Time management is a discipline which a lot of us struggle with. Realtor.org offers up some really handy advice about how to manage your time more effectively, and here are my top tips.

Carry an ‘Emergency Kit’

I carry an emergency kit with important forms and presentation materials, along with some essential office supplies, so that I can advance transactions when they spontaneously occur. I don’t have to head back to the office, and I can leave items with the client or customer to complete and get back to me.

Not carrying the bare essentials around could mean not striking while the iron is hot, and losing the sale. Make a checklist of all the important items, and make sure you’re fully stocked before seeing a prospect.

Take Inventory of Your Time

You must control time or time will control you. To begin effectively managing your time, you first need to understand where you’re wasting time. So before you create your schedule, spend a couple of “average” days keeping close track of what you do and how long it takes.

I find that recording at least one weeks activities helps me understand where my time goes. I then realise too much of it is going into lower-value added tasks. If you find yourself in that situation, what should you do? You should…

Just Say No

I focus my business development on the people and activities that I enjoy most and say no to anything out of my target market. This makes events, lunches, and volunteering fun and exciting because I love what I’m doing and the people with whom I’m doing it. My enthusiasm also makes me a much more fun and interesting person to prospective clients who participate in the same activities as me.

I’ve learned that when you’re focused, it’s easy to decide when to say yes, and when to smile and say “no, thank you.” I don’t feel guilty about declining because I know I’m giving 100 percent in many other ways. Saying “no” gives me the time to invest in myself, my family, and my business.

To all the low value added tasks, be more inclined to say no. You may want to please everyone, but there has got to be a time where you realise you only have two hands. Or do you? You could…

Hire an Assistant (or Two)

What I’ve learned over the years is you that can’t do it all on your own. The best move you can make is to hire an assistant or multiple assistants if necessary. Yes, you have to take the leap and spend money to make money, but it works — I guarantee it. Find the things you enjoy about the business and concentrate on those tasks. Delegate the rest. Hiring people to do the things I’m not good at and the tasks I don’t enjoy allowed me to do more of what I enjoy, including spending time with my two kids.

The best way to get everything done, is to get help to do it. It often takes of the time to do 80% of the work, and 80% of the effort to do the remaining 20%. If you want to do a pristine job on a consistent basis, proper management and delegation is essential.

Save Time and Gas Money

I’ve always been good at prioritizing my day, but with the increased demands on my time and the increased cost of doing business — fuel in particular — I now plan out my appointments and trips so that I do things in the most efficient order. I fill in the gaps between scheduled appointments with phone calls and both business and personal stops I need to make along the way.

Plan your travel so you don’t need to double back and forth between locations as well. Pick your timing well so you don’t get caught in traffic.

What are your best time saving tips?