I’m a Virtual Office Broker and I love summer. Summer is short here in our great Canadian country. We manage to pack in an awful lot in a short period of time, and many agents see a standard seasonal slowdown in business during these months. But do the stats really show a decline in activity over summer?
Statistics in the Calgary real estate market place over the past 5 years clearly shows highest volume trends in the spring months, followed by slightly lower volume in the summer months. Fall, then winter seasons are lowest volume in most normal years.
Then why the perennial statements from Realtors all around us, knowingly sharing the fact that the summer season is tough, slow and unproductive? My theory is because there are more fun things to do in summer and Realtors are doing them!
There are kids to spend time with, mountains to hike, festivals to attend, patios to sit on, and of course beaches to lie on. When squeezing this in during our short few weeks of summer weather, it’s tough to put in time at the office. Therefore, many agents’ production decrease.
The question is then, who is doing all the business? We know there is rather high volume of transactions taking place, and most Realtors have dropped business. Therefore, it really has to be the agents choosing to put time in at the office, instead of more interesting summertime activities.
Were it really that a Realtor must choose between work and summer fun, I’m in agreement with most of my peers. Summer is too precious to waste, and I don’t intend to do so.
However, in a Virtual Office, agents have no need to choose one or the other. The office isn’t necessary to continue to fully serve clients for a Mobile Agent. What Realtor in their right mind would rather sit by the fax machine waiting for conditions to be removed, when their family is out canoeing?
Virtual Offices such as RE/MAX Alpine Realty (an iREALTY office) in Calgary, are designed specifically for Freedom Based Real Estate. Agents can fully service their clients while enjoying the lifestyle they desire. Being tied to office machinery is no longer required with suitable mobile devices, and online software and programs utilized by quality Virtual Offices.
As so many other agents make a choice they think is required, and slow down their business durning the summer, the Mobile Agent is perfectly positioned to pick up their slack. They happily increase their business during this season, and still enjoy the bounty of summer time fun.
Did I mention, I love summer!
