What you THINK about, you BRING about!   No slump up here.  If you believe there is a holiday slump, you'll have one.

I've always found it is a great time to pick up business when others have felt it slow enough to go away on holidays -  clients are most appreciative to those of us who continue to work.

Successful agents work hard marketing ahead of time to keep the pipeline full.

Volunteer as a Bell Ringer for the Salvation Army

I am still busy. Yes not as much so as in the Spring but now I have time to work on a new web site and other marketing plans.

In our experience, we never have experienced a holiday slump.  We have stayed around and found that there was always someone who needed real estate.  A

Gotta love Sandy Padula and Norm Padula, JD, GRI answer on this one.

 I reach out to my data base.  

 Good Sunday morning Aubree. I don't think that there is anything such as an industry standard holiday slump either. You create your own luck!

Keep on prospecting and make sure you are available when the other agents are not available.

Aubrie - If you don't want to experience a slump during the holidays, then you need to work just as hard all year long, and always be prospecting.

They work nonstop, no holidays. 

There are very few who manage to work 9-5pm week days only, but that is the talent, team and solid marketing strategy. 

Xmas flyers, calander, fruits delivery...... We work year around.  But the buyers are shy from making realistic offers....

The homes not selling has to do the ridiculous asking price around Silicon Valley... They price is low for a few days to get the attention and then raise to market price ......

They don't believe there is such a thing as an "industry standard slump" and carry on business as usual!

I would think the key is strong marketing/prospecting 3 months before.  Now that we are kind of there, I would think about stepping up the marketing esp calling past clients.

Keep prospecting.  Keep marketing.  While others are on vacation or in holiday-mode -- you will be working and making deals happen.  

Aubrie, the succesful agents don't allow the holidays to get in the way!

Successful agents are always busy. That goes without saying. But let's put a spin on this question. The so-called offseason is a great time to rethink your look. Maybe your website needs a design refresh or your blog is beckoning for new article topics. If your type "A" personality will not allow you to settle down and enjoy a sunset or two, take classes on real estate photography or finish that broker course. If you are a reader pick back up a copy of 'How to Win Friends and Influence People". It is a great read:)

Cheers!

Just keep that pipeline filled and let your buyers and sellers know that the holidays are a great time to buy and list a home. It's true. Buyers looking during the holidays tend to be very serious about making a home purchase. Sellers want to sell. It's a win win time of the year. 

I market myself harder,

Prospect even stronger two months prior to the normal holiday slump.

Maybe we're backwards here in AZ, but many of my friends who are realtors actually do quite a bit of business over the holidays. Don't quote me, but I think a lot of their year end sales have to do with closing out any business before the tax year ends. Most of my friends deal with family trusts, corporate owned housing, and 1031's.

Aubrie Jones I think they work harder and are prepared for this.

Other agents and some buyers night slump, but I don't. Many buyers take advantage of the slump thinking so they have more time to look and less competition.

Prospect ever day regardless of the time of year, or how busy one is.

oh nevermind me, im just here for the comments. great question. 

I remember my first year.  I started in July and thought it would slow down, but I had 1 closing in November, 2 in December and 1 in January. I just keeps going around here.

I have always worked harder whenever is seemed the market was slower.

We don't have a holiday lag here. It's a busy time for us!

I vacation because this is our slow time of the year.

Sell so much during the other months where they can relax and enjoy the holiday season. This 24/7 thing is not healthy.

Hey Aubrie Jones so good to see you here! I like the answer Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers gave but the truth for me is I just spend more time blogging and as they say "pressing the flesh". The more you get involved in the community the more your business will pick up.

Keep working their plan and doing what it takes to get new business.

You stay on the phone until your appointment schedule is full.

Prospect and market even harder toward the end of summer! 

Stay focused on the goals and activities.

What we do now will set the tone for 2016....time to lay the ground work for a great 1st quarter.

Touch all of my clients from the past decade in some manner with holiday greetings--this never fails to generate a referral or two for spring.  It's also time to set the annual budget and goals.  The holidays go by quickly--we try to make them work for us.

Anticipate what you can't control, do everything you can control. I try to make the most of the time I have whether busy with current clients or building the pipeline for future ones.  

Lead generate everyday.  Holiday slump is made by an agents efforts or lack of.  Mark

I find it funny when agents act like this isn't a real thing.  It is!  Everybody experiences it.  Anybody that says they haven't ever experienced it is full of it.  

The first few years in our careers we hated the Dec-Jan slump.  Now a days we actually embrace it.  It gives us a chance to take a look at our marketing, what's worked this year and what hasn't.  

We're screaming busy and productive for 9-10 months out of the year.  BRING ON THE SLUMP so we can catch our collective breaths!  

In September and October, the proactive agent will start seeding the market with end-of-year messages. For many reasons there is a great surge in December transactions of truly purposed buyers and sellers.

One reason is most agent go into hibernation and work ON their business.

Another is a tax issue.

What happens this month started 3 months ago. 

The agent who has not prepared beforehand, should consider increasing the buget for inbound marketing activity.

You just need to do daily lead generation and business will follow.  Most cities have some seasonal impact, but people buy and sell houses every day of every year in every city.  Go  get your unfair share by lead generation and following up with your sphere.  This is a great time for client pop-bys, client appreciation gatherings or holiday communication.

Things may slow down some, but there is no slump in my niche.  It also gives me more time to prospect, work on my website, etc.

Just stopped by to checkout the answers! Great question!

I think it is what you do for the six to eight weeks before hand that prevent a slump. 

Go on vacation... and enjoy the free time or relax and do something for yourself.

I think if you have the correct follow-up system in place and you have been in the business a few years that you will not have a big slump this time of year ....This is the best November I have ever had ....I send out hundreds of hand written notes and greeting cards throughout the year and always have ....repeat and referral clients are the best you will ever have!

They have great systems in place, and deliver first class service so they are continually receiving referrals and recommendations for a steady stream of new business. 

Aubrie I am the busiest during the holidays, because the leading cause of the "slump" is not being available so I make myself available:), Endre

No Holiday Slumpage down here. it actually gets busier!

Keep after it I sold a Home on Christmas Eves when agents working were scarce & as otheres said work on contacting past cleints and lining up buyers for Spring!

If there is a  seasonal slump and you want a profitable next year,,,,Keep working,  What you do in November and December in the Mid Western and Northern States defines your following year. 

I go on vacation.

This year I have noticed a slow down that has not really been apparent in previous years. Every year I take December off, and I've never regretted it. By "take off" I should clarify that i leave the state, sometimes the country, but I work on closing my files, I just don't aggressively pursue listings although I did once list a home while I was in the middle of an atoll in the South Pacific.

Keep the motor running:)

I work hard all year so that I can slow down during the holidays. 

Aubrie Jones well, simplest of all - continue the lead generation. In fact, since others are not working as hard as you do, you may get their share, too.

Few years, I have done better in November and December compared to August!

Stop listenting to the rumors; i have had some of my best business during holidays and winter.  

I found that a huge number of Realtors assume there will be little business during the holidays and go away.  Yea!!!!  I'm here to pick up the slump.

Homes are at their most lovely during the holidays and if there is snow on the ground, the neighborhoods look like covers on holiday cards.

Take advantage of it.  Let your sellers and buyers know that the holidays will not interfere with your attention to their business.

I truly believe that there is no such thing as a HOLIDAY SLUMP. It is a HOLIDAY SLOWDOWN.......that's all. Serious home buyers are the ones who want to buy a house right now and the Motivated Sellers have their house on the market for sale right now. 

Ah... go fishing and working on web is a good start. I'm getting more calls now that it's holiday season, whats up with that.

I am available most of the time during the Holidays period because people are not working  and available to look at homes.  We have to be available when the clients are available.   Not all sellers and buyers are going out of town for a Holiday and I have picked up good clients while other agents are vacationing.