Wanna Get Away?

Here’s How! Follow Our Vacation Tips for Busy Industry Professionals

“A vacation,” wrote journalist Earl Wilson, “is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.”

In our industry, it seems there is never a perfect time for a vacation. There are always relationships to nurture, loan transactions to manage, and marketing strategies to implement. But the truth is, everyone needs time away. Regularly taking vacations and fully understanding their benefits is essential. Whether you lounge by a pool sipping a fruity cocktail, do activities that are a bit more active or adventurous, or hang at home for a ”staycation,” taking time off nourishes the body and the spirit.

In fact, studies have proven that vacations deliver both physical and mental health benefits. An Ernst & Young study showed that for every additional 10 hours of vacation time that employees used, their year-end performances improved 8%. Another study found that employees who used all their vacation time increased their chances of securing a promotion or a raise. 

With the holiday season nearly here—one of the most popular times of the year for taking time off—we compiled helpful tips to prepare you and your business for that next essential getaway.

Understand the seasonality of your markets

While you may feel there is no right time to take a vacation, some days or weeks work better than others. Understanding the seasonality of your local markets will ensure you take a break during slower business periods—and be less distracted and more focused on enjoying your time away.

A National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) study looked at seasonality nationwide. Real estate activity between February and March typically increases by 34%. Activity continues moving upward in the following months with the busiest being May, June, July, and August. The average number of transactions during this four-month period is 2.1 million and accounts for 40% of annual home sale volume. 

Get help from a co-worker or personal assistant

Enlist the help of a trusted colleague to handle transaction-related tasks and client communications. You ideally want a co-worker who shares the same expertise and values as you. And of course, explain to them you will do the same should they take a vacation.

If a colleague is unavailable, consider using a personal assistant. The NAR recently highlighted the popularity of virtual assistants, which are individuals who work remotely and provide professional help with administrative, technical, or creative tasks.

Here are helpful tips for finding the right virtual assistant:

  • Ask for recommendations from colleagues, especially those in the real estate industry who have used virtual assistants in the past.
  • Post a job opening on social media platforms—or search industry-related social media groups.
  • Research candidates online. Forbes Advisor listed the best virtual assistant services based on cost, reputation, and service capabilities.

Update clients & partners

Inform clients and partners of your vacation plans. Let them know that urgent requests should be made before a set date. Provide contact information for colleagues and assistants if there is an issue that needs to be addressed ASAP.

Your messaging should also clearly indicate the start and end times of your vacation as well as your availability—if at all—during your break. Social media posts, email blasts, and voicemails on your business line are all impactful ways to spread the message. Just be sure to re-post or re-send your vacation plans a week or so before you leave to remind clients and partners.

Automate, automate, automate

Take advantage of your marketing automation platform to respond to inquiries, send market updates, and nurture leads during your absence. The right marketing automation solution will tackle necessary work-related tasks so you can handle your vacation-related tasks: resting, relaxing, and recharging.

Plan ahead with content

Create marketing content in advance and schedule it to be shared. For example, many social media platforms give users the ability to create posts in advance and schedule publication for specific dates and times. This will allow you to maintain engagement while you are out of the office.

Consider setting ‘office hours’

Focus on enjoying your time away—not work! You will not reap the benefits of a vacation if you are returning calls and answering emails. Simply put, resist that nagging urge to check your phone or your laptop.

However, if you absolutely must work, set strict boundaries. Set “office hours” for when you can communicate with clients and partners. Just be sure to include this information in your pre-vacation messaging.

A healthy you means a healthy business

Many individuals join our industry for the flexibility and convenience. The sad reality is, far too many do not take advantage of these wonderful benefits.

It’s important to remember that when you are healthy, your business is healthy. And as Turkish playwright Mehmet Murat ildan once wrote, “In matters of healing the body or the mind, vacation is a true genius!”