Studies have shown millions of Americans who have access to paid vacation time fail to take all of it—or any of it. For real estate agents, who generally have more flexible schedules, downtime could be challenging for other reasons. That's why Homesale Realty encourages our agents to make the most of it.

Yes, You Should Still Take Vacations as a Real Estate Agent: Here's How

Real estate is an unusual profession for a variety of reasons, and this is one of them. Although it's not exactly "location-independent"—after all, clients seek you out for your local expertise—a good portion of the work could be done remotely. That means truly unplugging from work takes a little bit of extra effort.

Here's how to make it work for you:

• Schedule Vacations Early
  One of the best ways to ensure minimum disruption when you want a vacation as a real estate agent is to get your plans down early. The sooner you schedule, the more opportunities you have to ensure everybody in your orbit who needs to know about your plans will know—and will actually remember.
  
  
• Figure Out Who Will Cover for You
  While an assistant is extremely valuable, the best resource in this kind of situation is another licensed agent. A licensed agent covering your active transactions means your current clients will continue to receive the support they need and deserve. Remember that it's worth paying a small fee, even for brief coverage.
  
  
• Set Boundaries
  Decide how much work you will be doing—if any at all—while you are still getting set up for your vacation. For a "true" getaway, you might decide only to be contacted in absolute emergencies. On the other hand, it is far easier for some agents to de-stress when they dedicate one hour a day to work.
  
  
• Communicate Your Plans
  Your clients, colleagues, and broker should all be in the loop during your vacation. They should know when you plan to leave when you will return, how to contact you in an emergency, and how often you plan to respond. If you get coverage, ensure all clients know how to reach your cover person.
  
  
• Take Care of Your Email
  One of the very last things you should do before leaving for your vacation is set up your email autoresponder. It should usually have all the same details you need to communicate: Your schedule and contact information for your coverage person are both a must. Sharing your emergency contact details is, however, a judgment call.
  
  
• And Your Website
  Many agents now use AI-driven chatbots on their real estate website. These bots can help visitors access the information they need faster than they would otherwise and keep them engaged. If you use one, be sure it is fully updated on your travel plans, directing would-be clients to the right person while you're away.
  
  
• Automate What You Can
  Real estate automation is incredibly powerful, especially when it comes to real estate marketing. For example, social media is more useful for real estate agents than for virtually anyone else. Social media is one of many aspects of your business that can be automated so you continue to be active while you're away.
  
  
• Don't Forget to Have Fun
  Real estate is one of the best careers for developing a healthy work-life balance, although it does take planning at first. It's important for your well-being (and ultimately for your performance!) to have some time to recharge.

Contact BHHS Homesale Realty to find out more or get started with our team.