It's Not Too Late Even If the Fourth Quarter Is Here!!

I couldn't agree more. December & January are usually my best months and I attribute that to being the only agent out there working!

My business always picks up in January. Kind of surprising considering I'm in Colorado and Jan/Feb are when the weather's the worst. Maybe it happens because I, like you, don't stop working in the fourth quarter!

Yep, can't tell you how many walk ins and phone leads I get just because I am in the office every day. By early November, everyone else is "on vacation". 

Remember, the seeds planted in November and December will be blooming in February and March. Consider doubling up on your farming thru the end of the year.

The fourth quarter is one of the most crucial, as it takes months to get a sale going..This is the time to rev up your marketing, get out there and see your past clients (holidays are great for that) and then you won't have a slow first quarter.  I continue working just like any other day, maybe take a few days off for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it's all about goal setting and being more visible this time of year!!!Take advantage of it!

I didn't know about Vandy syndrome. I don't have it. Usually these months are my best & I don't know why. You are right, if you down work now how are you going to eat in 90 days?  I don't know where you got the statistic but it is probably correct & pitiful.

Interesting read!

Our broker is having us present out 2011 plan to him this coming month as he wants everyone working on and getting strategies in place BEFORE the beginning of the year.  I can't imagine not working fourth qtr. because I have always had offers accepted in December - now I realize maybe there was less competition!  In any other businesses, 4th qtr is where you hit it out of the ball park - most profits are generated in the fourth qtr.

I do take a nice vacation - about 10 days offer - over the Christmas holidays

Rachel, thanks for the boost!  I plan to work harder than ever this 4th quarter...glad to know I'll be doing it with less competition :-)

I couldn't go to my Arizona townhouse last year in December because I was just too darn busy.  We were planning on taking a trip which started at 3 weeks and went to forget about it this month, and if things stay the same I'm not sure we'll make it in November or December.

However, when I go away it is always a working vacation.  Only thing I can't do is show buyers properties, so if I have buyer activity that can't wait for my return I have to call in a partner agent.

On the other hand, I welcome a little downtime during our normally slower winter months in my area.  It allows me time to "breathe", regroup and revamp my websites and my marketing for the coming year.  Didn't have that downtime last year and am keeping busy right now, but sometimes it turns off like a faucet after Thanksgiving up until the new year.  One year my best month was January.

In our market things used to slow down between Thanksgiving and Christmas - much of it had to do with agents not working, much with home sellers not wanting to list and deal with keeping the house in showing condition during the holidays, and much with their belief that no one was looking then.

It was a perfect time to work on marketing projects, get in touch with past clients, etc.

But it was also a good time to have a house on the market for the simple reason that potential buyers were in town, visiting relatives over the holidays.

I can't begin to count how many extended families move here from other parts of the country. First one arrives, then as more family members come to visit, more buy - and then their extended families come.

And that keeps the resale market moving. I also can't count how many times I've heard someone say "I moved here because my kids (folks, sister, brother, friend) moved here. Now they've moved back home so I guess I will too."

This 4th quarter is shaping up to be my best ever, not that it is in the bag; it will basically save my entire year.  I may close 3 times as many escrows in the 4th quarter than I have all year.  (Knock and wood and get my a-- back to work!)

It is amazing, isnt it?  Miost agent dont work near as much as they pretend too, but the effort I put in the last quarter is the reason why most of my Januarys are just as good as my Julys!

Yikes - I can't imagine not working every month to keep the business going.  Must be nice if you can take three months off each year.

What are you talking about? stop working? really? I love showing homes at the holidays, weather is great and homes look so pretty. Glad I'm the 5%....so I can get my share of the 95% of business out there.

Dear Rachel,

That semi-automatic snow shovel of mine made it's way to many a door this spring. If someone wants to buy or sell it is showtime!

I do know of many agents that all but stop working toward the end of the year. More power to them if that works for them. Me, I like to work. Around here we get busier the colder it gets elsewhere.

Ah man, give those poor Commodores a break!  (Spoken from a double Vandy grad!)  Great post! This is the time we should be sprinting for the finish line, not taking a break!

Some of my best months are Decembers!!!

December is a great closing month!  All the buyers want to close before the end of the year so they can put that house on their taxes...quit working?  No way!