By KATRINA CREER
From team swims to high teas, real estate agents are being urged to take time to recharge over summer and bounce into 2022.
After what has been a long and challenging year, there is a risk of burn-out in an industry that never switches off. With some solicitors closing their office as early as mid-December, weary agents now have the perfect excuse to take some much-needed time off over the holidays.
For decades businesses have focused on time-management, but more recently this has shifted to energy management. Thomas McGlynn from BresicWhitney, also a member of the REINSW Residential Sales Chapter Committee said with the pace and intensity of work increasing, agents can no longer afford to be feeling fatigued.
As this year’s selling season will run into late December, he is encouraging his team to take some time off to freshen up between Christmas and New Year.
“When your smart phone goes dead it needs to be recharged – it just doesn’t stay fully charged every waking minute of the day – it has to be recharged at some point of the day and we are just the same,” Mr McGlynn said.
“It means different things for different people such as scheduling activities that aren’t work-related to take their mind away from the rigours of their day, while for others it may be taking a short mini-break.”
Finding the right balance
At Byron Bay, the sales team from Belle Property head down to the beach for a quick post-work swim to lift their energy levels. It is a strategy that works well for the busy office which has seen unprecedented buyer demand since the COVID-19 pandemic. They also run weekly meditation sessions.
Braden Walters, who chairs and is a board representative for the REINSW Residential Sales Chapter Committee, said agents need to force themselves to take a break - even those working in holiday hotspots.
“The big shift of people moving from metro to regional means we haven’t stopped,” he said.
“I always look at the opposite, I think of the agents in Melbourne who were in lockdown and unable to do anything, so I’d much rather have work - I thrive on it. We need to be able to reset to go again next year. We need to have a holiday."
They will close the office between Christmas and New Year, however, the sales team will be available during the break to conduct open inspections.
“With so many tourists, we have become very good at qualifying buyers, you need to be able to distinguish who is serious and who is just tyre kicking,” Mr Walters said.
Must-do list before taking time off
With the finish line now in sight, it’s tempting to start winding up – but there are advantages to digging deep throughout December.
With the market starting to soften, it is essential to stay organised. This includes reviewing business and marketing plans, social media and touching base with valuable clients - even sending them a small Christmas gift.
Cathy Baker, a committee member of the REINSW Sale Chapter, believes effort put in now will ensure a smoother transition into 2022.
“Many agents haven’t had the listings that they would normally have, so their settlements coming into the end of the year are probably a bit lighter on,” Ms Baker said.
“Stress related to financial pressure can be quite intense and that is probably another reason to step it up a notch now and secure as many listings as they can this side of Christmas.”
This could include listing properties off-market now with the view to launch in mid-January.
Can you really turn off your phone?
It can be a balancing act to keep everyone happy over the holidays. The key is preparations and setting boundaries to manage expectations.
Mr McGlynn said it is important to identify clients who are likely to contact you over the break and let them know of your plans. Change your voicemail message and put an automatic response on your email. One compromise is to let people know you will be checking messages every three days, but if the matter is urgent, to send a text.
“The vast majority of people are respectful that between Christmas and New Year is a time when you are with friends and family,” Mr McGlynn said.
“But there is nothing worse than switching off and having people trying to get hold of you - almost stalking you - but you haven’t let them know of your plans.”
Perfecting the work-life balance
Setting boundaries is important in non-holiday periods too. Find a way to replenish energy levels such as a mini-break, shopping trip or catch-up with friends.
Ms Baker sets aside an hour every morning and evening to reset and also schedules a weekly massage.
“My hour in the evening is non-negotiable for me to be able to wind down and really be present with my family – I make sure I switch off all devices and tune out,” she said.
“Remember you have to be kind to yourself, especially when we work as hard as we do, and take time to breathe.”
Looking for some other business tips, don’t forget to catch up on all the latest industry news at https://www.reinsw.com.au/web/posts/consumer_news_summary.aspx