Why Your Systems as a Real Estate Agent Matter Sometimes More Than Your Goals
As the new year approaches, many real estate professionals find themselves reflecting on the past year and setting ambitious goals for the one ahead. Whether it’s more closings, higher commissions, or landing that dream client, goals are an essential part of growth. But here’s the truth: you don’t rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.
Why Systems Matter More Than Goals in Real Estate
As the new year approaches, many real estate professionals find themselves reflecting on the past year and setting ambitious goals for the one ahead. Whether it’s more closings, higher commissions, or landing that dream client, goals are an essential part of growth. But here’s the truth: you don’t rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.
Goals may light the path, but systems are the engine that get you there. This time of year is the perfect opportunity to not only dream big but also evaluate and enhance the systems and processes that underpin your business. Let’s break down how you can use this season to set yourself up for success.
Step 1: Audit Your Processes
Start by asking yourself: Are your current processes streamlined or chaotic? Take a step back and assess how your workflows function. Are they efficient, or are they causing unnecessary stress and delays? From lead generation to client communication to transaction management, identify any bottlenecks or inefficiencies that need to be addressed.
Pro Tip: Write out your typical client journey from start to finish. Where are the pain points? What’s working? What’s not?
Step 2: Evaluate Your Support Team
Real estate is not a solo sport. The people you surround yourself with—your team, partners, and vendors—play a critical role in your success. Take time to evaluate:
Do you have the right people in the right roles?
Are there gaps in expertise or support that need to be filled?
Is everyone aligned with your vision and goals?
Remember, your systems are only as strong as the people executing them. Surrounding yourself with the right team can make or break your ability to scale and grow.
Step 3: Assess Your Tools and Technology
In today’s market, leveraging the right tools can mean the difference between a smooth transaction and a missed opportunity. Audit your CRM, transaction management software, marketing platforms, and other tools. Are they working for you, or are they creating additional hurdles?
Ask yourself:
Are my tools integrated and user-friendly?
Do they align with the way I work?
Are there new tools I should consider for efficiency and growth?
Step 4: Build Systems That Support Your Goals
Once you’ve audited your processes, team, and tools, it’s time to create or refine systems that align with your goals. A great system ensures that even on your busiest days, you have the structure and support needed to stay on track.
Here are some ideas to get started:
Time blocking: Dedicate specific blocks of time for lead generation, client follow-ups, and administrative tasks.
Automation: Use automated workflows for emails, reminders, and document management to save time and reduce errors.
Checklists: Create checklists for repeatable tasks like onboarding new clients or preparing for closings to ensure consistency.
The New Year: A Fresh Start for Your Business
This season isn’t just about setting goals; it’s about laying the foundation to achieve them. When you focus on your systems, you create a reliable framework that allows you to consistently perform at a high level, regardless of market conditions or unexpected challenges.
As you step into the new year, challenge yourself to not only dream big but to build better. Set goals that excite you, but more importantly, design systems that ensure your success. By prioritizing your processes, people, and tools, you’ll be ready to crush your goals in 2025 and beyond.
Ready to take your real estate business to the next level? Let’s make this the year you build the systems that support your dreams.
#realestategoals #levelup #systemsforsuccess #newyearnewsystems #realestating
5 Tips to Keep Your CRM Updated Without Feeling Overwhelmed
Are you prioritizing your CRM in the new year? A real estate agent, it’s likely that you know that nothing is more important than maintaining your database, but finding the time to maintain your CRM can feel daunting. Here, five tips and tricks to avoid burnout in the new year.
So the time has come for you to send out your holiday cards, and you’re just now realizing that your CRM database hasn’t been updated. This is your personal nightmare.
Sound familiar? The good news is, you can always jump into your CRM and start building it out with intention. It’s never too late.
Find the Time in 2025: 5 Tips to Keep Your CRM Updated Without Feeling Overwhelmed
We get it—updating your CRM can feel like another thing on your never-ending to-do list. But with a little intention, it’s easier than you think to stay on top of it. Here are 5 tips to help you carve out time to keep your CRM fresh and organized:
1️⃣ Time Block Like a Boss: Dedicate 15-20 minutes each day to update notes, add new leads, or follow up on tasks. Schedule it like an appointment you can’t skip.
2️⃣ Work Smarter, Not Harder: Automate as much as possible! Sync your emails, calendar, and lead capture forms so your CRM updates itself in the background.
3️⃣ Make It a Habit: Add CRM updates to your daily routine—whether it’s your morning coffee time or a mid-afternoon break, consistency is key.
4️⃣ Categorize Everything: Use tags and notes to keep your contacts organized. The more detailed you are now, the easier it will be to find what you need later.
5️⃣ Set Quick Wins: Focus on updating just a few entries at a time. Even small updates make a big difference when done consistently.
Your CRM is more than a database—it’s the foundation of your client relationships. Prioritize it, and it will reward you with a smoother, more productive year.
💬 Looking for some accountability this year with your CRM and database management? We can help you. Sign up for coaching and mentorship today!
NEW FEATURE ALERT: Introducing Google Vids - A Game-Changing Feature for Real Estate Agents and Team Leaders
Google Vids is the newest feature from Google Workspace and we have all the information about how to use it, why you need to use it, and more!
New Feature in Google Workspace: Google Vids
As a real estate professional—whether you’re a solo agent or leading a team—staying ahead of the curve means embracing tools that streamline your workflow, enhance communication, and keep you focused on what truly matters: serving your clients and growing your business. Google Workspace just rolled out an exciting new feature—Google Vids—that’s tailor-made for the fast-paced world of real estate.
In a video I recently shot (linked here: insert link or reference location), I shared a hands-on walkthrough of Google Vids and showed exactly how I’m using it to elevate my business and keep my team running smoothly. Spoiler: It’s a game-changer.
Let’s explore what Google Vids is and why it’s a must-have tool for both agents and team leaders.
What Is Google Vids?
Google Vids is the newest addition to Google Workspace, designed to make video creation, sharing, and collaboration seamless. It’s a one-stop shop for recording, editing, and hosting video content directly within the Google ecosystem. Best of all, it integrates effortlessly with your go-to tools like Google Drive, Gmail, Calendar, and Google Meet, ensuring your videos are always where you need them.
Benefits of Google Vids for Agents and Team Leaders
1. Effortless Property Tours
Agents can easily create high-quality property walkthroughs and share them directly with clients via Drive or Gmail. With built-in editing tools, you can trim, annotate, and add captions to make your videos look polished and professional. Team leaders, this is a great way to help agents on your team showcase listings more effectively while maintaining a consistent brand standard.
2. Simplified Client Collaboration
Google Vids allows you to share videos with private links and enables time-stamped comments for direct feedback. Whether you’re collaborating on a listing with your team or responding to a buyer’s questions, this feature keeps communication clear and organized—saving time and reducing the need for lengthy emails.
3. Seamless Team Training and Updates
For team leaders, Google Vids is an excellent tool for creating training videos, team updates, and onboarding content. Record quick tutorials, market updates, or role-specific guidance and share them instantly with your team. It’s also perfect for recording team meetings or brainstorming sessions so agents can revisit key points.
4. Enhanced Organization
Google Vids syncs all your videos to Google Drive, keeping them centralized and easily searchable. Agents can stay on top of their client-facing content, while team leaders can manage a library of training materials, market analyses, and team resources—all in one place.
5. Supercharged Personal and Team Branding
In today’s competitive market, video content is essential for standing out. Agents can use Google Vids to create neighborhood spotlights, market updates, or social media content, while team leaders can enhance their team’s branding efforts with consistent, high-quality videos that showcase your expertise and team culture.
How I’m Using Google Vids
In the video I just shot, I demonstrated how I use Google Vids for both client-facing and team-focused tasks. For example, I recently recorded a property walkthrough for a client who couldn’t attend a showing in person. Using Google Vids, I created a polished virtual tour complete with commentary and annotations, which the client loved.
As a team leader, I’ve also started using Google Vids to streamline my communication with agents. I recorded a quick market update video to share insights and strategies for the week ahead, which saved time and ensured everyone was aligned on our goals.
Why Every Agent and Team Leader Should Start Using Google Vids
If you’re already using Google Workspace, Google Vids is a natural and powerful extension of your toolkit. It simplifies client communication, enhances team collaboration, and positions you as a tech-savvy professional in today’s video-driven world.
For team leaders, it’s a great way to elevate your team’s training, communication, and branding, helping you build a cohesive, high-performing group. For agents, it’s a tool to streamline workflows, impress clients, and boost your personal brand.
Don’t just take my word for it—try it for yourself! And if you’re looking for a step-by-step guide, check out my video for actionable tips and real-world examples of how I’m using this feature in my business.
With tools like Google Vids, you can focus less on managing technology and more on what you do best: growing your business, leading your team, and serving your clients.
Have you tried Google Vids yet? I’d love to hear how you’re incorporating it into your real estate business! Drop a comment or reach out to share your experience.
Mega Agents…. Listen Like Their Careers Depend On It
If you want to be a Mega Agent, you have to learn how to listen like your career depends on it. The most Elite real estate agents are the best listeners.
To become a Mega Agent, you need to listen to your clients and absorb their verbal and non-verbal queues like your career depends on it
Mastering the Art of Listening in Real Estate
It’s often said that the smartest people in the room ask the best questions. While true, this advice can be a double-edged sword—especially for salespeople and real estate agents who are natural extroverts, talkative, and brimming with energy (hello, my Enneagram 7s, 3s, and 8s—where you at, fam?).
For mega agents, the secret sauce isn’t just in asking great questions; it’s in listening—truly listening—and using the details in those answers to pivot your strategy.
🤔 What separates a good agent from a great agent?
Good agents ask great questions.
Great agents ask great questions and listen with razor-sharp focus to uncover critical details and client pain points.
Too often, agents fall into the trap of formulating their next question instead of digging deeper into what their client has just shared. The result? Missed opportunities and surface-level connections.
Let’s look at an example:
Scenario
Agent: “Tell me about the perfect home for you.”
Buyer: “Well, our biggest thing is we want a backyard with a lot of space and privacy.”
Good Agent: “Fantastic! And how many bedrooms would you like?”
Great Agent: “How much backyard space do you consider to be ‘a lot of space’?”
OR: “What do you mean when you say ‘lots of privacy’?”
OR: “Oh man, is your current yard pretty small?”
This last one is a pro move straight out of FBI negotiation tactics (yes, really). By channeling the client’s current pain points (“small yard”) into the conversation, the Great Agent not only builds rapport but also starts laying the groundwork for picking up a listing.
Bonus Questions for a Mega Agent Approach:
“Who will be enjoying the outdoor space at the new home?”
Translation: Ask without asking if they have kids or pets.
“What’s been the biggest challenge with your current backyard?”
A subtle way to zero in on their motivation for moving.
As a Mega Agent, the goal isn’t just to hear your client—it’s to understand them. And that starts by listening, digging deeper, and uncovering the real story behind their answers.
💡 Pro Tip: If you haven’t already, read Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss. It’s a game-changer for mastering the art of listening, negotiating, and building trust.
Great agents don’t just sell homes—they solve problems. And that starts with one thing: listening.
5 Things I Do When I Want To Pick Up A New Client
🤷♀️ In a production slump? Here are 5 things you can do to immediately as a real estate agent doing the Real Estating, to pick up a new real estate client.
Need a jumpstart for your real estate career? Here are 5 things you can do immediately to get after it.
🤷♀️ In a production slump? Here are 5 things you can do to immediately pick up a new real estate client:
1. Leverage Your Network 🗣️
First thing’s first – tapping into your network can be the most powerful thing you do. Friends, family, past clients – let them know you’re on the hunt for new opportunities. Shoot them a text message, make a call, or post an update indicating that you have time for new clients. It can be scary tough ask for business, but sometimes a timely “I have open appointments” is the trick to getting a new client referral from someone in your existing network.
2. Host Open Houses 🏡
Open houses have always been my secret sauce in terms of meeting new people. Host them like a pro and attract those buyers and sellers by advertising everywhere – social media, flyers, road signs, door knocking — there are so many creative ways to drive traffic to your open house. Make the property look its best and be ready to engage with every visitor. Your priority should always be trying to sell the home you’re hosting but a by product should be meeting new people. Show them why you’re the best in the biz.
3. Offer Free Home Valuations 🏠
Offering free home valuations to my sphere has always been a great way to attract new clients for me. The way I advertise this is usually through social media or doorknocking. Providing a detailed, professional valuation report on someone’s home helps potential clients see the value you bring to the table and usually leads to a client conversion.
4. Partner with Local Businesses 🤝
Form powerful alliances with local businesses like coffee shops, home improvement stores, and moving companies. Propose win-win deals – leave your business cards and flyers at their spots and do the same for them. Join forces for community events for maximum visibility.
5. Participate in Facebook Groups 💬
Find your local Facebook pages, join them, and *engage*. This is maybe the most underrated way to win market share. Share your knowledge as a real estate agent and connect with potential clients inadvertently by providing value. Answer questions, give advice, and position yourself as an expert.