Do you have boundaries?

It is the end of the summer and some of you having been going “can to can’t” for months.

Yes, Spring and Summer are when we often make the bulk of our income for the year but at what price to our own wellbeing and those who care about us.

Many capable agents end up out of the business or out of their marriage because of the all-consuming pace we subject ourselves to.

Here are some tips that may help:

# 1 Be sure you have signed all your clients to a representation agreement.

# 2 Explain verbally or better yet on paper about agency, procuring cause and the bad things that can happen, including them having to pay commissions if they contact multiple agents.

# 3 Gently, let each client know that you do have multiple clients. When you are working for them they will have your full attention but there are times that you have to do the same for your other clients.

# 4 Show new listings on Monday nights. Many offices put new listings taken over the weekend in the MLS on Monday. Showing appropriate listings on Monday night is much better than waiting until the weekend. I also find that buyers look faster on Monday night than on the weekend when they have nothing else to do.

# 5 Have a cutoff time and let your clients know what it is. If you don’t set a cutoff time like 6 or 7 pm, then clients expect you to be at their beck and call 24/7. Put your boundary times in your email signature.

# 6 Have an agreed process for those houses they find at midnight on the computer. Do they save them in their portal or do they email the property to you. Let them know that you will follow up first thing in the morning.

# 7 Use aerial maps before you agree to show. I have saved myself from an untold number of showings by looking at aerial photos before I agree to show.

You can’t give your client, family, friends, pets, etc. your best unless you are at your best. Take very, very good care of yourself.