2009 Making Some Changes. The Year of Taking Control of My RE Career.

For me, new years is always one of my favorite times of the year. It gives me a chance to reflect on the past year, take notice of what I did right and what I did wrong, what was effective and what was not effective, etc. New years always gives me the feeling of a fresh start, a chance to make things right, a chance to make this year better than the last. Every year around this time, that old saying always pops into my head, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life."

2009 is going to be the year of my business, the year to really take charge of my career. I got into real estate when I was a very young (18) while I was still in college. I sold real estate part time while I was in college and when I graduated from college the real estate market was booming. It didn't take much to make a good living selling real estate. If you treated your clients well, gave them the results and service they wanted and kept in contact after closing, it seemed that the business just kept rolling in. I spent minimal money on marketing and made a pretty good living just handing out my business cards. Well times have changed, to say the least.

My First Big Lesson In Real Estate

This economic/ real estate down turn has really impacted my career and has opened up my eyes to the fact that if I want to be successful in real estate (in the good times and bad) I must run it like a business. I must have a marketing/business plan for every year, I must track my leads/transactions, I must stick to the plan and I must spend money to make money.

Books

Over the last year I have probably read every real estate agent related book there is. 2009 is the year I start implementing those strategies. I have taken a long hard look at the real estate environment in my area and have finalized my business/marketing plan for this year. I am excited to get it going.

Spending Money

Something I have never done in my real estate career is spend money. Up until this point in my career, I have lived off of referrals and networking. Although networking will always be in my business plan and play a major part in building my business, I have decided that I need to start spending money. Almost all of the high producing agents I have spoke with as well as all the books I have read preach the fact that you must market yourself.

I am very excited about what 2009 has in store for me and my business.