You may remember the TikTok trend of a year or so ago called “quiet quitting.” It basically meant that you did the bare minimum to keep your job, approaching it with as little purpose and enthusiasm as possible. There have been a million trend pieces written about it, including one of my own, and plenty of hand-wringing about what it means for Gen-Z work ethic, corporate management and the state of the workplace.
Now, the latest “quiet” trend is “quiet vacationing.” It happens when workers decide that, instead of taking PTO and dealing with the scrutiny and negativity that can sometimes occur during that process, they’ll preschedule messages and arrange for their computer to appear active and online, even though they’re really on a break.
Of course, most real estate agents are independent contractors, so getting “vacation time” isn’t really a thing that happens. If you don’t work, you don’t get paid, essentially.
In addition, taking time off can be complicated for agents who have active transactions working their way through to the closing table. After all, if you take a week or two off, who’s going to manage inspections, appraisals and contingency deadlines?
For most agents, quiet vacationing isn’t really an option because working isn’t as simple as moving a mouse occasionally and staying logged on to Slack. With so many moving parts and so much necessary communication, it may feel practically impossible to take a real break.
The good news is that if you think ahead, communicate with clients, and network with your colleagues, you can take a break. Whether you’re aiming for a summer vacay or you’re looking ahead to traveling this holiday season, here’s how to make a break work without upending your normal level of client service.
7 ways to vacation out loud as a real estate agent
1. Plan ahead
Inform clients in advance: Let your current and prospective clients know about your vacation well ahead of time. Let them know that your top priority is to ensure they’re taken care of.
Wrap up ongoing deals: Try to close as many deals as possible before leaving and push new leads to later dates, if possible. That will help you avoid troubleshooting from a distance or leaving clients feeling uncertain about major aspects of their transactions.
Delegate responsibilities: Assign a trusted colleague or an assistant to handle urgent matters in your absence. If you’re on a team, give them plenty of lead time so they can fill in in your absence.
2. Set up automated systems
Email auto-responder: Set up an automated email response informing clients of your absence and whom they can contact in your place.
Phone forwarding: Forward your calls to a colleague or assistant who can handle them.
CRM and task automation: Use your CRM to automate follow-ups and reminders to ensure no leads fall through the cracks.
3. Communicate clearly
Client communication: Clearly communicate your availability, providing the dates you will be away and alternative contact information. Provide a status report so everyone knows where they are in their process, what deadlines will occur in your absence and who will be handling them.
Team meetings: Hold a meeting with your team before you leave to discuss pending tasks and responsibilities. Talk with your broker to make sure that you have all of your bases covered well ahead of time.
Colleague communication: Talk to the transaction coordinators, lenders, cooperating agents, attorneys and title officers who are involved with your ongoing transactions. Make sure that they know whom to contact in your absence and determine the status of each deal.
4. Leverage technology
Virtual tours and open houses: Use virtual tours and open houses to maintain client interest in properties without needing to be physically present. Preschedule social media posts to highlight listings and make sure your designated colleague is available to field inquiries.
Online scheduling tools: Reset your availability in your online scheduling tools to set appointments for when you return or to send inquiries to your designated colleague.
Cloud storage: Ensure all important documents and files are stored in the cloud, and that they’re properly labeled and well-organized in your transaction system for easy access by your team.
5. Stay connected (if necessary)
You know yourself best. If you’ll spend your whole vacation worrying about your business, it may make sense for you to tune back in from time to time.
Check-in intervals: Set specific times to check in on your business if necessary, but avoid constant connectivity to ensure a proper (and relaxing) break.
Mobile office setup: Have your laptop and necessary tools handy in case of emergencies.
6. Trust your team
Training and empowerment: Make sure your team is well-trained and appropriately empowered to make decisions in your absence.
Offer incentives: Provide incentives or rewards for your team to ensure they are motivated to keep the business running smoothly.
7. Post-vacation plan
Catch-up day: Schedule a catch-up day immediately after your vacation to review everything that happened while you were away and get caught up without constant interruptions.
Thank you notes: Send thank you notes to clients and colleagues who were patient and helpful during your absence. Do something special for your designated contact — perhaps a gift or dinner out, along with the offer to reciprocate as needed when they go on vacation.
Vacationing as a real estate agent is about planning, delegation, and leveraging technology. With these strategies, you can enjoy your time off while your business continues to thrive.
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