The biggest problem with time zappers is that so many of them are necessary to succeed in the land industry. Driving might eat up a lot of your time, but how else are you going to get a good sense of a property? Today, we’re going to look at how to deal with time zappers so that you can get back to focusing on what really matters: getting your clients an amazing deal.

Social Media

Social media is a double-edged sword. On one side, social media can be a great (and free!) way to show off your expertise, network with other professionals, and gain new clients. Social media is a great marketing tool, but it can also rob you of your time with endless updates, videos, and photos.

The Solution: Using programs such as Hootsuite or Informz can help you plan out posts days or even weeks in advance. It’ll cut the amount of time you spend on social media in half.

If you struggle with Facebook breaks turning from five minutes into a half an hour (hey, it happens to the best of us!), try setting a timer for yourself. You’d be surprised at how quickly those ten minutes will zoom by.

Answering The Same Questions Over And Over (And Over And Over…)

How many times a week do you answer the same few questions (what type of land do you sell? Where are you based in? Do you specialize in x?) over email, phone, or in person?

The Solution: Links are your best friend. Include links to your website on your business card, Find A Land Consultant profile, and anywhere else you or your listings are posted. More and more people (especially younger generations) will search the web for answers before calling you. Make sure your vital information (such as website, e-mail, specialties, and phone number) are available for any potential clients to find on their own. Also, always carry around a few business cards with you. You never know when you’re going to run into your next big client!

If you aren’t comfortable giving out your personal e-mail or phone number, you could always create a contact form. This allows people to send you their information and questions without spam cluttering up your inbox

Looking at properties far outside of your jurisdiction

Are you licensed to sell land in more than one state? Awesome! Do you find yourself exhausted from trying to stay up-to-date with land sales in multiple states? Less awesome. Land experts are known for traveling long distances for clients, but similar to social media, there’s a fine line between working hard and spreading yourself too thin.

The Solution: Being licensed in multiple states is great. The key to making the most of your time is knowing your own limits. Ask yourself:

• How much time am I spending on each property?
• Do the long drives out to far-away properties tend to end in sales? Are these properties worth the cost of gas/my time?
• How much time will it take to complete the CE requirements for each state I’m licensed in?

Driving

A huge chunk of time for land experts is spent on the road. This is a non-negotiable in the land industry. Google Earth is great, but nothing beats walking around a property yourself. It’s the only surefire way to spot issues with the land.

The Solution: Not much can be done to change the time on the road, but you can change how you use it. You can listen to podcasts such as Let’s Talk Land or stream lectures on land issues. You can make your truck a university on wheels!

We know there’s no way to cut any of these time zappers out of your life for good. Social media, long drives, and crazy hours are all things that come with the job. However, by using these tricks, you’ll be able to able to make the most out of the most precious resource a land agent has: time.

About the Author: Laura Barker is the Membership and Communications Specialist for the REALTORS® Land Institute. She graduated from Clark University in May 2017 and has been with RLI since October 2017.