In this business, like in any sales job, you have to keep up with prospects, clients, service provider contacts, referral sources, potential FSBOs, other agents, past clients, etc. In addition, you need to be able to keep up with the progress you have made with your clients as well as your production numbers so you can see how you are doing, year to date and this year, vs. last year, etc.
To be successful and to be more organized and less stressed out, a good system is critical.
Do you have a system?
An essential component is a good planner like a Franklin Planner or DayTimer or just one off the shelf in Wal-Mart is a start. Writing notes on dry cleaner tickets, receipts and napkins is not the way to go. By taking your notes in a planner so you can refer back to the notes, you are going to get many more things done. And the planner allows you to write down your appointments too so you'll never miss another one.
Beyond that, you can utilize a 3-ring binder or step-up with an Excel Spreadsheet, MS Access database or buy a database like ACT or Top Producer or use your personal information management device to help you track your contacts from the notes in your planner.
If you are interested, I have modified a simple database with some neat features from a MS Access template that utilizes some things that a good realtor would need and I can customize it for your particular needs if you like. If you have MS Access and want me to set this up for you, let me know. If you don't have MS Access, go to Wal-Mart or eBay and buy it and then let me know!
Call me if I can help you with this! I want you to be very successful in this business!
Sam Thompson, PHH Mortgage Advisor - Helping you GROW your business!
www.activerain.com./luckydog1 - SC
www.activerain.com/luckydog2 - NC
http://samthompson.phhmortgage.com/
My name is Gary David Hall, and I am "The Real Estate CRM Broker". Would you believe you have over 30 options for Real Estate specific contact management? I help you find the right one for your needs, based on your aptitude, current needs, and future goals.
If you're looking to get organized using software that was designed to help you as a Real Estate agent you might want to check out my home page for:
Considerations when choosing a Real Estate Contact Manager or CRM
A 60 minute Power Point Presentation by Gary David Hall Prepared for the Real Estate Cyberspace Society's 2009 Cyber Convention
OR
A History of Contact Management in Real Estate - Article
"...comprehensive, unbiased,........aspects of making a decision on CRM I never even thought of......... far and away the best article of it's kind I've ever seen on the Internet..."
OR
Interview by The Lead Booster Club CEO Kathy Goughenour
Kathy interviews Gary for her membership for an hour, with a wide range of questions about Real Estate Contact Management & CRM Productivity Software
OR
Real Estate Contact Management & CRM Comparison Matrix
Compare virtually all the CRM products on the market across over 350 features.