WITH THE WINTER COLD BLOWING SOUTH EAST AND PEOPLE HUNKERING DOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS, FLOOR DUTY BECOMES ALMOST UNBEARABLY SLOW. EVEN IN WHAT IS A REALLY BUSY OFFICE, PHONE CALLS ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN AND TYPICALLY A LETDOWN WHEN IT'S ANOTHER AGENT TO TALK TO THE OA. I FEEL LIKE A PUPPY DOG RUNNING TO THE FRONT DOOR EVERYTIME I HEAR A CAR ONLY TO BE LET DOWN WHEN MY OWNER DOES NOT COME THROUGH THE DOOR. SO TO PASS THE TIME AND ALEVIATE SOME OF THE DISAPPOINTMENT, I HAVE SEVERAL THINGS I LOVE TO DO.
10. EMPTY OUT MY EMAIL INBOX AND EMAIL EVERY SINGLE PERSON i HAVE NOT HEARD FROM SINCE THE LAST EMAIL PURGE. TYPICALLY THERE IS NO RESPONSE, BUT ONCE IN A WHILE IT WILL UNCOVER A REAL GEM. BUYERS AND SELLERS WHO WERE NOT READY BEFORE BUT NOW ARE.
9. UPDATE MY PERSONAL INFORMATION ON MY VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS. CURRENT PICTURES, LINKS, BLOGS. ANY MAINTENENCE THAT MAY NEED TO BE DONE. I AM NOTORIOUS FOR IGNORING THESE SMALL DETAILS, BUT THE PUBLIC DOES NOTICE.
8. DRINK TONS OF COFFEE AND LOTS OF WATER.
7. RESEARCH PROPERTIES ON THE MLS IN MY FARM AREA. I TRY TO LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED, NO PROPERTY UNSEEN. OFTEN I WILL PLAN AN EVENING OF SHOWINGS AND DRAG MY WIFE ALONG. SHE THEN SAYS THAT HER HUSBAND WONT BE HOME FOR AN HOUR OR SO AND ASKS IF I CAN COME UP TO HER CONDO AND GIVE HER A COMPLIMENTARY CMA.
6. FANTASIZE ABOUT MY WIFE.
5. WRITE BLOGS ON ACTIVE RAIN. THIS HAS BECOME A NEW HABIT, BUT ONE THAT I AM ENJOYING IMMENSELY.
4. WRITE MY TO DO LIST FOR THE NEXT DAY. THIS TYPICALLY TAKES ME ABOUT 30 MINUTES, AND I DO THIS RELIGIOUSLY. MY LIFE HAS CHANGED SINCE I BEGAN WRITING AND STICKING TO DAILY AGENDAS. I ALMOST ALWAYS DO THIS AT NIGHT SO THE INFO IS FRESH IN THE MORNING, BUT IF I CAN GET THE BULK OF IT DONE AT THE OFFICE AND ONLY AMMEND IN THE EVENING, THAT LEAVES MORE TIME FOR ME.
3. READ DC ZONING LAWS, GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND CODES. I TRY TO TAKE MY TIME WITH ONE CODE OR CONCEPT AT A TIME, AS TO RETAIN IT MORE EASILY. THIS HAS BEEN HELPFUL AT LISTING APPOINTMENTS SPECIFICALLY WITH FEE SIMPLE PROPERTIES WHERE THERE MAY BE THE POSSIBILITY OF INVESTOR/DEVELOPER INTEREST.
2. DRAW A PICTURE OF THE OFFICE. WE ARE SURROUNDED BY AN EVER CHANGING DISPLAY OF ART IN OUR OFFICE, AND IT OFTEN INSPIRES A SKETCH.
1. TALK WITH MY COWORKERS/FELLOW AGENTS AND BROKERS. I ALWAYS LEARN THE MOST FROM AN EVERYDAY CONVERSATION AT THE OFFICE, SO I HAVE AS MANY AS POSSIBLE. I PICK UP THE THINGS I COULD NEVER LEARN FROM A BOOK OR A CE CLASS.
SO THAT IT HOW I HAVE BEEN SPENDING MY HOURS DURING FLOOR DUTY THIS AUTUMN. IF YOU FIND YOURSELF STARING AT THE SECOND HAND ON THE CLOCK OR THE PHONE TRYING TO "CARRIE" A LEAD OUT OF IT, TRY ONE OF MY SUGGESTIONS, BUT PLEASE FANTASIZE ABOUT YOUR OWN SPOUSE.
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