I work in real estate management and consider myself a multi-tasking machine. There are a multitude of meetings, tasks, issues that have to be addressed every day and they continue to pile even as I plow through.
Most of us are driven by a ‘to do’ list, whether it is written in an organized notebook, on a torn piece of paper, a post-it-note, or just a mental checklist that we are mindful of throughout our day.
We depend on our list in business and in our personal lives; it keeps us focused and organized, and in many cases, allows us to sleep at night so we aren’t trying to remember what it is we think we are forgetting.
There is immense value in working from a list and many will agree that the most successful method of keeping track of routine tasks and projects is to move them through a systematic priority list to completion. It gives us that much desired sense of accomplishment to take action and cross things off that list.
In the real estate industry, certain lists infiltrate our operational process daily:
- The Client List
All the information about the asset for the property owner who has entrusted us to manage, sell, or lease their buildings. - The Tenants/Residents List
All the work or information requests a property manager receives from tenants and residents, every day, in acting on behalf of the Landlord. - The Prospect and inventory Lists
This is the information the leasing agent or broker receives on every contact reaching out to lease or buy space in a building, along with the ‘to do’s that go along with the list of potential properties that would work for them. - The Vendor and Supplier List
Information on all the companies that are vying for time and attention to provide services that property managers partner with to provide quality service and repairs (i.e. architects, engineers, security services, janitorial companies and so much more).
A great real estate professional relies on many lists to avoid being overwhelmed with all the ‘to dos’ and to move them into the ‘’completed’ column. The real trick is learning to use the team around them to divide and conquer.
Here’s how the LIST can change your life if you look at it with a new perspective:
Lead: Be a leader that is willing to do the work and find solutions, not a boss (blaming others and criticizes).
Integrity: Be known for standing up for what is right and following through — Keep your word.
Service: This must be at the core of what you do “provide outstanding service”. This is WHY your clients, tenants, residents and prospects called YOU!
Team: Build a solid and supportive team. A good friend told me “Never jack-up your back-up”. Your success will be easier and more sustainable with a strong team.
The next time you are fumbling around through all of your lists, and you get the phone call, email, or text with an urgent issue and you are overwhelmed by all your lists, you can take a deep breath and remember that you Lead with Integrity providing a Service with an amazing supportive Team.