The holidays are busy for everyone, and for agents, this can make your job particularly challenging.
Not only are you juggling family events, work parties, vacations and your kiddos’ breaks from school, but you also must juggle your clients’, too. It can mean lots of missed calls, forgotten emails and lags in communication that can slow down deals or, in some cases, even mean a lost dream home or two.
Want to make sure you and your clients are on the same page during the holidays? Here are three ways to do it:
1. Sync up calendars from the start
Before we get too close to the holidays, send your clients your full schedule for the month — what days you’re out of town, when you’ll be out of pocket for family events or other obligations, and when your hours might change or adjust.
Then, ask for their calendar in return. This can help you both set clear expectations and ensure you’re on the same page.
2. Set up OOOs — and proxies
Anytime you’re going to be out of town or even unavailable for just a day or two, set up out-of-office alerts on your email, voicemail, and texts. In the message, make sure to designate a proxy (or two or three) who can be counted on to reply while you’re out.
Be sure you’ve cleared it with this person first, and always intro your clients to these parties before heading out. This can be as simple as sending a quick email saying, “Hello, here is my proxy team while I’m out X through X,” CC’ing everyone involved.
3. Overcommunicate
Things can easily fall through the cracks during the holidays, so err on the side of overcommunicating. Didn’t get a reply to that important email yesterday? Send a follow-up the next morning or fire off a quick text. Haven’t gotten the list of repairs your buyers want to ask for? Give them a call and ask for a status update.
Make sure to overcommunicate before you or your clients are out, too. Find out if there’s anything you can do prior to leaving that would ease the process or prevent possible issues. It may be as simple as sending them documents to review while they’re gone or ensuring their loan officer and inspector have your proxy’s contact info.
Want to maximize your holidays?
If you have downtime during the holidays, use the bandwidth to pore over our real estate agent resources and marketing ideas. Want to grow your network? Connect with an Embrace Home Loans loan officer in your area today!
