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Your 2013 Business Plan - In Less than 5 Minutes

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Top Producer Systems

As we move towards the end of the year, it time to put pen to paper about what worked (and what didn’t) this year, and our goals for next year. There’s no perfect recipe for success, but after a dozen years in the business, I can truly attest to the fact that “those who fail to plan, plan to fail.”

Do you have a business plan?  If not, or if you’re looking to be more focused in 2013, here’s a list of questions that might help clarify what parts of your business to focus on in 2013.

1.    Do you have a centralized database of names, addresses, phone numbers and other information on your clients readily available at a moment’s notice? 

2.    How many do you talk to each week?

3.    Do you have a scheduled time each day or week when you communicate with your clients, contacts or friends? Do you do this consistently?

4.    Do you meet with your clients once a year for a “review” of their real estate needs or situation?

5.    What is your system for generating a continuous flow of buyers and sellers?  

6.    Do you have a powerful Listing Presentation that:

1.    Clearly shows how your marketing differentiates you from your competition?

2.    Shows them how to “price their home to sell?”

3.    Demonstrates how you add value to your seller?  What is your “Wow!?”

4.    Shows at least 5 things that you and your company do for the seller that your competitors don’t?

7.    Do you have a marketing plan/checklist for your listings?

8.    Do you have questions and visual aids to help shift a seller from a “price shopping” mindset to a “results shopping” mindset?

9.    Do you have a marketing plan in place that keeps you in touch with the most influential people in your sphere multiple times per year?

10.  Do you have your most powerful letters “standardized” so you don’t need to create an original every time you want to communicate with someone?

11.  Do you know your product, your market and your competition? Do you know these better than your customers? Are you able to easily demonstrate this?

12.  Do you have financial goals and a business plan?

  • Can you identify the specific sources of new business?
  • Do you have a plan to build a business based on customer satisfaction and referrals? 

business plan isn’t set it stone, nor should it be a heavy burden. Rather, it’s a roadmap that helps clarify your objectives and how you’re going to achieve them. If you’re looking for a strong foundation to build your own business plan for 2013, spend 5 minutes with this free business plan builder from REALTOR.com®.  It’ll even help you assess your tools so you can plug in solutions that deliver results. 

Here’s to a great 2013!

 

Comments(31)

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Stephen Dunbar
Exit Realty DTC - Centennial, CO

Greg, Thank you!  Great reminder of things to integrate into my business plan.

Nov 07, 2012 12:32 AM
Diane Daley
Caron's Gateway Real Estate - Northumberland, NH

Excellent bunch of questions to focus on as preparing the next year goals set in. Thanks for sharing

Nov 07, 2012 02:11 AM
Chloe White
Keller Williams Realty - Farmington, CT
Connecticut REALTOR

Thank you for the reminder we are getting to that time of year already!!  Helpful tips!

Nov 07, 2012 02:26 AM
Molly Heyen
RE/MAX Premier Properties - Chicago, IL
Chicago City Estates

Thank you!!! We just went through this and are excited for the upcoming year!

Nov 07, 2012 06:29 AM
Shane Barker
Amerifirst Financial, INC. - Salt Lake City, UT

This is fantastic info, I'm going to keep a copy of this and put the info to use, thanks for the post!

Nov 07, 2012 07:18 AM
Honorata Gruzewski
Crown Homes Realty, LLC - Oklahoma City, OK
first time home buyers, listings, sales, referrals

Simple and easy. If we could only follow through. November is a good time to reflect and plan for the new year.

Nov 07, 2012 08:43 AM
Brenda Whitman, Live in Laramie Real Estate
Live in Laramie Real Estate, Laramie, Wyoming - Laramie, WY
Broker/Co-Owner, Laramie, Wyoming

Nice!  Half these things are on my list to organize and have available at my fingertips so it is super handy that I can print your post and use it as a checklist for my to do list.... Thanks!

Nov 07, 2012 09:25 AM
Hella Mitschke Rothwell
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Gregg: I've been working on my marketing plan all year for next year. This includes education. Often you want to branch out, but that takes a lot of building blocks to put together. And then, of course, you need to be good at the details to follow-through as you so ably point out.

Nov 07, 2012 09:52 AM
Dave Caskey
Shorewood Realtors - Manhattan Beach, CA
Luxury Property Specialist

Already on it, but it's a great reminder. Now is the time to get the momentum moving for Q1 for sure.

Nov 07, 2012 11:56 AM
Christina Sanchez Hood
Palo Alto, CA
#SiliconValleyHOODS | Inspired Living

Gregg, wow, what a useful post.  And your post is so timely.  It should be posted each week to help AR members who may not have gotten to their 2013 plan yet.  Great work!

Nov 07, 2012 01:35 PM
Gregg Paul
Top Producer Systems - Richmond, BC

Thanks everyone for your comments. It is so great to hear that this has gotten you thinking about your goals for 2013. It’s never too early to start planning and thinking ahead! It is a great time to reflect what you have done and what you want to get accomplish and how you want to attain those goals. Wish you all happy planning for 2013!

Nov 08, 2012 06:05 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Get out of the office, press the flesh and less time on spread sheets. More time on the streets will help the getting fat sitting around the water cooler real estate professional.

Nov 20, 2012 12:04 AM
Chuck Carstensen
RE/MAX Results - Elk River, MN
Minnesota/Wisconsin Real Estate Expert

Something we all need to do. A lot easier working in a system.  I work alot out of Topproducer.

Nov 20, 2012 01:18 AM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

Gregg...

 

I copied and pasted this plan in my blog.  YOu did not have it so that I could just reblog.  Wanted to let you know.

 

Take care,

 

Ginger

Nov 20, 2012 04:20 AM
Don McAskin
REALTY EXECUTIVES Of Simcoe Inc. - Barrie, ON
"Everybody is Askin...for McAskin"

Nice job.  I will re-blog and post the short url or you.  Nice and simple.

Nov 20, 2012 09:28 AM
Tamara Inzunza
Realty One Group Capital - Alexandria, VA
Close-In Alexandria and Arlington Living

I really need to get up to speed and watch some of the Top Producer videos!  It's always a good time to plan...and execute.

Nov 20, 2012 09:32 AM
Ben Ganje + Partners
Lakes Sotheby's International Realty - Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis Market Leader

Gregg,

 

  What a great way to clearly identify every critical area of business and ask the right questions!  Well done!

 

Nov 20, 2012 09:50 AM
Beth Paterson
Reverse Mortgages SIDAC, LLC, NMLS #1790592 - Saint Paul, MN
CRMP, NMLS #342859

Gregg, good questions as I work on my goals for 2013.  Always appreciate the reminder and inspiration to make the plan.  Thanks for sharing.

Nov 20, 2012 12:15 PM
Peter Richard
RE/MAX Carriage House - Mount Juliet, TN
RE/MAX Carriage House

Another year is almost gone, but there is still work to be done before the ball drops on New Years Eve.  And one of those things I need to do is plan what direction to go.  My plan is not to fail and without taking a look at how this year went, both good and bad.  Fine tune the good, and revamp the bad or weed it out.

It's also time to send out my annual 20 second survey to my database.  What is this?  Hmmm...might be a good blog topic to post later.

Anyways back to topic.  Just blocked out 2 hours, next Monday and Tuesday to work on 2013 Business Plan.   Thanks for the reminder Gregg

Nov 20, 2012 03:10 PM
Morris Massre
Pembroke Pines, FL
Real Estate Instructor Broward County Florida

Thanks a lot for sharing this because I have been looking for something like this for a while that will help motivate me more.

Dec 27, 2012 01:27 AM