Is Real Estate Seasonal
I guess a question like this has different answers depending on who you speak to.
Some agents are running non-stop, it seems, 12 months a year and always seem to be ” in the money “. Other agents have ” peaks and valleys ” depending on the time of the year, or what the weather is like… Personally I feel that there are some mitigating factors why some homebuyers and homesellers are active at certain periods for sure. Those who want their children in their new neighbourhood after June but before the new school year in September..Sure this makes sense. There are those who want to buy and/or move in late fall to be in that special home before the Christmas (yes folks, I said “Christmas”) Holiday..This also makes sense. Many families take holidays in the deep root of the hot summer etc.
But don't you sometimes wonder if we as Sales Representatives fall into this way of thinking because that is the way things always seem to work? The way things ” have always been done”? What about those agents that are run off their feet in July, or December? What makes them different? The answer to that is one thing…they ignore the peak and valley mentality and make business. It can be done. We as the professionals are here to help the market move along, not flow with the ebbs and tides. The changes in the current economic climate have many of us being salespeople again, not just advertising ordertakers…and that is a good thing. Don't let the market slow you down unless that's what you want.
We live in an everchanging age and are working in an everchanging marketplace. The way we contact people has changed. The way we advertise has changed. The way people shop and view products including the largest investment they make ( their home!) has changed and continues to do so every single day. Why then are some content to sit back and roll with the sea of old tides? I'm certainly not preaching here as I've fallen victim to the same thought process, but while practicing the the self discipline of making that one more cold call after making a sale or picking up a commission cheque I had a thought. Why stop here? Make that extra call every day!
There is always a cute house or great property or interesting commercial and/or business opportunity to be presented. Be the one to do it, 12 months a year! I have been out cold calling on cold Northern Ontario mornings, knocking..talking, hanging door ads and you know what…people notice. Not to bad to get a cozy little condo listing on a dreary February morning on a freash air walk.
Let's strive to outlive the economic upheavals, FSBO's, and other negative aspects of what we do for a living and create a vibrant year 'round client education that you can buy or sell anytime. Somebody is always out there with a reason, a want or a need. It's our job to find them.
Tony Crawford
