How to Create a Business Plan for Real Estate Success in 2025 REALTOR? Talk / November 2024

As we approach the end of the year, many real estate professionals are winding down their transactions and preparing for the holiday season. While it may seem like a time for rest, we believe November presents the perfect opportunity to create a solid business plan for the upcoming year. By getting organized now, you can set yourself up for success by implementing systems that hit the ground running when the new year begins.

Why November is the Best Time to Create Your Business Plan

Creating your business plan in November ensures that you have a clear, actionable strategy for the upcoming year. Instead of rushing through it during the busy New Year rush, take advantage of the quiet period at the end of the year to focus on your long-term vision. By setting up your systems now, you'll be fully prepared to start executing your plan as soon as the holiday season is over.

This preparation also helps you avoid the common trap of "New Year's resolutions" that are quickly abandoned. When your business plan is already in place, you're more likely to stick with the activities that will drive success in your real estate career.

Why Many Real Estate Agents Don’t Succeed

A major reason why many real estate agents fail to reach their full potential is that they lack a proven, actionable plan to guide their efforts. Real estate is a results-driven business, and without a clear roadmap, agents often waste time on activities that don't yield tangible outcomes.

Success in real estate isn't about luck—it's about consistently following a plan that works. A business plan forces you to be intentional with your time and efforts, helping you focus on the activities that directly lead to results, whether it’s closing deals, generating leads, or building lasting relationships.

Your Business Plan Should Include Proven Activities

A successful business plan for real estate agents isn't a one-size-fits-all template. It should reflect activities that produce desired outcomes, and those activities can vary based on your goals, market, and experience level.

There are two primary ways to define these activities:

1. Proven activities that have worked for you in the past. These might include marketing strategies, prospecting methods, or ways you've effectively serviced clients. If something has brought in leads or resulted in sales, make it a central part of your plan.

2. Proven strategies from mentors, coaches, or colleagues. If you’re new to real estate or looking to level up your business, don’t hesitate to look to others you admire. Successful agents, mentors, or business coaches often have tried-and-true methods that can save you time and prevent you from reinventing the wheel.

Incorporating both personal and external sources of proven success will allow you to create a plan that’s both reliable and tailored to your strengths.

Key Activities to Include in Your Plan

Your real estate business plan should be built around specific activities that drive success. Here are some categories of activities to consider:

1. Marketing Activities: This includes social media management, content creation (blogs, videos, email newsletters), paid ads (Google, Facebook, Instagram), and networking. Determine which marketing channels have been most effective for you and include them in your plan.

2. Prospecting Activities: Prospecting is essential to keep your pipeline full. Whether it’s cold calling, sending direct mail, or reaching out to your sphere of influence, set specific weekly or monthly goals for prospecting.

3. Client Servicing Activities: Providing exceptional customer service can generate referrals and repeat business. Include activities such as follow-ups, client appreciation events, check-ins with past clients, or sending personalized messages.

4. Professional Development Activities: To stay ahead in the competitive real estate market, investing in your own growth is crucial. Whether it’s taking real estate courses, attending workshops, or reading industry-related books, include time in your schedule for ongoing education.

Schedule Your Activities and Stick to It

Once you’ve identified the activities that will drive your success, the next step is to decide how much time you want to dedicate to each activity each week. Time-blocking is an effective technique for this. Set aside specific hours for prospecting, client meetings, marketing efforts, and professional development.

Scheduling these activities into your calendar ensures that they don’t get overlooked or pushed to the side when other tasks arise. By treating these activities like appointments that you can’t miss, you increase your chances of staying on track and making consistent progress toward your goals.

Flexibility: Don't Stress Over Missing a Day

Even with the best intentions, there will be times when you miss a day or fall behind on your scheduled activities. Life happens, and in real estate, things don’t always go according to plan.

If you miss a day or part of a day, don’t stress. The key is to either reschedule the activity to another time or simply move on to the next day. The important part is not to let a small setback derail your entire plan. Real estate is a long game, and consistency over time leads to success.

Accountability: Staying on Track

Accountability is crucial to ensuring that you stick to your business plan and see it through. You can hold yourself accountable by regularly reviewing your progress or tracking key performance metrics. But you don’t have to go it alone. You can also ask a colleague, mentor, or family member to help keep you on track by checking in on your progress or holding you accountable for completing tasks.

If you’re part of a team or mastermind group, use that community for mutual support and accountability. Regular check-ins or progress reports can create an extra layer of motivation to achieve your goals.

Bottom Line

A well-thought-out business plan is the cornerstone of a successful real estate career. By setting up your systems now, in November, you'll be ahead of the game when January arrives. Focus on the proven activities that have worked for you or others in your industry, schedule them into your calendar, and hold yourself accountable. With a clear plan in place, you’ll be ready to tackle 2025 with confidence and purpose.

By taking the time this November to craft your business plan, you’ll reap the rewards all year long.

PS The real estate sales profession can be an exciting career. But, of course, it's not without its challenges. Here is a link to a video we created highlighting our ideas on how to overcome some common impediments to growth in your real estate business and take it to the next level: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lN_AK1rMNM

PPS We are all about collaborating in a competitive environment. If that is your mindset as well, we invite you to reach out.