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Do you have "analysis paralysis"?

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart Realty West CalBRE #01458572

 

In my previous job with Borders Books and Music, I used Excel to do a lot of analysis, yet when I started as a Realtor in September 2005, I had "Analysis Paralysis." I guess it was because I always had an Excel spreadsheet set up for me. Fortunately, my Partner, Russel, is not only a home inspector and a marketing & business consultant, he is an Excel guru.


"Any Road," George Harrison, 2002

He convinced me to track everything that I do, most importantly, my open houses. He set up an Excel spreadsheet with column and row headings, analytical formulas, and real pretty graphics to show me what was going on.

So each time I had an open house, I noted not only the number of people visiting (traffic), but the weather (clear, dry, rainy, hot, cold), what was going on around town (Padres, Chargers, Over-the-Line, AIDS Walk, Breast Cancer Walk, Rock-n-Roll Marathon, etc.). Now, with over two years of statistics, I can easily look at the Padres and Chargers schedules, weather predictions, etc., and other events, and easily determine whether or not it would be worthwhile to have an open house and, if so, what hours.

As someone once said, "If you don't study history, you are bound to repeat it." Yes, I've had some open house duds (fortunately, I always take my computer with me, as well as a book to read), but I don't have to repeat them because after analyzing the statistics, it's obvious why they were duds.

The nice thing about Excel is that it has come pre-installed on all my computers. Granted, I haven't bought a new computer in three years, but it's easy to use and well worth whatever expense it might cost if you don't already have it. As George Harrison sang (posthumously),

"If you don't know where you're going,
any road will take you there."

 

Some of Jim's blog entries

  1. There obviously is no financial crisis if Zoey has been pre-approved for a $5,000 credit card

Comments (2)

Marilyn Katz
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - Westport, CT
ABR, e-PRO - WestportCTProperties.com

analysis paralysis

Boy, the last time I heard that phrase, I was tabulating and reporting on a weekly Money Manager's Survey, for a financial commentary firm.

Oct 25, 2008 01:38 PM
c m
Colorado Springs, CO

I only recently heard that phrase for the first time, about a month ago...yeah I know I had to have been living under a rock, but it struck me SO TRUE!  I am a voracious reader, so how I never read it I don't know,( I have seen it a dozen times since).  And the answer is yes, i do have analysis paralysis.  But recognizing it is the first step out, right!?

Oct 25, 2008 03:28 PM