Do You Work on Sundays? Active Rain Poll

Because I work hard six days per week, I try to have a 'do nothing' day, and Sundays are usually it.  Will I hold an Open House?  Yes, but I prefer Saturdays.  For a long time my rule has been, "If you're in a hotel and don't have a place to live and want to look, I work on Sunday."  Otherwise, a new Buyer who hasn't been to a Lender is not going to talk to anyone over the weekend.  I am reasonable and try to meet the needs of a client, but when you explain that you would be happy to show them Saturday or Monday, they can almost always work it out.  The other exception I make is when a house comes on the market that is perfect for what a client has been looking for, I will call and see if they will see it that day, no matter what day that is . . .

Sundays....I always 'work' on Sundays but if at all possible I try to spend face to face time with clients on any other day of the week. If I have a client who wants to see a house and they are not available on another day than I do show them the house on Sundays but as a rule of thumb, I try to keep Sundays for computer work and phone calls which can be done between the things I do with my partner on that day. It is the one day of the week that we both try to take off and be together. When you are in business for yourself, there are no fast rules, you do what you have to.

By the way, noticed you are getting close to that 200k mark! Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This post is inlcluded in today's  Last Week's Favorites

I don't work on Sunday mornings, but will work/show/open house on Sunday afternoons.  Sunday evenings are off-limits to work as well.  There's nothing wrong with having a personal life as well as a work life!

I don't give myself hard and fast rules. I make time for myself and my family and adjust that around my business and the needs of my clients. I almost NEVER miss events that are important to my kids (not always easy, but most people understand).  I am almost ALWAYS home for dinner...important in our family.  I choose to work to LIVE not live to WORK.  I find myself happier when I don't box myself in. If working on a Sunday is the right thing to do...I do it.

I work most Sundays especially in the fall and spring unless I am out of town. I work because our clients want their houses open and because I need to be available to my buyers to show houses. I have flexibility but I believe the weekends are when a real estate agent should work. Like Holly, I don't box myself in because there are plenty of weekends when I have activities with my daughter ad family and friends that I don't want to miss. Balance is key!

I love having free Sundays - but it's often not possible. Not possible and not wanting to are two different things.

On Friday, a very caring client told me that she wanted to see 3 condos but could wait until Monday since she wanted to leave Sunday free for me.  I told her I would show her the condos at her convenience, not mine and if she wanted to see them Sunday, we would see them Sunday.

I think that's what good service is about.

Suzanne -

I plan Sundays ... sometimes working and at other times not.  When I'm not working ... I forward my phone to a co-agent who will cover my calls.  (We don't publish cell numbers ... we publish desk phones and them forward them to our cells.  Then if I need to be "off-line" my cell phones does not become an interruption.) 

Most of the time I list with institutions ... many on the East Coast.  So, like many of the commentators above, I need to be available when they are .... even if it means being in the office at 5:30 AM - weekdays!  We just adapt to our clients needs ... and if we will protect and value our "personal time" so will most everyone else.

It's funny.  If I am not showing houses, I always try to schedule an open.  I feel like I am not working at all if I am not working Sundays.  In the summer, I try to take Sundays off.

I work when work is there.  Sometimes that means Sundays.

Sunday is the most important day of the week in Manhattan real estate. It is when we have open houses. It is the day many buyers buy and many sellers sell. No other day of the week is as important as Sunday. Sunday is the first day of the week.

I don't think I have ever met an agent in the 10 years I've been selling real estate in Manhattan that "Never works on a Sunday"

Saturday is usually my day off. Most Manhattan agents take Saturday off. It is difficult to show here on Saturday. Saturday is the sixth day of the week. The Sabbath, "The day of rest."

BTW: Trump Buildings are among the few here that don't allow Open Houses.

Hi Susanne, One of the reasons I have always enjoyed real estate is that I can set my own business hours. The fact that I set them to accommodate consumers is my business strategy, lol. If most people sleep at night, I find it useful to set similar hours. On the other hand , if more people have weekends free to consider listing and buying real estate it just seems logical to run my business hours in accordance to their needs. Each person should decide for themselves what works best for them. But I will also add that Seller's should be told if their agent can only work when Buyer prospects for considering their property also are working and not when the Buyer prospects are available.

On a side not, here is also a tip for some Open Houses. If a property is in a reasonably heavy traffic area, try holding the Open House when lots of people are heading to from work. Some interesting results. They are sometimes in and out quickly but the contacts are wonderful. 

Susanne, i am a workaholic so of course i do work Sundays but every once & awhile like this past one i take it off...every other week i take a day off but I'm here for the client prior to 8 pm...it does work for me...

Susanne, i am a workaholic so of course i do work Sundays but every once & awhile like this past one i take it off...every other week i take a day off but I'm here for the client prior to 8 pm...it does work for me...

Sundays are about the only day I can take completely off once in awhile.  But I do work on Sundays because many times that is the only day a client can meet with me.

Suzanne,

I can't remember the last time I didn't do something related to real estate all day.  Because we market heavily on the internet for buyers, I have to respond quickly, even on Sundays.  And I agree with you, open houses are so much more effective on Sundays.  We rarely get visitors on Saturday, but Sundays the buyers are out looking.

Nancy

Great idea for a poll! Interesting comments from across the country....As for me, I grew up on a farm - and any farm kid knows you make hay while the sun shines....