by Zipporah Porton

The year is winding down and 2011 is quickly approaching. Before the holidays arrive, after you have caught up on time with the family – or simply gotten some rest – it’s time to get in gear and get your business ready for the New Year.  Here are some steps to take before saying goodbye to 2010.

1. Send greeting cards to current and past clients – The holidays present a perfect time to reconnect with old clients, and let current clients know they’re on your mind. You can send everyone a happy holidays card, or you can wait and make sure not to offend with a simple Happy New Year greeting. Remember, not everyone celebrates Christmas, so avoid sending a card that might not be relevant, because your client might feel that you weren’t paying attention.

2. Take inventory of what happened in 2010 – If you made a plan for 2010, revisit the plan and see how closely you stuck to it and if that even made a difference. Do you feel like you went to enough networking events? Did you keep in constant contact with former clients? Did you spend too much or too little of your budget on marketing? How effective was each step? After discovering what worked and what didn’t, you’ll be armed and ready to take 2011 by storm.

3. Make a plan for 2011 – December is the best time to create a plan of action for 2011. You can plan your budget for marketing materials, or you can map out new ways to find clients. You don’t have to schedule every minute of the year, but it’s good to set goals before January.

4. Check in with your managing broker for tips and advice – During the year, it can be tough to find time to check in with your managing broker. Some offices require weekly/monthly meetings, while others may never see their agents all year long. Make a habit of checking in with your managing broker for hints, tips and evaluations. They’re here for you, so take advantage of their knowledge and expertise. At the end of the year, sit down and talk over your sales history and go over the plan you’ve designed for 2011.

5. Familiarize yourself with any new rules that are coming out – January 1 is when a lot of new laws and regulations go into effect. Take some time to brush up on the new real estate rules that changed at the end of 2010, and the ones that will be new in 2011. The more information you have in your real estate arsenal, the more valuable you will be to your clients.

6. Pat yourself on the back for making it through 2010 – Let’s face it, things started to look up in 2010, but the year was still a beast. If you are still making it as a Realtor after all that this industry has been through, you deserve a pat on the back and congratulatory words. Don’t forget to take a little time for yourself before the New Year and splurge on whatever it is you love – you deserve it.

Happy holidays and happy New Year from Chicago Agent!

Copyright 2010 Agent Publishing LLC