We old fogies -- those of us with more than a year of experience -- like to advise the newbies in our lives on how to work efficiently and productively -- how to not waste time.
At first glance we could probably come up with a long list of potential "time wasters" in our business:
- Working with an unqualified buyer?
- Talking to renters
- Showing a listing to an already-represented buyer (who calls off the yard sign)
- Preparing a CMA for a seller who wants to move "sometime next year"
- Having lunch with friends who already know lots of real estate agents
- Helping an acquaintance appeal her tax assessment
But what if there's no such thing as wasting time, especially in your first year. Because everything you do can potentially:
- Put you in front of a warm body and/or
- Teach you something about your real estate market
Let's take "time-waster" #3 above - showing an office listing to an already-represented buyer.
Here's the scenario. You're sitting on floor time twiddling your thumbs, or maybe working up the nerve to call a few FSBO's. The phone rings. You find yourself talking with a buyer who is sitting out in front of one of your office's listing. He wants to see it right away. He tells you he already has a buyer agent, but he can't seem to track him down today. He's just so busy, y'know. So ... can YOU show it to him?
Option I: Tell the "buyer" in no uncertain terms that you don't work for free and he needs to wait for his own agent!
Option II: Cheerfully say ,"Sure! Give me some time to notify the owner and I'll meet you there in 30 minutes! What's your phone number in case there's a problem?"
Let's say you select Option I. Here's what you accomplished: You're still sitting at your desk, twiddling your thumbs, but by gawd, you didn't waste your time. And, oh yeah, you probably confirmed the buyer's opinion that real estate agents are jerks.
Conversely, with Option II, you:
- Practiced showing homes and building rapport with strangers
- Possibly learned just a little more about your market
- Met someone who just might end up being your biggest referral source (you never know)
- Met someone who just might be the love of your life (you never know!)
- Got your backside off the chair and OUT INTO THE WORLD
- Improved, just a little, the public's perception of real estate agents
And maybe, just maybe, you'll get yourself a client if the buyer decides you're way cooler than his missing-in-action agent.
Sounds like a no-brainer to me. Get up and go waste some time!
