TIPS ON HOW TO BE AN EFFECTIVE DAY-TO-DAY REAL ESTATE AGENT

Have you ever felt like a headless chicken? 

You know what I mean. Not having time to tackle tasks calmly. Arriving late and badly. Living under stress and not doing the important things because you spend the day in reactive mode attending to emergencies.

Many real estate agents live in this "mode", as if there were no alternative. As if in this life you can only be a chicken. I too have been a chicken. But I got out of the pen years ago thanks to Stephen Covey. In his book, The 7 habits of highly effective peopleproposes that we organise our tasks on the basis of the Eisenhower matrix:

It is not easy, but it is worth it. 

Before doing any task, submit it to the verdict of the matrix:

• If it's important - urgent, no question, do it now. For example, if you are contacted by a landlord with a flat to sell.
• If Important-Not Urgent: Set aside the necessary time in your diary. For example, if you are contacted by someone interested in visiting a flat.
• If it is Not Important-Urgent: Find someone who can do it for you. For example, collecting a certificate for a sale or purchase.
• If it is Not Important-Not Urgent: Ghosting on the spot. For example, if someone calls you to sell you something you don't need.

It's a bit hard at first. I know. Especially if you don't have anyone to delegate to, or you don't know how. If you're one of those people who can't say no. If you are not in the habit of blocking out spaces in your diary except to go to the hairdresser.

But if you apply it, you will begin to transform yourself into an ant, a much more inspiring animal. An ant is very clear about what to do and when. Ants sleep as much as they need (four hours a day in breaks of a few minutes). Ants reproduce (no comment). The ants hibernate (which would be our holidays). But the rest of the time ants work with order and focus. Ants are cool. They are cool because they forage for food, store it and manage it wisely. Chickens, on the other hand, eat when they are fed. Like you and me when we work reactively according to what comes into our inbox, Whatsapp or phone, without a well-planned agenda.

Bonus trackCtrl + C (copy from ants): 

• Turn off your email and Whatsapp notifications on all your devices now. 
• Set 2 daily time slots in your diary to consult and manage incoming messages. For example, one in the morning and one in the evening.
• It will help you to take the Ctrl out of your time.