Organisation – The Property Writers

A common denominator in plenty of conversations of late has been how winter tends to slow things down in real estate matters.

Though real estate isn’t strictly seasonal, it’s fair to say that heading into the warmer months in Australia and come December each year, there are more properties hitting the market.

Considering people tend to only list their homes for sale in Australia an average of every seven years, it makes sense that timing is critical.

If you’ve got a sparkling swimming pool in your backyard, you’re hardly going to fancy your chances when sideways rain is battering people jumping in and out of their cars at opens.

This isn’t to say that properties aren’t popping up for sale consistently, in all major cities, at any given time, because they are.

In fact, auction clearance rates for the weekend just gone were pretty interesting (Source: Rp Data, week ending Saturday 30th July 2016):

City	Clearance rate	total auctions	RP data Auction Results	Sold prior to Auction	Sold at Auction	Sold after auction	Passed in	w/drawn
Adelaide	71%	39	31	2	19	1	8	1
Brisbane	59.6%	110	47	9	18	1	19	0
Canberra	90.9%	14	11	2	6	2	1	0
Melbourne	85.9%	447	396	59	279	2	53	3
Perth	29.4%	17	17	2	3	0	12	0
Sydney	74.0%	294	235	43	130	1	46	15
Tasmania	50.0%	7	2	0	1	0	1	0

But we know that inevitably, business can slow a little for real estate agencies and the services that they use.

So, how to make the most of these months, when your days each week may not be as jam-packed as warmer seasons? Here are some options:

1> Hit the networking events. Even if you’re a little on the shy side (doubtful, if you’re a real estate agent!), certain events in winter months can be a seriously enjoyable. And opportunities to make fresh contacts. They are almost always inside, so rain, hail or shine, you can head along and forget about the torrential rain outside. Even if you just stand around complaining about the weather together, it could be a few hours well spent.

2> Accept that this is a “quieter” period in your business year and allocate time for a holiday. Having less listings or work to oversee could mean that this is an ideal time to slip away, even if you’re still governing things from afar. It could also invigorate you for your upcoming silly season.

3> Do the opposite to the above point and come up with an action plan for a cold-weather hustle! Having time up your sleeve could be the best opportunity to do a business health check. There are a myriad of resources out there for ensuring that your business’s support systems, services and tools are currently best for you. Why not set aside half a a whole day and check in with your banking, POS systems, social media accounts and suppliers? It could mean that come spring, you and your business are feeling squeaky clean and ready for a mad summer.

4> TAX. Organise a time with your accountant and get that tax done now, so it’s not a deadline looming over you when you are really scraping for free hours. You’ll thank yourself for the foresight.

5> Make the most of the INDOORS. I’m a bit partial to winter-time for this incentive myself. We have some stunning scenery here in South Australia. But, sometimes when the cold air is making your fingers ache, these outlooks are best enjoyed from indoors, with a hot beverage in hand.

How lovely is it to warm your hands around a hot drink?!

There are so many sublime attractions that can be enjoyed no matter what the weather brings. Some of my favourites are (specific to Adelaide):

The South Australian Art Gallery
The South Australian Museum
Take in some theatre at Adelaide Festival Centre
The Adelaide Central Markets
The MOVIES! – My favourite for value-for-money is the classic Semaphore Odeon Star Cinema
Jam Factory for a spot of art appreciation and even a beverage

Or, of course, find a cellar door or restaurant, preferably one with a fireplace (My favourite is d’Arenberg in McLaren Vale) and duck indoors and enjoy the winter ambience.

We are so spoilt for beautiful beaches here (Christies Beach pictured) but winter-time isn't the time for a dip! — We are so spoilt for beautiful beaches here (Christies Beach pictured) but winter-time isn’t ideal for a dip!

The great thing is, most of these places can make for a wonderfully relaxing backdrop for a business meeting, if you want to mix work with play and remain on top of your (work) game.

Save for the movies, as you really will get shushed by other people, why not get creative for your next winter-time meeting? Opt for one of the above suggested indoor spots, or a fabulous idea of your own?

Or, you can do what my daughter’s kitty does and just seek out the winter sunbeams and ride winter out:

If you have any other suggestions on being the winter blues and remaining proactive, let us know on Instagram or Twitter.

Katharine

How to work on the go

Got your phone? You won't need much else!

If you work in the real estate industry, whether you’re an agent, property manager, or a developer, chances are you spend a lot of time in your car.

I’ve come up with a few hacks to make the most of your mobility and revel in your chance to work out of a mobile office.

All it takes is foresight, a little bit of technology and an awareness of how to best manage your time whilst not in your office.

Set aside time each morning planning your route and take note of places/areas in which you will likely stop. Having a plan for your day will empower you – of course things certainly don’t always go to plan, particularly in this industry! But it’s better to start the day with a framework, than none at all, and adapt accordingly.

Put together your work-on-the-go-kit. Picture your desk – what is on it that you use frequently that you may need to replicate in your car? It’s pretty straightforward, but if you keep a separate car charger for your phone/tablet, notebook, pens, diary and glasses if you require them together, in a bag or storage tub in your car, you’ll thank yourself for it. It means not having to grab extra bits and pieces before leaving your office. Knowing that you’ll have what you need with you if you have to unexpectedly stay out longer than planned will provide you with peace of mind. It sounds so simple, but the amount of times we’ve clients have said their phone battery had betrayed them, or they didn’t have their reading glasses has made us all the more aware of the importance of these basic things. (I’ve been guilty of forgetting so many of these things too.)
Get your kit sorted!

Cloud storage is your friend. It’s inevitable that being on the go so much, you’ll be creating or receiving documents. You will want these saved securely without you having to switch devices often, or wait until you return to your office. If they are streamlined across your devices, you ultimately save time.

As well as utilising handy cloud storage, there are plenty of apps that I use that I swear by for using while working on the run. That’s a whole other post in itself, but ones I favour are Evernote for word processing/note taking, Dropbox for saving and sending files and utilising Voice Memo (or the Android equivalent) for dictating.

Speaking of back-up – portable contents insurance – ensure that you have it! If you do have an unfortunate incident with one of your devices or contents, if it’s covered by your insurance policy, you’ll be glad to not have hassles when making a claim.
Before you hit the pavement make sure your belongings are secure and that you have insurance.

Coffee and snack stops. These are vital, especially if you are fuelled by caffeine, as I admittedly am. (What writer isn’t, really?) Packing your own food can often be healthier and more cost effective, but isn’t always a daily reality. For when you are making a stop, if you don’t mind repetition, go for somewhere with a loyalty scheme for your beverages, so you’re at last getting a free drink after several. If you like mixing it up, find somewhere different each time and aim to support small or local businesses to the area that you’re stopping in. And do your part for reducing your carbon footprint and aim to take in your own travel mug to fill up, if stopping for coffee is a regular thing. You can get some AMAZING ones online, or even your local stationary supplies store.
Image source: www.keepcup.com

Embrace podcasts! They are a great way to stay engaged and informed in your industry and stay mellow in traffic. As long as you feel like you can still concentrate while driving, podcasts are a seriously fabulous way to make the most of time spent driving. You could always use the time to indulge in podcasts aligned your own personal interests or hobbies now and then to mix up your day and drive.

Find an inspiring natural landscape, or backdrop, to stop and work at. Make the most of your position of not being fixed in the same working space day in, day out. Seek inspiration in the great outdoors. Fresh air and natural splendour do wonders for soul and can really help boost creativity. I love so many quotes from John Muir. A particular favourite, to finish on:

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. – John Muir

Find a natural setting to stop at and enjoy while you work.

What are your tips for working while out and about? And please do let us know of any podcasts we should be subscribing to. Visit us on Instagram and Facebook to give us your own tips and tricks.

Winter in real estate

How to work on the go