Whether you’re refining your business model, mastering new technology, or finding a strategy to take advantage of the next market boom, Inman Connect New York prepares you to take a bold step. The next chapter is about to begin. Please join us. Join us and thousands of other real estate leaders from January 22-24, 2025.
At this time of year, when I see unrealistic recommendations from real estate and lifestyle coaches and gurus, I often say to myself, “That’s ridiculous.” Among these lists and new habits we must begin to adapt in the darkness of winter, enter the next year with renewed vigor and speed and claim victory in the first quarter. Some things are almost impossible to tackle when you’re expected to.
This year will go down in industry history as one of the most chaotic years of legal battles. I think it’s important to recognize that instead of covering it up with toxic positives. Instead, end this chapter with a sense of gratitude and focus on more intentional changes for you, your business, and hopefully your personal well-being in 2025.
Here, in no particular order, are 25 action steps to prepare for 2025. Taking action may also mean simplifying some tasks or putting the brakes on to lighten the burden and create more peaceful energy for the new year.
purge
1. Clear your calendar
There’s less work to do. If you’re already overwhelmed, now is not the time to add more to your plate. Reevaluate your schedule and be relentless. Where can you find your own downtime or assign the tasks you’re doing to someone else? Delegation can save your sanity. There are no prizes even if you do everything.
2. Purge “stuff”
You need to take responsibility even if you have little collateral. In other words, you need to find ways to remove physical and digital items in your life that require attention, maintenance, or additional decisions. This is especially important if you are constantly short on time and energy. Less things to manage means more time for rest and creativity.
3. Purge business tools
There is no magic tool or app that will bring you business if you don’t have the time to learn it and strategize. One of the biggest budget pitfalls many agents make is signing up for apps and tools they never use. Audit what you say and remove any tools that you know won’t take time to master and won’t allow you to use it to its full potential.
Instead, look at the free tools or tools already included in your membership and see if any of them can help your marketing needs.
4. Delete emails and emails
If you do this, you might find a deal or three there. Unsubscribe, update your spam information, and don’t send emails to the list. And take some time to deal with the firehose of information that floods and overwhelms you 24/7. Especially for agents, if you don’t manage your emails and text messages properly, you can miss important information that can quickly kill a deal.
5. Get rid of the comparing attitude
Many agents often daydream or fixate on trying to make it look like this: [insert top producer’s name here]. Rather than trying to imitate others, try to see yourself as you are and take pride in your work. Stop copying others and focus on being realistic about your brand.
outlook
6. Prospecting with intent
Set prospect intent in Q1. Review your database of leads who still need to sell or buy, create an action list to communicate valuable messages to previous sales, and remove underperforming leads from management. I usually send a “I was trying to get in touch” message at the end and then mark the message as a “lost lead.”
7. Leads with pre-generated collateral
I use the same video message and information package for all initial interactions with leads and prospects. This allows you to work quickly and efficiently.
8. Greet prospects with respect
I don’t call, knock on doors, or harass anyone. If we would like to respond to your inquiry, we will ask for your permission to call, email, or text you.
This allows you to:
What form of communication do they prefer? Show them how serious they are.
9. Valuable Leads
Everyone is busy and distracted. Send short emails and videos explaining exactly what you do and what problem you solve. If you don’t make a valuable statement in the first interaction, you might not get a good response.
for example:
Thank you for contacting us. I am licensed to assist with residential, land, and commercial real estate in the state. [Your State]. I specialize in these areas and am currently accepting new clients who are looking to make a career change in the coming months. I would love the opportunity to meet with you and discuss your goals. Can I call or join a meeting? [X day] in [X time]?
10. Look to the future with love for what you do.
Your prospects, clients, and customers can quickly tell whether you love what you do or whether you’re desperately trying to close your business because you have bills to pay. Don’t sound like a sales person. Don’t be manipulative. Avoid using jargon. Also, avoid scripts and clever language. There is an art to truly investing in your client’s needs. Please exist. Be a good listener. Take great notes.
11. Protect yourself from oversharing
The only people who need to know that you need to go out of business are your managers, coaches, and the people you live with. You don’t need to know about other people, especially your clients or your area. Don’t beg for business tips on social media groups. There are many free resources that can help you turn your situation around with a little effort.
12. Protect your finances for your future self.
Don’t let anyone make you feel inferior or negative if you need to take on extra work to keep your finances in order. With proper time management, you can do great work as a part-time agent. Please ignore the noise. Don’t waste all your savings and resources just because you’re trying to become a solo agent. You have options.
push
13. Get over your ego
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Agents who are overwhelmed (trying to do everything) or stagnant (not having enough work) have the same problem. They are trying to create solutions themselves, rather than using networks to find remedies.
14. Stick to your personal beliefs
The biggest pitfall for agents when dealing with the public is the inability to separate personal beliefs from the business of helping people sell or find homes. Homeownership is for everyone who can afford to buy. Your online presence is subject to interpretation. Please proceed with caution. The best rule of thumb is to say less.
15. Break through your limiting beliefs.
When I work with people, the biggest problem they have is the story they tell themselves about the current state of their lives. It’s very easy for them to identify and ruminate on what’s going wrong instead of focusing on solving problems and creating a path to what they want. Affirmations are a very helpful tool for this.
Stop
16. Stop giving in to negative thoughts
Post affirmations in visible places that help you stay on track with your intentions, and change them as needed. This simple visual is very powerful and helps keep your brain focused and focused.
17. Don’t overcomplicate your marketing.
Less is more. Find a routine that you can stick to. Create simple and easy-to-use templates. (Use the free one from Canva.) Stop trying to reinvent the wheel every six weeks.
18. Stop writing long emails and text messages.
People either don’t read it all, get overwhelmed, or don’t like it. Keep your communications as concise as possible and watch how much more efficient your day becomes.
19. Don’t let your phone control your day.
Your smartphone is ruining your brain, your peace, and your relationships. Focus on setting appointments, designated times to return calls or texts, and designated times to participate on social media.
Stop checking your phone 200 times a day. Set expectations with your clients and prospects about how you will communicate, promise to contact them at a specified time, and follow through. This will make your day a lot less chaotic and less distracting. This is a great way to overcome burnout and spend more time with your loved ones outside of work hours.
20. Stop putting your health first.
If you’re tired, miserable, in pain, or just generally not feeling well, that’s okay. That’s not a good way to live. Women in particular put their personal needs on the back burner and work until they are exhausted.
Do you enjoy prioritizing your health? No, not necessarily. Does it take time? Yes, that’s why you need to purge other things to have time to work on this. Will I feel better if I start working on this? yes.
This habit will save your business, your sanity, and your life. Stress can kill you, and the whole point of working is to have the money you need to live. You need to be healthy enough to enjoy it.
I work with older adults who have had great careers, accomplishments, and lives. And you know what? People who have traditionally taken care of their health tend not to need assistive devices, memory care, or skilled nursing care until their 90s. Burned out people need all of this, sometimes even in their late 60s.
Sugar, stress, alcohol, not eating fresh foods, and lack of exercise can all take away your independence later in life. Love yourself and take small steps to improve your health. Your future self will thank you.
21. Stop being involved in business that isn’t yours.
Stay in your lane, avoid drama like the plague, stay away from gossip, and avoid toxic environments. It’s nearly impossible to change someone’s mind, but it’s very easy to limit interactions in such spaces.
22. Stop feeling guilty.
Just because you haven’t reached your goals, milestones, etc. doesn’t mean you’re a failure. Love your current mess and try to be a little better every day. Life is harsh, unfair and unjust.
Deciding to stand up, show up, and keep the train on track is not only something to be admired at this time in history, but something to be celebrated. We’ve had an incredibly difficult introduction to the “Roaring” Twenties. Stop beating yourself up and give yourself grace for where you are.
23. Stop complaining without taking action.
If something bothers you, make a hard and fast rule that you can’t complain about it unless you take steps to resolve it. See how this changes different areas of your life. I made this resolution in 2020 and renew it every year. That made all the difference.
24. Stop being unsure of yourself.
Know your values and trust your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, you may change direction. Focus on making time to listen to your intuition and avoid making decisions too quickly without a period of “rest and study.”
In some cases, you can simply “leave” the problem for 24 hours and the problem will resolve itself. Remember that not everyone is your friend. Some are just customers or colleagues.
Make rest a priority.
Here are the top tips for 2025 that will change the way you think about efficiency and getting things done. If you decide to increase your scheduled downtime, sleep time, and vacation time, you’ll need to be very strategic about your schedule.
Do you know how to find an efficient agent? Find a traveling agent and ask them to share their secrets. Regular work hours and regular break times can do wonders for your clarity and focus. Instead of telling everyone you’re going to close 10 more deals this year, tell them you’re going to get more sleep this year and enjoy seeing their reactions.
final thoughts
My goal for 2025 is calm and peaceful energy. why? Because I’ve learned that busyness breeds haste and waste, and intentional planning creates more meaningful connections and experiences for my business.
Things don’t matter. People are important. When you identify with these values, it becomes easier to develop a business strategy to help people and run a professional business that is true to yourself and your goals. The most successful agents I know care about their community and are invested in helping as many people as possible.
Set your intentions, find peace, and don’t be surprised if you find sustainable prosperity in the process.
Rachel Hite is an experienced housing counselor and thought leader in the real estate industry, known for her extensive expertise across business news journalism, retirement housing, and affordable housing initiatives. . Connect with Rachel on Instagram and Linkedin.
