At the start of every new year, I always think about fresh starts and new habits. It reminds me a...
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The December Reset: How Tidying Up Prepares You for More Closings
Every December, something funny happens in real estate. The phones quiet down just a little. Clients get caught up in holidays, agents take a breath, and the pace slows enough for us to notice what’s been piling up on our desks… and in our minds.
For short sale experts especially, the end of the year can feel like a filing cabinet that’s been opened too many times and is now impossible to close. Paperwork, negotiations, lender updates, client emotions, short sales are messy, complicated, and often overwhelming. But that’s exactly why year-end is the perfect moment to pause, reset, and eliminate the clutter that might be costing you efficiency, focus, and yes… closings.
If you’ve ever read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, you know it’s not really a book about organizing, it’s a book about creating space for better decisions and a better life. And heading into the new year, that message hits a little differently.
Here’s how her two most powerful principles can set you up for a more productive year:
In the world of real estate—and especially short sales—this applies to more than paperclips and old listing flyers:
And yes, do this alone. Because the moment your coworker says, “Nooo, keep that marketing binder!” you’ll guilt-save it until 2035.
Does this help me close more efficiently? Does this make my work smoother? Does this reduce stress? Maybe you love your document scanner. Maybe your color-coded digital folders make you feel like a productivity hero. Maybe your CRM (when used properly!) brings a sense of calm control. That feeling matters. Keep anything that reinforces the agent you want to be in the new year.
And momentum is one of the biggest predictors of early-year success.
So as you close out the year and prepare for the next, consider dedicating one quiet afternoon to decluttering. Not for aesthetics. Not for fun. But for clarity. Who knows? You might start the new year more organized, more energized, and closing more deals than you expected.
For short sale experts especially, the end of the year can feel like a filing cabinet that’s been opened too many times and is now impossible to close. Paperwork, negotiations, lender updates, client emotions, short sales are messy, complicated, and often overwhelming. But that’s exactly why year-end is the perfect moment to pause, reset, and eliminate the clutter that might be costing you efficiency, focus, and yes… closings.
If you’ve ever read The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, you know it’s not really a book about organizing, it’s a book about creating space for better decisions and a better life. And heading into the new year, that message hits a little differently.
What Year-End Decluttering Means for Real Estate Professionals
If Marie Kondo is right, tidying isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about clearing mental bandwidth. And in short sale work, bandwidth is everything.Here’s how her two most powerful principles can set you up for a more productive year:
Let Go of What Doesn’t Serve You (or Your Closings)
Anything that doesn’t make you happy or isn’t necessary should be thanked and released.In the world of real estate—and especially short sales—this applies to more than paperclips and old listing flyers:
- Outdated scripts that no longer convert
- Systems you “keep meaning to fix”
- Tech tools that frustrate you more than they help
- Files from 2025 that still live on your desk “just in case”
- Partnerships that drain your energy instead of supporting your growth
And yes, do this alone. Because the moment your coworker says, “Nooo, keep that marketing binder!” you’ll guilt-save it until 2035.
Touch Everything And Ask: Does This Bring Me Joy or Results?
Marie Kondo asks us to keep only what brings joy. For agents, maybe the word is a little different:Does this help me close more efficiently? Does this make my work smoother? Does this reduce stress? Maybe you love your document scanner. Maybe your color-coded digital folders make you feel like a productivity hero. Maybe your CRM (when used properly!) brings a sense of calm control. That feeling matters. Keep anything that reinforces the agent you want to be in the new year.
Why This Matters More at Year-End
Between Thanksgiving pies and New Year’s countdowns, agents get rare breathing space. This is your strategic window to:- clean your desk
- archive old files
- update your lender contact lists
- refresh your scripts
- purge unused tech
- streamline your workflows
- reset your goals
- clear mental residue from tough transactions
And momentum is one of the biggest predictors of early-year success.
Clear Space, Clear Mind, Clear Closings
When you clean your workspace, you’re not just rearranging objects, you’re removing friction. And when you remove friction, you make room for focus, creativity, and better follow-through. For short sale experts, that can be the difference between a lost lead and a signed listing agreement.So as you close out the year and prepare for the next, consider dedicating one quiet afternoon to decluttering. Not for aesthetics. Not for fun. But for clarity. Who knows? You might start the new year more organized, more energized, and closing more deals than you expected.
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