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Dancing down the home stretch!!!

By Bryant Tutas

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC BK607690

October 13, 2008 10:25 AM

Ok, folks here we are, the 4^th quarter, crunch time. My favorite time of year. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve. The weather is changing. We even had a cold front in Florida today. The temperature dropped all the way down to 87. Burrrrrr! It was freezing! Ok, maybe not.

Anyway, I hear, from different sources, that this is a slow period for Real Estate. People are gearing up for the Holidays and let's face it, who wants to move between Thanksgiving and Christmas? Well, if you have been reading my Blog, then you probably know by now, that I don't subscribe to the status quo. I just don't like it. To me the 4^th quarter is a very important part of my business year. It's time for me to get busy and finish the year with a big bang. I have a quota to make and I'm not there yet.

Here's a short list of some things that may help you in finishing strong for the year. Also, you may pick up some listings, so you can have a good beginning for next year.

Adjust your attitude. Expect to finish strong and you will.
Reduce the price on your listings. Let the Sellers know they need to get under contract before the holidays.
Increase your marketing.
Be available. A lot of Realtors will be taking time off.
Stay positive. Don't read negative news.
Get out of the office and into your market area.
Remind Buyers and Sellers that there are tax advantages to closing this year.
Concentrate on Buyers and Sellers that need to move, job transfers etc.
Offer a year end discount.
Stay out of the mall!

These things are very basic, but believe me they will work. December is normally my best month for closings.

So, I don't know about you, but I think I will polish up my signs, load up on contracts and.............. go get me some of that business!

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Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman

Liberty Homes - Mililani, HI

(RA) AHWD CRS ePRO OAHU HAWAII REAL ESTATE

I'm with you guys!!! Time to load up when everyone else is paying wayyyyy too much attention to holiday vacations.... yup...we can have both...and still end the year with a bang!

Oct 13, 2008 12:10 PM

Jeff Dowler, CRS

eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA

The Southern California Relocation Dude

Agreed. I have had some of my busiest times in December, even in the slower years. I currently have a handful of relos that want to move and get settled by the end of the year. December could be HOT!

Jeff

Oct 13, 2008 12:30 PM

Terry & Bonnie Westbrook

Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI

Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re

Right on. Investors are always looking for year end deals and several sellers don't want to carry property through the freezing weather. Perfect time to put them together.

Oct 13, 2008 01:01 PM

Bart Whitmore

Keller Williams- Louisville - Louisville, KY

Real Estate Agent

I agree with you this is a good time to get busy, so much to do so little time, now lets get down to business---Bart

Oct 13, 2008 02:09 PM

Loreena and Michael Yeo

3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX

Real Estate Agents

BB - I believed in this mantra. Hmm... I think I need to re-think differently. I was just thinking that I was going to look over my books and have a Plan B. Now I know what my Plan B is: Finish Strong. Thanks for the uplifting post.

Oct 13, 2008 02:18 PM

Lisa Hill

Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Beach Real Estate

I usually stay busy until December. IMHO, it's usually only the month of December that's really dead for us. And I know what you mean about that cold 87 degree day! WOW! LOL.

Oct 13, 2008 02:42 PM

Lynda Eisenmann

Preferred Home Brokers - Brea, CA

Broker Associate ,CRS,GRI,SRES, Brea,CA, Orange Co

BB,

Without #1, nothing else matters...

Oct 13, 2008 03:40 PM

Joel Weihe

Realty World Alliance - Wichita, KS

Helping you to use your VA home loan benefits

Woohoo BB, get down with yourself! You gotta tell us how old you were in that photo!

I agree! I do take it easy during the holidays, mostly because I personally abhor the cold. But I don't sit idle. I spend my snow days prospecting and getting the pipeline stuffed up. November has generally been a pretty good month for me! I picked up 2 listings this week, so I have to get 'em sold before turkey's hit the table!

Oct 13, 2008 03:47 PM

Martha Brown

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., Annapolis MD 21403 - Annapolis, MD

Your Homes Around Annapolis Agent

I so totally agree. the home stretch is the 'fun' part

Oct 13, 2008 03:49 PM

Kris Wales

Keller Williams Realty - Lakeside Market Center - Macomb, MI

Real Estate Blog & Homes for Sale search site, Macomb County MI

For several years my best months have been November, December and January. I really have no idea why that is...

Love to work in the winter months, just a bit more challenging with ice, snow, dark at 4:00, etc.

Have thermos of hot cocoa, will travel!

Oct 13, 2008 10:37 PM

Neal Bloom

Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL

Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

BB,

I remember the first year I was in the business. My broker told me that the whole office was going on vacation. She asked me if I was planning on working because at that time we worked from a beeper that went off when clients called the office. We only had 4 of us in that small office but did big numbers.

I said that I wanted to just chill out and go to FL...that was when I lived in NY. She said that in the past we have done some nice deals during the holidays and I said that I figured it was slow...well I stayed and didn't do any business that first year but I also stayed back the second year and sold two homes...one right before Thanksgiving and one right before Christmas..they were a combined 1.5 million in sales...that summer July 3rd I also sold a 350k home...not bad for weeks when many go away.

Not sure what plans I have for this year but I'm doing some local traveling so I guess I'll work.

Oct 13, 2008 11:40 PM

Katrina Madewell

Charles Rutenberg Rlty- More than 5,000 agents(813) 777-1196 - Tampa, FL

Tampa FL Homes for sale | Tampa Bay - (813) 777-1196

I can do all but the last one, BLACK FRIDAY is the day where I get ALL of my shopping out of the way, I leave between 3-4 am and get back many times around 1 only to drop packages and go out again until 11 pm sometimes.

The next day, sometimes I am too exhausted to even wrap presents. LOL

Katrina

Oct 14, 2008 12:00 AM

Betina Foreman

WJK Realty - Austin, TX

Realtor, C.N.E., with WJK REALTY

Another great and encouraging post. I know my business picks up in Nov/Dec. I think it is because so many agents take off the entire season.

Sincerely,

Betina Foreman, Realtor Austin TX

Oct 14, 2008 02:56 AM

Patricia Beck

RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs Realty

This can still be a very busy time and it's important to keep working hard regardless if January is around the corner. I think the greatest piece of advice you offered was to adjust our attitudes!

Oct 14, 2008 10:43 AM

Don Rogers

Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO

Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

BB,

Great bullet points and we should be looking at our business now to keep us on track at the start of the new year. When others stop working we should be increasing what we are doing.

Oct 15, 2008 12:02 AM

Bryant Tutas

Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL

Selling Florida one home at a time

WOW!! Great comments everyone. It looks like that at least the folks on this post are ready for a strong finish. I have to say I am having a hard time keeping motivated this year. I've been so worried about TLW the last couple of months that I'm having a difficult time getting my head back into the game. I actually wrote this post 2 years ago and reposted it to try and get myself back into the game. Your comments have helped me.......so thank you!!!

That picture of me dancing was taken the year I met TLW. I was 27 and weighed in at 165 lbs!!!! I'm now 51 and 260!!! Just more of me to love:)

Oct 15, 2008 01:31 AM

Todd Clark - Retired

eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR

Principle Broker Oregon

I love the 4th quarter, because everyone else believes what they are told and believes that it is a bad time to do real estate and then goes on vacation and their clients call me! 87 degrees?

Oct 16, 2008 05:07 PM

Allison Stewart

St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL

St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904

Hi BB

I just love your posts! The third quarter finish here is going to be the best year out of the last three! As you said- it is a matter of not susbcribing to the doubters club mentality and getting out there to do it!

I am looking forward to a really strong finish as the holidays are fast approaching. Looks like 2009 will be a good year as well!

Good Luck and Sell well!

Oct 17, 2008 12:47 AM

Bryant Tutas

Tutas Towne Realty, Inc and Garden Views Realty, LLC - Winter Garden, FL

Selling Florida one home at a time

Allison, I hope you have a avery strong finish!!! 2009 IS going to be awesome :)

Oct 19, 2008 05:51 AM

Grace Keng

Keller Williams Realty Cupertino - Cupertino, CA

CRS, CDPE (408) 799-8887

Nice post! Yes! we can control our attitude toward the work. I hope I will have a very strong finish! AND 2009 WILL be awesome.