Special offer
Tabitha Rector-Richardson, Premier Homes Realty (443) 415-4215 (Premier Homes Realty)

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
375,382
Gina Chirico
Lattimer Realty - Fairfield, NJ
Real Estate Agent - Essex County, New Jersey

I work just as hard or harder (not implying anyone else doesn't).  I have to so that the work I do in the winter months pays off by the time the spring market hits.  Closings in the late winter/early spring are a result of continuing your business in the winter.  Contacting my sphere to wish them a Happy New Year is the task I'm focusing on this week.   

Dec 30, 2014 12:04 PM
Rainmaker
1,432,649
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Get caught up with other stuff.  Do my taxes.  Market more.

Jan 05, 2015 01:22 AM
Rainmaker
360,033
Erick Blackwelder
Cell: 703-677-1120 - Woodbridge, VA
Text or call Erick now at 703-677-1120.

In the Washington DC area, the market is strong in the winter months, as buyers try to beat the spring market.  Our slowest month of the years is August.  December is busier than August.  We ratified over $5.3Million in December.  We have over $6Million in the pipeline for January and early February.

Erick Blackwelder

Jan 04, 2015 10:57 PM
Rainmaker
1,895,067
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

It hasn't been slow in my area.  I had a closing last week and 2 this week.  Out with buyers over the holidays as well.  I am working on a new website and mailings to make sure Spring is just as productive.

Jan 04, 2015 10:16 PM
Rainmaker
90,543
Debra Peters
Referral Realty - Manorville, NY
NY Real Estate Salesperson

Refocus!  Life has gotten in the way for me lately, so I need to start doing everything I say:)  In the winter months I focus on future expired listings and also the FSBO's.  I am going to make sure I have a marketing piece in place so that I can send to my sphere of influence welcoming the warmer weather.

Jan 01, 2015 09:01 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I keep myself busy all the time, even if I don't have so many active transactions. There is always a lot of work, if you are a full time realtor: marketing, education, lead generation, blogging(:), etc.

Jan 01, 2015 04:47 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I am going to do a lot of education and putting systems in place. Also some general marketing to get things rolling in the spring.

Jan 01, 2015 11:00 AM
Rainer
276,044
Susan Jacobsen
The Alliance Group Realty - Hilton Head Island, SC
20 Years Providing WOW Real Estate Service

Tabitha - there were two terrific webinars - actually power hours - by Market Leader - check marketleader.learn.com - about this very thing; some very creative suggestions - and actually I was even interviewed! So much terrific information on that site - To be honest, we know that the funnel has to be continually fueled so my winter isn't a slow time, it's a time to really cultivate people with ways to bring urgency to their decision. Depending on where your market is located you can play up the fun things they're missing in a neighborhood, or a community since they haven't bought yet! With sellers, look up info from your Chamber where people from your area are moving and reach out to a referral partner - get some hints as to why your people should move there :-)

Dec 31, 2014 12:50 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

It is agood time to take courses, read books , internet marketing and mailing.

Dec 30, 2014 09:08 PM
Rainer
6,997
Samuel Nuon
Glen Allen, VA

Be always prepared and stay active, you may encounter a catch, like fishing.

Dec 30, 2014 07:20 PM
Rainmaker
112,714
Anita Allen
Levin Rinke Realty - 850-377-4410 - Pace, FL
Your Realtor for NW Florida, Pace/Milton/Pensacola

I live in Florida and there has been no slow period for me.  Full force through the end of the year.  I tried to take the day off today.  I've worked all day.  

Dec 30, 2014 05:00 PM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

In the last two years, the market hasn't slowed down too much for me. I haven't had too much time. Normally I like to take time off, sleep in, travel, cross country ski and spend some quiet time at home. I need a bit of that right now. That is good recharge time for me when I can get it. 

After a few quiet days at home...I get restless and antsy. I'm ready to go back to work then. 

Dec 30, 2014 12:18 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

It's all our mindset! We have so many things to work on all the time.

This period gives us time to focus on planning, adding to or subtracting from marketing material, connect with sphere of influence. It's more like working ON your business during this period.

Dec 30, 2014 11:56 AM
Rainmaker
1,449,860
Cheryl Ritchie
RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD
Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

Move old files out to make room for new year files. Clean up receipts drawer. Finish Success Stats Spreadsheet for Business Plan. Take some Learn to Earn classes on Lynda.com. Revise goal list. Clean closets and drawers. Out with the old and in with the new.

Dec 30, 2014 11:01 AM
Rainmaker
2,362,977
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

PROSPECT- go back to the expireds that didn't relist immediately and connect with them - that is my plan on the snow days that I know will come next month! 

Dec 30, 2014 10:58 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Refresh, rethink, retool, and look at how to better every aspect of your business, and do the same for yourself by taking time off. A

Dec 30, 2014 05:56 AM
Rainmaker
1,562,386
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

For anyone wanting to get their online presence in place, that's the time!  

Dec 30, 2014 05:39 AM
Rainmaker
878,659
Kevin Mackessy
Blue Olive Properties, LLC - Highlands Ranch, CO
Dedicated. Qualified. Local.

Create new checklists and market to potential buyers to keep them in your spotlight. 

Dec 30, 2014 05:38 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Tabitsha,

The essential software I rely on for media publishing is WebinarJam. This may sound like it is more than you want but it is not more than you need.

Other software products that have proven essential are:
Trello
PODIO
IgnitionBlueprint

With these four I have covered multi-user task management(TRELLO), process control and curation(Podio), creating stuff(ignitionblueprint) then promoting that stuff (WebinarJam).

Having walked the long road myself, I have come to realize it is better and much less costly to start with robust tools than to keep ugrading or replacing and RETRAINING and CONFIGURING every time my business expereinces a new level or finds a new niche. Note: these are NOT real estate agent tools. They are the tools used by the big boys in marketing and development.

Dec 30, 2014 03:12 AM
Rainmaker
855,369
Peter den Boer
Atlanta Communities - Woodstock, GA
MBA,GRI, Associate Broker, Realtor

Tabitha - For some reason this time of year is always busy for me. There is no down time.

Dec 30, 2014 03:12 AM
Rainer
144,300
Sylvia Jonathan
Coldwell Banker Platinum Properties - Irvine, CA
Broker Associate, SFR

November/December are great months to market with the personal touch. I walk my "farm" area, send handwritten notes, deliver calendars or a small poinsettia etc. Contrary to popular belief, most people are not rushed and frazzled during those times. You can chat up many when they hang christmas lights on the weekend after Thanksgiving. People have days off between holidays.

I am just taking a listing because I believe my personal card made me stand out.

Dec 30, 2014 12:46 AM
Rainmaker
341,062
Chris and Berna Sloan
Group 1 Real Estate - Tooele, UT
Tooele UT

No such thing as a slow time if you're doing it right. People still need to buy/sell. I LOVE that my competition checks out for a couple of months...

Jan 05, 2015 11:59 PM
Rainer
105,987
Chris Mamone
Keller Mortgage - Tacoma, WA
Senior Loan Officer

During the slow times of the year, I like to do a couple of things.

  1. Previous Clients. Call them, go see them. touch base with them. Ask for referrals! Keep in touch! This is a great time to utilize those good experiences and turn them into referrals!
  2. Leads you are working on or were working on. Call them frequently and try to get a connection made. When its slow this becomes great time to get on the leads and try to drumb up business.
  3. Social Media / Marketing. When its slow its the best time to market. While everyone else sat idle, you were out there making connections! and guess what? Who are they going to remember when business picks up? YOU!
  4. Make a plan. What works? What doesn't work? What could you do better or differently to generate results?
Jan 05, 2015 01:49 PM
Rainmaker
269,537
Dan Derito
Success! Real Estate - Brockton, MA

It's a good time to clean up old files, get the spring mailings organized, and update my client database.  I hope to do some blogging as well.

 

Jan 05, 2015 11:14 AM
Rainmaker
1,577,943
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Ah, California doesn't really get those seasonal slow downs. We are hot again after the lower volume of December.

Jan 05, 2015 07:40 AM
Rainmaker
650,016
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

I try to get my mailings in order and write draft blog posts for future use!

Jan 05, 2015 05:28 AM
Rainer
557,375
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

I'm always trying to work smarter not harder, so I focus on learning and adapting to new processes and more innovative marketing campaigns.

Jan 05, 2015 03:41 AM
Rainmaker
1,107,863
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Dallas keeps a relatively even pace all year.  When I have extra time, I spend time marketing and attending classes.

Jan 05, 2015 02:38 AM
Ambassador
734,952
John DL Arendsen
CREST "BACKYARD' HOMES, ON THE LEVEL General & Manufactured Home Contractor, TAG Real Estate Sales & Investments - Leucadia, CA
Crest Backyard Homes "ADU" dealer & RE Developer

Fortunately, we haven't really had a slow time of year here in SoCal. 

Jan 05, 2015 02:25 AM
Rainer
368,326
Raoul Loustaunau
EXP REALTY - Phoenix, AZ
urhomefinder.com myvaluetoday.com

Good morning , i don't think of high and low season i work the same all year to achieve my goals for the year. when you thing about high and low you just attract that to your life , thanks have a great day

Jan 05, 2015 02:11 AM
Rainmaker
236,403
Liane Thomas, Top Listing Agent
Professional Realty Services® - Corona, CA
Bringing you Home!

Use the slow times to vacation, rest, close out files that never closed. Clean the office, order supplies. Update my listing presentation, make buyer and seller packages. Order holiday and seasonal postcards, plan farming and mailing. Catch up on older Activerain posts.

In this business, there is always something to do.

Jan 05, 2015 12:43 AM
Rainmaker
359,372
Debra B Albert, PA - Keyes Realty
Keyes Realty Treasure Coast, 34986 - Port St Lucie, FL
Ron and Debbie 772.708.3292

We work on Florida's Treasure Coast.  St. Lucie, where we are has beaches, golf, tennis, Mets Spring Training and the better pricing than counties to our north and south.  Winter is our BUSY time.  Summer is slower.  Debbie

Jan 05, 2015 12:41 AM
Rainmaker
29,665
Lonni McDonough
Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Group - Boise, ID
Realtor - Eagle, ID Real Estate; 208-949-3845

In Idaho the winter too is slow.  I use this time to recharge myself and my business.  Generating my business plan, tweaking processes, previewing new tools and spending time with family.  I'm ready to hit it hard come the first few weeks of January!

Jan 04, 2015 11:33 PM
Rainmaker
659,119
Pat & Wayne Harriman
Harriman Real Estate, LLC (203) 672-4499 - Wallingford, CT
Broker/Owners, Wallingford CT Real Estate

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depends on your POV!), the last couple of years have NOT been slow during the winter. We've had double digit closings in November and December, lots of showings and lots of listings, so it's keeping us very busy. This year we are taking a few days to go to Vegas to meet with family, but we'll still be in touch with everything happening back here! Even with it being so busy, we still found time to get our 2015 biz plan in place, meet with our agents to get their 2015 goals in order, have our web site redone to a WP site, watch a few webinars and get familiar with some software we purchased for our business. All in all, exciting times in the real estate world!

Jan 04, 2015 11:33 PM
Rainer
392,768
Anna Hatridge
R Gilliam Real Estate LLC - Farmington, MO
Missouri Realtor with R Gilliam Real Estate LLC

I use the cold winter days as an opportunity to clean up old files, contact expireds, prepare for taxes and attend the Missouri Association of Realtors state meetings.  January is the perfect time to get organized!

Jan 04, 2015 11:08 PM
Rainer
55,296
Tabitha Rector-Richardson
Premier Homes Realty - Owings Mills, MD
Premier Homes Realty (443) 415-4215

Thanks for Sharing Annette.  I am going to look into the software you use!

Dec 30, 2014 04:41 AM
Rainmaker
531,677
Marie Story
Coldwell Banker - Pinecrest (Miami) - Pinecrest, FL
Broker Associate, Pinecrest (Miami) Specialist

Business is not seasonal for us in South Florida.  We give it our all 365 days a year!

Dec 30, 2014 02:42 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

For those of us in vacation areas, Tabitha Rector-Richardson , we are quite busy during the winter months.  I would actually like some time to reflect and work on some future plans.

Dec 30, 2014 01:38 AM
Rainer
104,074
Mike Belobradic
Johnston & Daniel Oakville - Oakville, ON
Your Trusted Advisor in Oakville Real Estate

Like Sylvia, I too have the time for a more personal touch during this slower time. I also point out the merits of listing now (versus waiting until spring when the market will be flush with competition) for those potential clients who are on the fence about timing.

Dec 30, 2014 01:36 AM
Rainmaker
522,311
Bill Kennedy
Keller Williams Greenville Upstate - Greenville, SC
Homes For Sale Greenville SC

Education! Time to train, brush up and get motivated for the New Year!

Dec 30, 2014 12:42 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Convert the spare room to a studio and produce new or update old media that supports 2015 marketing goals and markets.

 

Dec 30, 2014 12:10 AM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Never a slow season.

Aug 30, 2019 11:31 PM
Rainer
279,878
Dipti Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
On a team with Praful Thakkar

Learn new skills.

May 12, 2018 10:53 PM
Rainmaker
630,251
Ajay Pandya
e-Merge Real Estate Unlimited - Columbus, OH
Realtor Ajay Pandya

Not exactly for me.

Jan 03, 2018 11:16 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

The same year round

Oct 29, 2016 11:25 PM
Rainer
13,830
Melissa Stone
Lipply Real Estate - Trinity, FL
Sparkling Gulf Coast From Tampa to Clearwater

No slow seasons here!  On the coast we are busy all year round!

Jan 07, 2015 12:23 AM
Rainer
55,296
Tabitha Rector-Richardson
Premier Homes Realty - Owings Mills, MD
Premier Homes Realty (443) 415-4215

Great idea Bill...

Dec 30, 2014 12:45 AM
Rainer
55,296
Tabitha Rector-Richardson
Premier Homes Realty - Owings Mills, MD
Premier Homes Realty (443) 415-4215

Annette, do you create your own marketing material?  If so, what software are you using?

Dec 30, 2014 12:45 AM