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Switch off, or stay tuned in to emails and calls whilst on holidays? The question has the industry split...
BDM Academy director Tara Bradbury said being absent from the office between Christmas and New Year never stopped her responding to enquiries.
“I think you do need to be checking your phone and email on holidays, as a BDM. There is definitely opportunity there,” she told Residential Property Manager.
“If I had an email enquiry, I would have a pre-set email that would go out explaining our services and encouraging them to make an appointment. Then I would do a follow-up call maybe a few days later.
"You have got to consider, that little extra bit of effort can be so much more rewarding for your incentives in the long run,” she explained.
Ms Bradbury said that any agency aiming for 20 to 30-plus managements in a month needs to seize every opportunity.
“If a person has a question between that [holiday] time, they are pretty much ready to go,” she said.
Ms Bradbury added that the end of the year is a good time to reflect on what you have achieved over the last 12 months.
“Really assess the marketing and the product and services you are putting out there to your current clients, and your new clients,” she said. “So, take the time to look over your listings presentation – is it up to date? Does it need a refresh with photos or a refresh of content? Do you need a new focus or plan of attack?
“If you start the New Year unprepared, you are going to be on the back foot against your competition.”
However, BDM Coach’s Deniz Yusuf said time off means tuning off.
“If a BDM is having a week off, they need to turn off. That is your family time,” he told Residential Property Manager.
“If you are working for somebody, there needs to be systems in place so that other people in the office can take care of it. If you are self-employed, it's different – there are a few variables to look at,” he added.
“[But] you need to have that switch-off time, or you are not on holidays.”
Elders Real Estate Belconnen business development manager and property manager Suze Forster said in terms of taking a break, she is inclined to agree to take time out from work.
“But I would check my emails and I would take phone calls – only because you can still arrange to meet people when you are back on deck,” she told Residential Property Manager.
“I see validity to both arguments – for new BDMs, maybe you don’t want to miss an opportunity.
“Others, will go, ‘oh well, somebody is going to cover for me for two weeks, here is access to my diary, feel free to make any appointments that you like’ - and that one point of contact can call you if they need to, but otherwise you switch out.
“As an established BDM it is hard to resist wanting to not turn that switch off, because you are really trying to get the ball rolling, but as an established BDM you can take time off,” she added.
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