This past week during the broker’s tour an agent came through and commented that most agents were still on vacation for the summer, and she asked why we put Egret View on the market? The answer was simple. Just because agents are relaxing, it doesn’t mean buyers are putting their house hunting on hold. While we were having our conversation I had one offer in hand, and another one was on the way. That’s why we put 6 Egret View on the market in August!
Every year it’s the same. Agents use the summer months of July and August to rest and reset. Some buyers go on vacation, but it’s not like they go away for two months. In fact, how long is a typical American vacation? Two weeks at the most? In the meantime, while they are away, buyers are still getting email notifications about new listings, and I’ve seen motivated buyers write offers while they were still out of town. Their agent takes them on a Facetime tour of the property, they go through the disclosures, and they write the offer contingent upon seeing the house when they return.
In the case of Egret View, the buyers we attracted weren’t your typical families. They were two investors. Investors in particular might go on vacation but if they are smart, rarely do they distance themselves from the next good opportunity. 6 Egret View was a great opportunity as I explained in my previous blog, with a square footage value $300+ hundred dollars under the mean and average for the area.
I contend that the best time for agents to take their time off is between sometime Thanksgiving and Ski Week in February. The only issue with planning a vacation during that time, is that new business inevitably pops up, as sellers want to get their homes ready for the spring market. For many years I rarely took more time off than a couple of days. Now that I’m older, it’s worth it for me to take the month of January off and possibly miss out on a piece of business. If a client really wants to work with me, I’ve got very good agents who can cover for me and I am confident partnering with them.
I honestly don’t know how long I’ll be selling real estate. It could be until I’m 67. I enjoy selling and helping people with their life transitions immensely. I think that’s why many Realtors work into their 70’s and even 80’s. What else is more meaningful? But we have to rest and recharge. It’s easier to work 24/7/365 when you are younger, but at this point in my life I’m making time for me too. Just not in the summer when the market and the weather are still hot. The surf is also better in the winter!