How to Thrive During the Holidays

The holiday season represents one of the biggest challenges for real estate agents. Most sellers and buyers want to focus on shopping for presents and planning family meals during this time. Nobody is in the mood to pack up and move. That’s why this is a slow period for the real estate business. As a result, many realtors choose to close up shop and take a holiday themselves. Of course, this is not a bad idea. After all, you deserve a break every once in a while. But you can also learn how to thrive during the holidays as a real estate agent and take that break afterward. Here are some tips on how to do that.

No. 1 How to thrive during the holidays as a real estate agent? By being available.

As previously mentioned, many realtors go on vacation during the holidays. That’s why being available during this time is one of the best ways to stand out as a real estate agent. This will show your clients that you’re a professional and that they can always rely on you. Nevertheless, you must inform your clients of your holiday work schedule. Otherwise, they might presume you’re taking a break like everyone else. So, make sure you include this information on your website, on social media, and in your newsletters.

No. 2 Stage homes in the holiday spirit

Why not bring some of that holiday spirit into the homes you’re trying to sell? This will make them feel more welcoming and cozier. You don’t have to go overboard and adorn the entire home with Christmas decorations. Just add a few Christmas lights and decorations in the living room. You should also take some photos and upload them on your website for all your clients to see. Furthermore, if you are selling a house, don’t forget about curb appeal. Decorating the exterior of the house with Christmas lights will make it stand out. 

No. 3 Send holiday greetings to your clients

There’s nothing more important than showing your clients that you appreciate them. This applies to past and current clients, as well as prospects. And a great way to show your appreciation is by sending them holiday greeting cards. You can use a holiday email template, or if you want to make it more personal, you can write it by hand and send it by post. For big clients, you can make an extra effort and send them a small gift basket.

No. 4 Create holiday content

Let’s face it, the majority of people love the holidays. So, how to thrive during the holidays as a real estate agent? By creating and sharing holiday content. This is one of the best marketing strategies you can apply during this time. It will help you generate leads and keep your clients interested. Whether you create written content or video content, make sure you provide useful and relevant information. For example, you can offer suggestions on how to decorate a home, how to host an Open House Christmas party, or how to pick the right gifts. Once you create the content, you can post it on your website and social media and even include it in a newsletter.

No. 5 Inform your clients and leads this is a great time to buy a home

Many people avoid buying homes during the holidays or winter in general. On the one hand, they find it harder to take care of home repairs and updates during this time. On the other hand, they don’t feel like packing up and moving when it’s freezing outside. But what they don’t know is that this is a great time to buy a home. So, you should inform them about some of the benefits:

• There’s a lot less competition. Thus, buyers will have a better chance of negotiating lower prices.
• Contractors are less busy because few people renovate their homes during winter. Therefore, buyers might get to move into their new homes faster.
• Movers offer better deals. According to the consultants from moversnotshakers.com, you might be able to negotiate a lower price for moving services during winter. Not to mention that it will be easier to find available movers because they have clearer schedules during this time.

No. 6 Tis the season to network

In real estate, having the right connections is highly important. So, you should make time for networking all year round. But you can also take advantage of this slow period. Do some online research on real estate-related events and attend as many as possible. This will allow you to meet prospects, real estate investors, and other professionals in your business. Once you meet them, you can schedule business meetings with them or take them out on a business lunch. During these appointments, you can make a pitch, seek information, or answer their questions.  Moreover, this might be the start of a good business relationship.

No. 7 Make some improvements

If your business isn’t doing so well, you should find ways to increase your business’s presence. One way to achieve that is by putting some work into your marketing strategy. You should focus on digital marketing because, in this day and age, your business can’t survive without it. You could also consider making a shift to niche real estate. This entails specializing in certain types of clients, properties, or locations. Furthermore, you should also consider some personal improvements. For example, you can enroll in a course to perfect your skills or learn new ones. 

Final thoughts

Learning how to thrive during the holidays as a real estate agent is not hard. Making yourself available is what counts the most. Even if fewer people search for homes during this time, they will still need a good realtor. And since the supply is low, you can step in and help them out due to vacations. Moreover, this is the perfect time to generate leads and extend your contact pool. Nevertheless, don’t forget that it’s not all about the profits. It would be best to make time for your friends and family during the holiday season.