It’s summer, and you need a vacation.   As a real estate agent, you work crazy hours, always taking care of everyone else and putting yourself last.  Well, let’s change that up for a week.  Get your planner out and let’s pick a week for you to get some well-deserved downtime.  After all, the goal of a vacation is to relax, spend time with family and friends, sleep late and soak up the sun, right?   Get that beach bag, sunglasses and sunscreen ready because you are on your way to a truly relaxing vacation.

How to prepare for your time away from work is to get organized before you even leave.  You have planned your week, your destination and who is going.  Remember, just taking a week to stay home, read a book, work on some home projects, cook on the grill, binge watch your shows can also be a vacation and sometimes the best ones.  So, don’t feel like you have to take off to a destination.  But, do plan to take some time off!  You deserve it!

Watch my video – How to Prepare for an Amazing Vacation

The first thing to do is review your inventory, closings, any new business you need to organize before you leave?

Find the best agent to step in while you are gone.  If you are on a team talk to the team manager about this and if you’re a single agent decide who is the best agent to help you or talk to your broker to help you out.

Once you have that agent to cover you take them to lunch and discuss specifics on what you have going on, how to manage it, anything you see that might come up while you’re gone and then discuss compensation and any other particulars to make sure there is no miss understanding in the role they will play with your business.

If you have an assistant, talk to them about how they can help you while you are gone.  Do you need them to manage your email, voicemail, etc.?  Introduce your assistant to the agent in charge while you are gone and make sure they have each other’s contact information.

Create a vacation auto-respond email stating the dates you will be gone, who to contact in case of emergency, their email, and phone number.  Mention you will respond to email once a day if you want, but don’t feel it necessary.  Just be clear about what they can expect while you are gone.

Keep in mind your #1 priority is your current client.  You want to make sure you call and discuss the latest activity on their property, talk about what they can expect while you are on vacation, who to contact in case of emergency and any other important notes that they may need then follow that up with an email.

Then allow yourself a day before you leave to organize your business, get all the little things handled, pack your bags, etc.  You really should not work the day before vacation so you can get organized and get your brain acclimated.

Now it’s vacation time.  Enjoy your vacation, shut your brain off, and your body will thank you for taking this time off.

While on vacation make sure to stay off your phone and make sure those that are with you stay off their phone.  Organize your time wisely if you must work while on vacation by getting up an hour before everyone else or taking an hour after everyone is settled in for the night to perform necessary work tasks.  Do not work while your with family and friends.  Promise yourself you will shut down and take the time to reconnect with yourself.

One thing I do recommend is to give yourself some time alone to think about your life and where you are and what you might want to change.  Take a journal and write it down and allow yourself to think about your goals both personal and business – write them down, do some brain dumping, come up with some new ideas, etc.  You can and should take this time to reflect and plan.  It is good for the soul!

And once last tip…. allow yourself a day or two to get back on track once you return.  Allow one day to unpack, do laundry, pick up the pets, pay bills, sort through your mail, return emails, phone calls, etc.  When you plan before your vacation, prepare a little at a time so you are not stressed when you leave and to take a day to get back on track you will find your vacation did what it was supposed to do…. rejuvenate, clear your mind, enjoy your personal life and get excited about your business again.

Now get excited for some great time off from your busy work life, and I hope these tips help you truly relax and reconnect with life.

You can read my other real estate business blogs and get free downloads by visiting https://www.kimhughes.com/resources/real-estate-blog/

COMING SOON!

The Ultimate Expired Listing System Webinar

Are you ready to get serious about working the Expired’s in your market?  Are you ready to start building your inventory and put more money in the bank?  I bet you are!  I have been asked many of times to do a webinar for agents who struggle with the Expired Listing process, so coming in May I will be hosting a Workshop to take you through my Expired Listing System that has been a huge success for many top agents.  If you would like to be the first notified just click on the link below and you will automatically go into my private list to receive the first announcement.

YES! I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – SIGN ME UP!

 

Ready and motivated to organize your life?  The 90 Day Real Estate Planner is a must for any agent, broker, team leader to implement into their daily lives as it will help you become more productive, find more time and be better organized.  Get it today by visiting the 90 Day Real Estate Action Planner – use the COUPON CODE: PLAN18 to get your discount.  This special code is for a limited time only, so take advantage of this discount today and get excited about your life becoming more organized and structured.

*****

Are you realizing you need to tighten up your business strategies?  Here at Kim Hughes & Company we are the experts when it comes to working real estate agents with start-ups, re-organizing, marketing, transaction management and so much more.  Visit us at Kim Hughes and Company to download our free Real Estate Checklist.  We will show you how to become a powerhouse agent so schedule a 20 minute complimentary call with Kim today and let’s get you organized and create some amazing strategies for your business.

Are we connected:

Instagram: @KimHughesCoaching | #KimHughesCoaching
http://www.Facebook.com/KimHughes 
http://facebook.com/KimHughesRealEstateVirtualAssistant 
http://www.Twitter.com/KimHughes 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhughescoaching
https://www.pinterest.com/kim_hughes/pins/

How much time have you spent taking care of your real estate website lately? It is easy to get overwhelmed with buyers and sellers and making sure properties close and completely overlook other things that need a little attention. While a good real estate website shouldn’t require daily maintenance, you need to schedule a little time each week to spend making sure your website is current and working for you.

Here are some critical parts of a website that yours must have to make it worth your money.

IDX connection-Probably the largest draw

for a real estate website is the ability to search for properties. Buyers don’t just want to see the properties you have listed but also be able to search for other homes to see what else is available. It’s great when you can sell your own listing but I doubt you are going to turn away a buyer just because they are interested in a home that you don’t have listed. Having an IDX connection built in to your website is the key to making this possible. Add the option for buyers to sign up for property updates to be emailed direct to them when new homes are available and you now have an easy way to capture lead information.

Once the IDX is connected, you should also be able to set up a page on your website featuring your listings. This is essential because once you list a property, your seller will be looking for it and having a section of your website that features your personal listings will make this easier for them and make you look good.

You need a call to action for sellers wanting to know the value of their home. Many people are intimidated when it comes to asking what their house is worth. In the current market where the demand for houses exceeds the supply, you should aggressively be looking for listings.

Make it easy for people to find a way to contact you. Provide your email and phone number readily on every page of your website, not just from the home page.

A blog will allow you to easily post new information to keep buyers, sellers and residents of your local area informed on the real estate market and benefit your search engine optimization at the same time.

Share some personal information about yourself. There is no shortage of real estate agents in today’s market so tell people what makes you special so they will feel like they know you and want to work with you.

Testimonials are an easy way to share your success and let your clients speak for you. Devote a page on your website to testimonials and make sure you ask your clients to provide you a testimonial and keep this page updated. Zillow provides an easy way to ask your clients for testimonials. Once they post there, you can then add the same content to your website.

Select a real estate website platform that is enhanced for mobile viewing so your site is just as attractive on a smartphone, computer or tablet.

Make sure your website has easy to find links to your social media platforms. Your social media accounts make updating your followers on property changes and local information easy to handle on the fly. The key to this being successful is to increase your following so make this as prominent as you can so you can easily connect with your friends, family, clients and prospects.

Maybe you don’t have a website at all or you just need to get yours updated with the latest information and keep it that way. If you are overwhelmed by how to make your real estate website works for you, contact me and let my team and I help you create a real estate website that will keep you in front of your market. Let’s face it, all websites cost money and if you are going to spend money on a website, it needs to work for you.

To do a self-check of your website – download my complimentary Website Checklist today and then talk to your website provider or manager to make sure you have the best website your buyers and sellers would want.

COMING SOON!

The Ultimate Expired Listing System Webinar

Are you ready to get serious about working the Expired’s in your market?  Are you ready to start building your inventory and put more money in the bank?  I bet you are!  I have been asked many of times to do a webinar for agents who struggle with the Expired Listing process, so coming in May I will be hosting a Workshop to take you through my Expired Listing System that has been a huge success for many top agents.  If you would like to be the first notified just click on the link below and you will automatically go into my private list to receive the first announcement.

YES! I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – SIGN ME UP!

*****

Ready and motivated to organize your life?  The 90 Day Real Estate Planner is a must for any agent, broker, team leader to implement into their daily lives as it will help you become more productive, find more time and be better organized.  Get it today by visiting the 90 Day Real Estate Action Planner – use the COUPON CODE: PLAN18 to get your discount.  This special code is for a limited time only, so take advantage of this discount today and get excited about your life becoming more organized and structured.

*****

Are you realizing you need to tighten up your business strategies?  Here at Kim Hughes & Company we are the experts when it comes to working real estate agents with start-ups, re-organizing, marketing, transaction management and so much more.  Visit us at Kim Hughes and Company to download our free Real Estate Checklist.  We will show you how to become a powerhouse agent so schedule a 20 minute complimentary call with Kim today and let’s get you organized and create some amazing strategies for your business.

Are we connected?

Instagram: @KimHughesCoaching | #KimHughesCoaching
http://www.Facebook.com/KimHughes 
http://facebook.com/KimHughesRealEstateVirtualAssistant 
http://www.Twitter.com/KimHughes 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhughescoaching
https://www.pinterest.com/kim_hughes/pins/

Image courtesy of geralt/pixabay.com

Real estate agents have several choices when it comes to adding a CRM (Customer Relation Management) to their business.  But, remember just because Rita Realtor has a CRM system that she loves doesn’t mean that same system will work for you.

Click on the video: The Benefits of Having a Solid CRM in Your Business to hear what is important to your CRM.

As a business owner you need to spend some time researching CRM’s to find that one that fits your personality, business and offers you the tools you need.

The sole purpose of having a good CRM for your business is to help you stay up to date on each contacts relationship with you, which will help you determine how you will interact with them and how to build the relationship going forward.    Look at the CRM program to help you with 3 types of client relationships.

Prospects – capture and convert
Current Clients – Stay in touch tools to keep your current buyer or seller informed
Past Clients – to nurture the relationship to build clients for life.

Your CRM system should be one that works in a way that is easy for you to maneuver through.  It does not need to be complicated, frustrating and over whelming.  When looking at a CRM you will want to make sure it offers the tools you need.

Here a few features to consider “MUST HAVE’” for your CRM.

• Contact Records that you can details and notes
• Add Birthdays and home anniversaries
• Reminders
• Task Management
• Drip Campaigns – can they be customized
• MLS Integration
• Action Plans for Listings and Closings – Can they be customized
• Integration with Popular Lead Capturing Sites – Zillow, REALTOR.com, your website, etc
• Cloud-Based Program
• Mobile Friendly
• Branding Capabilities

The following features offer nice benefits and depending on other systems you have in place, they may be beneficial to your business.

• Website Integration
• Bulk Email Service
• Newsletter Functionality – can it be customized

If you Google Real Estate CRM, you are likely to give up after just a few minutes of scrolling. The options seem to go on forever and you will feel like you need a degree to determine which one offers the best features for the best value.

Just when you think you have made a decision, a new one hits the market and you are stuck again. After 20+ years helping agents grow their business with solid real estate principles, I have a few favorites. If you don’t have the time to evaluate them all or just want to pick from the cream of the crop, schedule a preview of these options and pick the one that best meets your needs.

Top Producer-This tried and true system was one of the first and continues to deliver years later. Easy to use after a quick introduction, it offers a moderately priced system with many features and great support for implementing the program and using it to its maximum functionality.

IxactContact-Newer to the market than Top Producer but with similar functionality and features, this program is extremely easy to use and offers fast answering when you call support. This moderately priced program includes a free website but does cost extra for IDX integration.

LionDesk-This program is one of the least expensive options available and has built a following from younger agents interested in integrating multiple platforms like texting and bulk email functionality into their CRM.

Wise Agent-For lower priced options, Wise Agent has a robust list of features and users claim its intuitive nature, ease-of-use and great customer support keep them here long after their free trail is over.

Before you start researching the solutions to determine what is best for you, make a list of the features you think you need. It can be easy to get caught up in the moment during a presentation by a savvy salesperson and select a CRM with features you have no intention of using. Making a list in advance will help avoid this.

No CRM can do the work for you and no matter what the salesperson promises, there will be some time involved in setting up and implementing the CRM into your business so plan for that and make the transition knowing that.

Remember, no CRM will work if you don’t do your part so as you are integrating your CRM into your business, use it daily to learn the program and build the strong database you are looking for. Now, it’s time to put away your old address book and assorted sticky notes to begin running your bu

siness for long term success.

To help you figure out what you need from a CRM I have put together a checklist, so you can start mapping out what you want and need before you start looking.  By having this checklist you will find that you are organized in what your business needs, but remember to evaluate it every year to make sure it grows with you.

Visit Kim Hughes Resources to review which CRM’s are Kim and her teams recommended favorites

 COMING SOON!

The Ultimate Expired Listing System Webinar

Are you ready to get serious about working the Expired’s in your market?  Are you ready to start building your inventory and put more money in the bank?  I bet you are!  I have been asked many of times to do a webinar for agents who struggle with the Expired Listing process, so coming in July I will be hosting a Workshop to take you through my Expired Listing System that has been a huge success for many top agents.  If you would like to be the first notified just click on the link below and you will automatically go into my private list to receive the first announcement.

 YES! I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – SIGN ME UP!

*****

Ready and motivated to organize your life?  The 90 Day Real Estate Planner is a must for any agent, broker, team leader to implement into their daily lives as it will help you become more productive, find more time and be better organized.  Get it today by visiting the 90 Day Real Estate Action Planner – use the COUPON CODE: PLAN18 to get your discount.  This special code is for a limited time only, so take advantage of this discount today and get excited about your life becoming more organized and structured.

*****

Are you realizing you need to tighten up your business strategies?  Here at Kim Hughes & Company we are the experts when it comes to working real estate agents with start-ups, re-organizing, marketing, transaction management and so much more.  Visit us at Kim Hughes and Company to download our free Real Estate Checklist.  We will show you how to become a powerhouse agent so schedule a 20 minute complimentary call with Kim today and let’s get you organized and create some amazing strategies for your business.

Are we connected?

Instagram: @KimHughesCoaching | #KimHughesCoaching
http://www.Facebook.com/KimHughes 
http://facebook.com/KimHughesRealEstateVirtualAssistant 
http://www.Twitter.com/KimHughes 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhughescoaching
https://www.pinterest.com/kim_hughes/pins/

Image courtesy of jackmac34/pixabay.com

Today’s smart phones are truly that-SMART! In a way that we could never do or would take us hours to accomplish the same activities, smart phones have taken over the real estate business as the one piece of equipment a real estate agent can’t live without.

Phones have gone from the convenience of just making it possible for people to reach you more easily to coordinating all of your work activities and becoming a portable office no matter where you are. Here are 6 apps you should download and begin using today to make your phone operate at maximum capacity.

1. Dropbox-There is nothing better than having all of your files at the touch of a button. Dropbox makes this possible and can allow you easy access to all of your files across multiple devices. They offer a free account with up to 2 GB of storage and reasonably priced storage options if you need more storage than that.
2. G Suite –you have Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, etc. G Suite is a brand of cloud computing, productivity and collaboration tools, software and products that you can use to literally run your entire business. If you have a Gmail account check out Google Anayltics.  Add your UA code to your website to view your visitors and so much more.  Pretty awesome stuff!
3. 1Password-This app tracks your passwords for all the different sites you need them for and stores them securely. No more remembering passwords or keeping lists of them and constantly resetting passwords when you can’t find where you wrote them down.
4. Pushbullet-This account will connect all of your devices so that you can see and respond to the activities on your phone from your computer. This will increase your productivity by decreasing the constant switching back and forth between phone and laptop to manage different tasks.
5. Scanbot-While much of your business is conducted on your phone, you still occasionally need to scan something when you aren’t near your home or the office. Scanbot will quickly turn paper documents into digital files so you can share and save. For a bonus use of this apps, scan receipts for any purchases you make automatically when you are out and file them by month in your Dropbox account and you will be a step ahead come tax season.
6. Strides -This app will allow you to track goals of any kind so you can keep up with your progress. Use it to manage the number of days you complete phone calls, the number of networking events you attend or even the amount of water you drink.

These six apps are just the tip of the iceberg. Your smartphone offers a wide variety of options for improving your productivity.

To stay organized with your personal and business life we all find different methods that work for us or think they work for us, but it is also good business practice and you hear the top entrepreneurs say “pen to paper” is key then incorporate your devises and apps to help you keep it all together.  Remember when you put pen to paper your brain is going to register more in-depth and it will give you the time to focus on that task, idea, goal much more better.

Set aside one day a week to really focus on your weeks tasks and goals then put it on your planner – write it down – what do you need to do to make this happen?  Outline it then grab your SmartPhone and go to your app to help you focus and be reminded.

You will find peace when you can use both a planner and an app that compliments your lifestyle.

COMING SOON!

The Ultimate Expired Listing System Webinar

Are you ready to get serious about working the Expired’s in your market?  Are you ready to start building your inventory and put more money in the bank?  I bet you are!  I have been asked many of times to do a webinar for agents who struggle with the Expired Listing process, so coming in June I will be hosting a Workshop to take you through my Expired Listing System that has been a huge success for many top agents.  If you would like to be the first notified just click on the link below and you will automatically go into my private list to receive the first announcement.

YES! I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – SIGN ME UP!

*****

Ready and motivated to organize your life?  The 90 Day Real Estate Planner is a must for any agent, broker, team leader to implement into their daily lives as it will help you become more productive, find more time and be better organized.  Get it today by visiting the 90 Day Real Estate Action Planner – use the COUPON CODE: PLAN18 to get your discount.  This special code is for a limited time only, so take advantage of this discount today and get excited about your life becoming more organized and structured.

*****

Are you realizing you need to tighten up your business strategies?  Here at Kim Hughes & Company we are the experts when it comes to working real estate agents with start-ups, re-organizing, marketing, transaction management and so much more.  Visit us at Kim Hughes and Company to download our free Real Estate Checklist.  We will show you how to become a powerhouse agent so schedule a 20 minute complimentary call with Kim today and let’s get you organized and create some amazing strategies for your business.

Are we connected?

Instagram: @KimHughesCoaching | #KimHughesCoaching
http://www.Facebook.com/KimHughes 
http://facebook.com/KimHughesRealEstateVirtualAssistant 
http://www.Twitter.com/KimHughes 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimhughescoaching
https://www.pinterest.com/kim_hughes/pins/

Image courtesy of https://kaboompics.com/