Welcome to the Windermere Coaching Minute podcast. In this episode, host Michael Fanning discusses the importance of planning your business while taking a vacation. He emphasizes the need for real estate agents to take time for themselves without sacrificing client service.

1. Vacation Communication Schedule:

- 6 weeks before: Email clients introducing the colleague covering for you

- 5 weeks before: Phone call to introduce the covering colleague

- 4-6 weeks before: Continue with original email communication

- 3 weeks before: Phone call to active clients

- 2 weeks before: Text message reminder

- 1 week before: Update email with thorough briefing information

- 3 days before: Update email autoresponder and voicemail

2. Reasons to Have a Process:

- Ensures transparency and professionalism

- Maintains continuity of service

- Expands your professional network

- Demonstrates value to clients

- Provides a personal touch

- Shows proactive problem-solving skills

- Exhibits a team player mentality

- Sets clear expectations

- Creates follow-up opportunities

- Demonstrates work-life balance

- Showcases effective systems and processes

3. How This Process Helps Clients:

- Normalizes the concept of taking time off

- Demonstrates self-care and boundary-setting

- Ensures proactive communication

- Provides continued service assurance

- Sets realistic expectations

- Humanizes the agent-client relationship

- Builds trust through honesty

- Demonstrates confidence in team capabilities

- Creates positive talking points for future interactions

- Showcases professionalism

- Fosters reciprocal understanding

- Helps prevent agent burnout, ensuring better service

- Shows cultural sensitivity

Michael Fanning concludes by reminding listeners that taking vacations is a normal, healthy part of professional practice that ultimately benefits clients through improved service and a more balanced agent-client relationship.

For more information or to obtain a copy of the vacation communication schedule, listeners can check the show notes or email Michael directly at [email protected].

Link to Document

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ime7m1vvzllzcciyapbkr/Vacation-Communication-Plan-and-dialogue-Schedule.docx?rlkey=2fsrbk2zkpcesax6dbmedh7lo&st=gkqb8jdw&dl=0