There are only so many work hours in the day, and real estate professionals often need to get a better handle on how they manage their time to get the most out of their business. And because agents often know full well that time is money, finding the best way to strategize in this regard can pay off.

Perhaps the biggest key to effective time management is being proactive about planning, according to Max Real Estate Exposure. After all, if agents aren't spending time during their workdays trying to figure out what to do next, they're going to be making more efficient use of every hour of the day. In these cases, it may be helpful to think about what kinds of goals agents want to accomplish over the course of a day, week or month and then use their experience to determine how long they think that should take them.

What comes next?

Once goals have been established and the time various tasks should take has been figured out, it's wise to set the schedule for a given period of time. Agents have to determine whether they want to devote a large chunk of a given day to lead generation, for example, or if they want to break up that day with other activities, such as online marketing work or following up with clients. Here, too, it might be wise to leave at least a little wiggle room since it's not always easy to predict how every effort is likely to proceed or what things might crop up unexpectedly that deserve agents' immediate attention.

The fact is, though, that the more agents know what they "should be" doing at any given time, the more likely they will be to do so and meet whatever goals they set for themselves in as timely a manner as possible.

Knowing the value

It's also worth noting that there's a difference between being busy and being effective in whatever tasks are being undertaken. There's plenty of work agents can do on a given day, but they need to think about how much closer that work gets them to achieve their goals and exactly what an hour may be worth to them in terms of dollars and cents. That way, they can figure out whether they're getting a maximum return on investment for every hour they spend on any task.

However, it's also important to get a big-picture look at these tasks and see how they intersect. Moreover, it may be about keeping things simple. Agents who block off their time in advance may find that they're juggling too many things at once to be truly effective at any one task, and that can erode the effectiveness of time spent on all tasks.

Having clarity of vision when it comes to what needs to be done — and charting the right course for getting there — will often go a long way toward ensuring that agents are getting the most out of the time they spend on the job. That can translate into a happier lifestyle as an agent.

---

The information in this article is intended to provide guidance on the proper maintenance and care of systems and appliances in the home. Not all of the topics mentioned are covered by our home warranty or maintenance plans. Please review your home warranty contract carefully to understand your coverage.