Realty-Builder asked eight real estate professionals to share their goals for 2017. We’ll check back with them later in the year and see how it’s going.
GOAL NO. 1
Expand my business to transform from operating as an individual agent to a realty team
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
Setting up a realty team will help grow and advance my existing business beyond the tremendous success I achieved as a top producing individual agent in 2016.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
The transformation to a team has already begun. Adding motivated agents will assist in all aspects of sales, marketing and administrative areas to achieve greater success.
GOAL NO. 2
Increase my presence on social media
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
Social media continues to grow as a factor in the buying and selling of real estate and it is extremely important to social media to increase the “sphere of Influence.”
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
I have contracted with a social media company to increase our presence on social media and one of our new team members focuses on this as well.
GOAL NO. 3
Increase networking efforts and both incoming and outgoing referrals
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
Successful networking helps increase incoming referrals, which are truly the foundation upon which my business is built.
Outgoing referrals are also vital to relationship building. Both of these are crucial elements to achieving success in my business.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
The adding of team members has provided me with more free time to concentrate on networking and building business relationships. I will continue to grow this area of the business and also encourage all team members to contribute in this area as well.
GOAL NO. 1
Continue my community involvement
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
I am a firm believer in “giving back” and “paying “forward.”
A well-rounded life is terribly important. I have been lucky enough to be on the Northgate Home Owners Association Board (my neighborhood) and also the larger Sawgrass Country Club Home Owners Association, serving as president from 2015-16.
I also chair the Architectural Committee for Sawgrass. My father taught me, “If you have an opinion, you should get involved!.” I practice that.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
I will get involved in the St. Johns County government through committee volunteering.
GOAL NO. 2
Achieve a professional designation
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
I want to become a seniors real estate specialist working primarily with customers over 55.
I do a lot of work in this area already but there is a real estate course that, when completed, allows me to use the designation.
I have found a lot of seniors have not been correctly represented and I would like to offer personalized service to this type of customer.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
I will take a class that includes a final examination.
GOAL NO. 3
Give the most professional service possible without total focus on income
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
I enjoy my work. I take time to get to know my customers and what they want to accomplish — whether selling, buying, renting or investing.
I have move organizers, attorneys, contractors, movers, estate sales organizations, accountants.
My goal is create a team of professional that will provide the best service possible.
I have seen seniors mistreated by agents who don’t take the time to understand their customers’ needs and wants. I would like to participate in 12-15 sales in 2017.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
HIQ — Honesty Integrity Quality — my words to live and work by.
GOAL NO. 1
Increase listing inventory
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
An interesting perspective of listing homes is to think of goods in a store for sale. If you have the merchandise (houses to sell), an agent greatly increases their success in the business.
More inventory to sell equates to more opportunities for the phone to ring for other agents or buyers looking to purchase your listings.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
Being more involved locally and staying better connected to previous clients will organically create more opportunities to grow one’s listing inventory.
Another way to stay relevant in growing listing inventory is to more consistently market to the areas where I am trying to grow my listings.
Keeping residents up-to-date with local sales information is very helpful in growing listings.
GOAL NO. 2
Become more involved with local organizations
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
Local involvement is a great way to grow one’s sphere of influence. As in most every business, real estate is a lot of who you know. More local involvement helps build and solidify business relationships, as well as demonstrates a connectivity and interest with communities’ development.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
Becoming more involved should be a relatively easily attainable goal.
It’s all about time management and creating time to meet with different area organizations.
GOAL NO. 3
Stay better connected to previous clients
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
As one gets busy, it’s sometimes hard to stay in contact with previous clients due to new appointments or engagements that evolve.
Staying better connected helps clients remember you and the great job you did for them and makes them want to give your name the first opportunity they have to refer you.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
I am hopeful to stay better connected just by picking up the phone and saying hello. I have a few clients that I frequently see, but staying in better contact with everyone is my goal.
As part of my 2017 business plan, I will be incorporating a couple of customer appreciation events, as well as staying in touch with a quarterly newsletter
GOAL NO. 1
Expand contacts through additional social media outlets, smart phones, texting, emails
GOAL NO. 2
Focusing on improving business related outreach
GOAL NO. 3
More direct contact and communications with my sphere of influence, past customers, building business relationships
WHY THE GOALS ARE IMPORTANT
First, the broader the “touch” for past or potential customers you work with improves the opportunities of getting referrals and connections.
It is important to make this a day-to-day part of business. Social contacts, friends and neighbors can be valuable and rewarding for your efforts.
This has to be a focus and make opportunities as a normal part of day-to-day business.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOALS
In today’s business world everyone moves faster and with shorter time frames for both being creative and recognizing customers’ time.
My strategy is to move to more social media outlets and direct contact. In general, people’s lifestyles are much more mobile in today’s society, therefore, face-to-face contact is conducive to quick interchanges or recognition through email and other social media.
Have access to better technology and up-to-date applications.
Focus on sincere business, friendships and follow-up.
Building my real estate business includes my friends and enjoying life.
GOAL NO. 1
Increase listing inventory by 20 percent
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
The future of my business depends upon my listing inventory.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
Continue to market to my past customers and clients
GOAL NO. 2
Become more knowledgeable about how technology can help my business
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
Technology is important to make my business run more efficiently.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
Take courses and explore new programs and devices
GOAL NO. 3
Spend more time with my family and friends
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
It is important to my happiness to spend more time with my family and friends.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
Learn to say “no”!
GOAL NO. 1
Better time management
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
Because we don’t get paid by the hour.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
I plan to reach this goal by my continued focus on the great percentage of my business being focused on listings and doing a better job interviewing buyers to make sure they are going to be very serious and committed to me.
GOAL NO. 2
Continue my annual goal of increasing my listing volume by 50 percent. This year I managed 152 percent.
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
It goes back to goal number 1 and also will increase my sales volume, as well.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
I will continue my targeted marketing to my sphere and farm areas.
GOAL NO. 3
Plan vacations and time for friends and family
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT
You can work almost 24/7/365 if you are not careful and the breaks help to energize, inspire and helps me focus better on my business.
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOAL
I have been improving on this every year in the business. Already have a 12-day European cruise planned for 2017.
GOAL NO. 1
Continue to deliver stellar customer service and exceed client expectation each and every time
GOAL NO. 2
Continue my commitment to learn new technology and techniques to better serve my clients
GOAL NO. 3
Become more involved in my community and give back to those who have supported me throughout my career and our company
WHY THE GOALS ARE IMPORTANT
My goals are especially important to me as a Realtor because they have a direct impact on the community I serve.
Each time we sell a home, we impact the market and hopefully we always impact the market and community in a positive and progressive fashion.
I’ve aligned myself with a company that shares the same positive goals and supports their agents, which inspires me to be the best I can be
PLANS FOR REACHING THE GOALS
By continuing the success plan I already have in place and by joining additional councils and charities in order to give back to my community.
Continuing education is another important outlet to further my knowledge and experience with new technologies and techniques that are available.
GOAL NO. 1
To help every client fulfill their real estate dream
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT AND HOW I PLAN TO REACH IT
Buying a home is one of the most important decisions in life.
It is also a time where most people feel vulnerable and emotionally overwhelmed.
I want to be a resource and help put my clients at ease. The process should be enjoyable, not traumatizing
GOAL NO. 2
To grow the Jacksonville community, with a focus on involvement in charitable organizations
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT AND HOW I PLAN TO REACH IT
It’s especially important for the business community to focus on charity. Success only matters if it is used to better the world.
Particularly close to my heart is Habitat for Humanity. I want everyone to have a home, whether I help them buy it or grab a hammer and help them build it.
GOAL NO. 3
To inspire and mentor the next generation toward their personal and professional goals
WHY THE GOAL IS IMPORTANT AND HOW I PLAN TO REACH IT
Our young adults are more creative and driven than ever before. I am hosting several meet-ups to help these young professionals identify and reach their goals.