Surprise, surprise. Despite a pandemic, we had a pretty busy year in real estate sales. However, as government stimulus has ceased, things may change for those who are not working. As a result, the housing supply may increase and the market may change.
In October, we officially enter the holiday season. Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations are available everywhere and Christmas catalogs are already available. Since holidays are generally slower and a market change may be in our future, the question is: If it is slow, what do you do to keep yourself busy?
Here are a few ways for real estate agents to see continued success and closings during the fall, the holiday season, and in the beginning of the new year:
Be very aggressive in September, October, and early November and try to put as many transactions into escrow as possible. Oftentimes escrows don’t close in just 30 days, so this hard work will assure more closings near the holidays or early next year.
The holidays are a great time to develop and improve upon existing systems. Devise prospecting and marketing plans. Take courses to learn new technologies and new methods to be more productive in doing your job.
Break bread. Everyone loves to eat and drink over the holidays. Contact your A-list clients and invite them to enjoy a meal. Host a holiday party (stay safe). Not only will you have fun, but you will also maintain top of mind awareness at the same time.
Review marketing materials. Have you ever gone online and seen a professional profile that you know is of an agent who is far older than the photo shows? That’s because people forget to update their online profiles as they change jobs, take new courses, receive awards, or even change hair color. The holidays are a perfect time to buckle down and make sure that your online persona actually matches your real one!
One thing is for certain: Any client or prospect that you obtain near or during the holiday season is likely to convert to a real closing sometime soon. Most folks do not want to be uprooted during the holidays. So, anyone that wants to list his or her home during the holidays or anyone that wants to start a home search during the holidays is surely a highly motivated homebuyer or home seller. Not to mention, homes always look and smell so nice during the holiday season, with the lovely decorations and the yummy baked goods, who could resist a home search during the upcoming holiday season?