubt that the amount of buyers decreases over the last three months of the year. And sellers will often take their homes off the market through the holidays. But, what about the buyers and sellers who stick it out, continuing towards their goal of buying or selling a house. I can only assume that these people are very serious, and NEED to buy or sell. In a way, you can look at it like the not so serious buyers and sellers have been weeded out, and the ones remaining are VERY motivated.
What are the components of a successful sale? One showing of a home listed by a motivated seller to a motivated buyer. That's all it takes. It can be the only showing the home had for the month. It doesn't matter. One showing can be all it takes.
So, is this the time of year to throw in the towel and say "I think I'll get that novel read, and that home project started, and wait until business picks up again?" You could do that, and I have certainly had that attitude in the past. But, not this year. My business is not taking a three month vacation this year. When I start to get those calls wanting information about my services, and the conversations that end with "I'll call you back to schedule something after the New Year" I'm going to strongly recommend they don't wait. "It only takes one showing", I'll say.
Now girls & guys.....September compares to that day/night this summer that you just moved that dial down a little too low. Remember, it really isn't bad yet and a great time to leave the windows open. Just grab extra quilts and nestle down and sleep in an extra 10.
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