Eight secrets every agent needs to know for a successful 2014

Real estate sales tend to slow down around the holidays, but if your goal is to increase your brokerage’s profitability in 2014, the end of the year is vital to your team’s success, according to Chris Kiel, director of strategic partnerships for HomeFinder.com.

Kiel, an industry veteran and licensed broker since 1993, recommends agents incorporate the following into their year-end business goals:

1. Resist hibernation: As we enter the months of November and December, real estate agents often go into hibernation, says Christopher Fox, director of Agent Growth in Southeastern Michigan. Avoid this! This goes back to the basics of sales – every real estate agent needs a sales funnel of clients either looking to buy or sell their home. Focus on prospecting clients to refill your funnel to start 2014 on a high note.
2. Build a reliable network: Make a goal to create at least six new business relationships in different industries (ex: mortgage broker, professional stager, professional mover, real estate attorney) to give and receive referrals, says Kristine Wyatt, broker associate, Smart Click Realty. Surrounding yourself with a strong network will drastically improve your reach, and will also allow you to pay it forward.
3. Master the art of time blocking: Regardless of the stage of your career, time blocking is essential to grow your business. Fox advises to allocate a certain time of day – every day – to complete the tasks that are key to growing your business, like prospecting, returning calls, or building your social media networks.
4. Nurture past client relationships: You work so hard to build relationship with clients, but how do you keep in touch after the sale? Employ unique ways to stay in touch post-closing, like signing your clients up for a city-specific magazine so they will think of you when it is delivered every month; or help them turn their house into a home with a gift certificate to a local nursery. Fox says asking for referral business after completing the transaction is a vital part of achieving success. Thank everyone who refers you business, by taking them out to dinner, or sending a hand written note with a Starbucks card.
5. Audit your business: In order to measurably improve your business, it’s important to understand the metrics behind your success. Michigan Broker/Owner Doris LaBeau advises to evaluate your year-to-date business results. How much are you making per transaction? Where are your clients coming from? How much do you need to make next year? What tasks, projects, enhancements, skills, and credentials can improve in the next month that will set you up for a successful 2014?
6. Set 2014 year-end goals: Use the data you gathered from your audit to set measurable 2014 year-end goals, making sure they are greater than what you achieved in 2013. This is a trademark of a top producer, says Amy Mizner, a real estate principal in Massachusetts.
7. Complete your 2014 marketing plan: Create a marketing plan that focuses on meeting your 2014 year-end goals, says Mizner. This might include an increased advertising and branding budget, or an assistant to help you implement your marketing so you can focus on selling. Successful real estate brokers look at where their business is coming from to ensure they reach everyone in that corner of the market.
8. Stay focused on trends: Study trends, read extensively, and attend seminars, webinars and conferences to have a pulse on what is on in the industry, says Bruce Ailion, a broker in the greater Atlanta area. Once you are familiar with industry and local trends (new construction sales, short sales, an influx of investors, international sales, etc.), equip yourself with the tools, training and techniques to specialize in those trends.