Day 9, rhymes with time and I'm still here . . .

If you are in real estate and you have a schedule that you are able to maintain on a daily basis with not alterations then I am not sure you actually are in the real estate business.

Don't worry Angela, you will develop a routine that allows for flexibility as needed but still gives your day structure and focus.  Just like any habit, it is formed after many repetition.  Stick to it and it will come to you.

I have kind of a schedule that changes. :) Okay, at the beginning of the year I had a schedule. Then I had to change it. Again and again. By March, I had a schedule that was absolutely too much so I deleted many scheduled activities and went to a more intuitive, flexible schedule. The past 6 weeks, I have been trying to take off Wednesdays. Today is the first Wednesday I have not had to go into the office or be tied up for hours with clients. I did some laundry and cleaning and walked the dogs and blogged. Three very short phone calls and 2 necessary emails.

For me, it's an evolutionary process. Since I changed companies and formed a team at the beginning of this year, I've had to change my schedule. Letting go of unnecessary commitments and going with the flow these last few weeks has helped me see how my schedule will work for me.

Get up early, walk the dogs, do Tai Chi, go to the office. Check the MLS for new, sold, expired listings. Enter new contacts into database. Do phone calls and emails. Take care of pending contracts. Glean any information I can from other agents who frequent the office. Discuss any issues with my broker. Make appointments, or confirmations, for afternoon or evening appointments. Eat lunch.

After lunch, go see any houses I need to see and check on my listings. Call on FSBO's. If no appointments, take photos for blog posts, check on my Mom, help my neighbor, run errands, preview homes for buyers, call past clients, wash my car, mow the lawn, work on my rental, check my website, help other agents in the office, do price opinions.

At 4 or 5, I take a break. If I have evening appointments, I go to them. If I don't have evening appointments, I can go back to the office and tidy up and make a list for tomorrow. Or I can go home and download photos and blog a post. Or I can visit a friend, neighbor, family, or play with the dogs or work in the yard. 

This may not sound like much of a schedule but it's the best I can do right now. And it changes according to my clients' schedule. Buyers can only see homes when they aren't at work or social engagements. Sellers can only meet with me when they aren't at work or social engagements.

For me, it's important to leave the house and go to the office. Seeing people in person takes precedence over most other things. Blogging is vital but can be done anytime as long as it's at least weekly - preferably more often.

Sorry this came out so long.