Working in real estate can be thrilling and challenging at the same time.
A ton of tasks always need to be completed, and managing them can be quite draining. This is why you should consider taking some personal time and vacationing.
And running a real estate business can make you feel overwhelmed and burned out, and you may even dread the next client call or appointment. So it’s natural to feel apprehensive about stepping away from your business, but taking a break is crucial for your well-being and your business’s success.
Going on vacation is a great way to recharge your battery and take a break from the hustle and bustle of business life.
However, taking time off can be daunting for real estate agents because it could mean losing customer engagement and loyalty.
The truth is, you can take a vacation without sacrificing your business.
The key is to prepare your clients for your absence beforehand so everything runs smoothly while you're away.
Plan To Relax
Taking time away from your business can feel threatening in the helter-skelter bustle of real estate.
And the reason time away from your business creates fear in you is because you’re worried about potentially losing a client, not closing a deal, or any other worst-case scenario you can imagine.
But the reality is there will be another deal, another client, and you deserve some personal time to recharge and recuperate.
To vacation without ruining your business, the first thing to do is plan your vacation.
Try to create a schedule with specific times when you will be unavailable throughout your time away so that you can communicate with your clients.
You can give notice to them that you'll be unable to respond for an extended period by sending out an email or posting about it on social media. Or, you can set up a partnership with another agent that can take on your workload and tell your clients that they can communicate with them while you’re gone.
This will give your clients plenty of notice ahead of time so that they can adjust their expectations accordingly.
Additionally, you should consider engaging with your clients right before or after the vacation period since they’ll likely appreciate the effort to stay connected while still giving yourself the relaxing break needed.
These proactive steps will help ensure that customers and their needs are handled during this time away from work.
Benefits of Taking a Vacation
As a real estate agent, taking a vacation without worrying about the potential impact on business operations can be challenging.
However, there are some serious health benefits to taking a well-deserved break that can benefit your mental health and the overall sustainability of your business.
Numerous studies have shown that vacation time can help reduce stress and decrease the risk of developing mental health issues such as depression and burnout.
This, in turn, can lead to increased productivity and creativity once you return to work.
Additionally, vacations can benefit physical health, as research has linked not taking time off to an increased risk of cardiovascular problems.
Taking a vacation doesn't have to mean completely disconnecting from work.
Setting up an emergency-only contact plan and designating alternative contacts can ensure business operations continue smoothly while you're away. Automating vacation response emails can also help manage client expectations and avoid angry or additional emails.
Taking vacation time is good for your mental health and well-being and can also be valuable in creating a sustainable company culture.
Proper planning and communication allow you to enjoy a stress-free vacation without ruining your business.
Preparing Your Business for a Vacation
Vacation time should be stress-free, especially for a hard-working real estate agent like yourself.
Entrepreneurs must take a break from everyday activities to recharge, improve physical health, and create a healthy work-life balance.
However, taking a break from one's business can be daunting with the fear of losing momentum and clients' trust.
Set an Automatic Response to Emails
As a real estate agent, you know taking time off for a stress-free vacation is important.
However, it can be challenging to disconnect from work while you're away.
One way to manage your workload while on vacation is to set an automatic email response. Here are some steps to guide you in setting up an automated email response:
1. Draft the Message
Start by drafting your email message. It should include the date of your return, your response timeline, and alternative contacts for urgent matters. Also, inform clients that you will only respond to your daily emails.
2. Use Out-Of-Office Tool
After writing the email message, use your email service's out-of-office tool to set an automatic response. This tool is available on most email services, such as Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, and others.
3. Specify Return Date and Response Timelines
Ensure the email includes your return date and when the client can expect a response from you. Be clear with the response timeline for urgency levels. If it is a non-urgent issue, specify when the client can expect an answer, for example, within a week.
4. Respond to Urgent Emails Promptly
For daily clients, specify that you will only be checking your emails once a day. So, explaining that urgent emails should have “URGENT” in the subject line is essential. That way, you can respond promptly to any urgent inquiries.
Establish Alternate Contacts
When it comes to taking a stress-free vacation, having reliable alternate contacts in place is essential.
These trusted agents will act as a safety net for you and your clients in case any emergencies arise while you're away.
Inform your clients about these alternate contacts and how they can reach them if needed.
These contacts may include a virtual assistant, a colleague or partner, or a member of your team.
Be sure to explain the responsibilities and tasks these individuals will be handling and ensure they understand their role and are ready to take on any necessary duties.
It's essential to list the contact information for each person and provide clear instructions for reaching them. In addition, be sure to communicate the backup contact's availability and their method of communication.
Plan Ahead
Finally, to successfully vacation without ruining your business requires you to plan for activities and timelines that may arise while you’re away.
For example, you get a listing the week before you plan to go out of town. On the first showing, you get multiple offers to consider.
You present the offers to your client, and they choose one right before you depart for vacation.
If you are reactive, you’ll probably be scrambling to get organized, but since you knew you had a listing and that you would also be out of town, you can prepare for all the paperwork ahead of time, letting you relax when you’re away, and the deal is under contract.
Planning is critical to ensuring that your vacation remains as stress-free as possible.
Determine the logistics of automating what you can, hiring short-term help- how many hours a day are required, what responsibilities they will handle, what their payments will be, etc., and plan for the activities and tasks that may come up while you’re on vacation.
