Real Estate Time Management
Ten Commandments
As self-employed business practitioners, real estate professionals have to know how to run a business, attract and keep customers and clients, work on old and new business, and adjust to a constantly changing business environment. The best and most effective skill you can cultivate is to learn to manage your use of time. Learn what activities earn you money, and which ones waste your time.
•1. You are a valuable member of a team: understand that your time is valuable and limited. You must operate within certain guidelines which means developing a schedule and adhering as closely to it as possible.
•2. All jobs are not created equal: set daily and long-term priorities. Do the most difficult or highest priority jobs first thing in the morning, and everything else falls into place.
•3. Know where you are going: set short-term goals and long-term goals. How many people are you going to talk to today to reach your goals?
•4. Know what you need to do: make a list of the things that must be done. Everyone needs a time management device. Time management software is the ultimate, but it doesn't matter if you have the fastest or the best, as long as yours works for you.
•5. Budget your time: stick to your schedule. Realize that there are interruptions occurring that shouldn't be allowed. Ask yourself: "Is this a dollar productive interruption or a time wasting interruption?"
•6. Be flexible: bending isn't the same as breaking. Real estate salespeople typically like to be in control, but understand that flexibility is the key to not giving yourself a heart attack.
•7. It's ok to say NO: it's better to not take a job than to fail doing it. Again, ask yourself, "Is this dollar productive behavior? Will I personally benefit or will my business benefit?"
•8. Be organized: use a planning system. Invest in time management training, watching how other high producers manage their time, and use a tool such as the Franklin Day Planner, a Palm Pilot, or equally effective tool.
•9. Don't be perfect: be accurate. When you do many jobs, 80% effectiveness is acceptable. If you take your time the first time, you won't have to spend your time correcting your mistakes.
•10. Get help. Don't be afraid to delegate. Real estate practitioners often are reluctant to delegate because they think no one else will do the job right. Do what you do best and multiply your success.
Adapted from Real Times
Monica Reynolds
Real Estate Speaker & Trainer
Comments(0)