Cool Ways to Save on Business Expenses

Good Afternoon Real-Estate Rockstars! Last week Apple dropped yet another AI feature that promises to schedule our lives before we finish coffee. Until Siri can negotiate inspection repairs, we still need sharp money habits.

Today we will hunt sneaky subscriptions, brush up on ninja-level negotiation tricks, and raise our personal bar so high it needs its own zip code. We are also diving deeper into The 12-Week Year, focusing on the numbers that predict, not just report.

Ready to slice expenses like a chef on a cooking show? Let’s dig in.

— Steve

ACCOUNTANT ANGLE

 Cutting Overhead

Open your bank feed and sort every recurring charge by date, then ask three brutal questions. Do I use it weekly, does it directly save time or earn leads, and can I get it cheaper?

Anything that flunks two questions goes to “Cancel June 30.”

For the keepers, visit their pricing pages. Vendors quietly lower rates for annual billing or new promo tiers.

Screenshot your current plan, then click the chat bubble and ask for the retention discount. You will be surprised how often ten dollars a month disappears with a single request.

Finally, bundle similar tools. If your CRM started offering built-in email automation, scrap the standalone service. Run this audit each quarter and watch overhead shrink without touching the client experience.

The saved cash becomes a tidy reserve or a targeted Facebook ad that brings real ROI.

BUSINESS BOOSTER

Negotiation Tactics That Close Deals

Silence is not awkward; it is leverage.

After presenting a counteroffer, bite your tongue and count to eight. Most people rush to fill the gap and often reveal their real threshold.

Add mirroring, a one-sentence reflection like “You need a faster closing,” which signals you are listening, not arguing.

When tension rises, label feelings. Try “Sounds like the repairs worry you,” which defuses heat and invites solutions.

Prepare three concessions ahead of time, ranked by cost to you versus value to them. Offer the lowest cost, highest value first, such as flexible possession.

Close by summarizing agreements out loud. Hearing progress framed clearly nudges hesitant parties over the finish line.

Practice these moves on small daily interactions, like negotiating cable rates, so they feel natural when thousands of dollars and multiple emotions sit on the table.

COACHES CORNER

Setting a Higher Standard for Yourself

High performers act as if an invisible camera crew is filming a highlight reel. Adopt that mindset.

Start each morning with a two-minute promise, “Today I prospect for thirty minutes no matter what.” Track promises on a wall calendar, aiming for an unbroken chain. Miss one square and mark it red, then start a new streak. Red squares sting; they also motivate.

Pair accountability with reflection. At day’s end, jot one thing that impressed you about your own work and one thing to upgrade tomorrow. Self-praise feels odd but reinforces identity as a pro, not a dabbler.

Finally, curate your circle. Share weekly goals with a peer who will actually call you out, not pat you on the back for excuses.

Standards rise in the company of higher standards. Soon clients notice, referrals follow, and the invisible camera fades because the habits stick.

BOOK OF THE MONTH

“The 12 Week Year” by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington

Lagging indicators like closed transactions are history books. Leading indicators are crystal balls.

In your twelve-week plan, choose three actions that directly create future revenue: outbound calls, social Reels posted, and buyer consultations scheduled.

Track them daily in a simple grid, green check for done, blank for missed. If checks dip below 85 percent in a given week, do not adjust the goal, adjust the behavior that blocks execution.

Maybe calls slip because scripts feel stiff. Spend ten minutes rewriting opener lines before the next sprint.

Review lagging numbers—signed listings, closings—only on Fridays to confirm the leading work is pulling its weight. This feedback loop keeps the plan alive rather than a PDF lost in your downloads.

Stick to the system through August and watch summer finish lines appear weeks ahead of schedule.

☝️ Go ahead and click the image to order the book from Amazon ☝️ 

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Down Payments Drop for the First Time in Nearly Two Years — Real Estate News

Why You Should Read: Lower cash requirements may pull fence sitters into action.

AI Agents Are Coming. Here’s What You Need to Know — Real Estate News

Why You Should Read: Understand how artificial assistants could complement, not replace, your client care.

How to Think About Home Prices for the Rest of 2025 — HousingWire

Why You Should Read: Market outlook shapes buyer advice and seller pricing strategies.

TO-DO LIST

Your Next Move — Turn Insights into Action

✅ Run Subscription Audit: Cancel or downgrade one tool by Friday.

✅ Practice Eight-Second Silence: Apply in at least two conversations this week.

✅ Set Daily Wall Calendar: Track thirty-minute prospecting streak.

✅ Log Leading Metrics: Create green-check grid for calls, posts, consults.

✅ Share AI Article: Post a short LinkedIn opinion on AI agents and tag colleagues.