December and the “Pre-Holidays”
First, a caveat: I know lots of Realtors (myself included) who arguably take no time off.
Or at least, completely off.
Thanks(?) to cellphones, texting and other ubiquitous technology, even when you’re off duty . . . you’re never really off-duty.
Case(s) in point: the deal that popped up out of nowhere while I was at the South rim of the Grand Canyon two years ago; and the not one but two times frantic homeowners tracked me down — off-the-grid and on vacation — to find out their Seller’s long-dormant security code, when a lightning strike set off their home alarm (true — I could hear it in the background).
It’s also the case that, with deal flow (and closings) seasonably light, lots of Realtors are more focused on how they’re going to make money next year than spend it at the end of this one.
Perhaps that’s why what I’ll call “the pre-Holidays” are also the time of year when Realtor Business Planning invariably becomes a big topic of office conversation (my 2015 business plan? Sell more homes than I did last year).
24/7/52(?); Not Fighting the Tide
That said, if you’re going to take time off, the best time to do so is when: 1) it’s already slow, so the opportunity — not to mention coverage — cost is lowest; and 2) getting ahold of other professionals — especially contractors — is slow, making it challenging to expeditiously put together deals even if the principals are ready, willing, and able.
If you can’t beat ’em, right??
*Investment bankers, psychiatrists, and the French famously take August off. Not that there’s anything wrong with that . . .
