Memorial Day Special: Honor & Hustle

Good Morning Real-Estate Pros! As grills fire up and flags unfurl, we pause to honor those who gave everything for the freedoms we profit from every day—including the freedom to help families find home.

Quick nod to current events: the NBA finals schedule just dropped, so if clients start talking hoops instead of housing, you’ll know why.

Today’s issue is built for a holiday week: how to tweak your books when revenue blips, block time when the calendar’s chaotic, and negotiate so everyone leaves the table feeling like they scored a game‑winner. We’ll keep leaning on Covey’s 7 Habits—Habit 6 (Synergize) is basically teamwork’s cheat code.

So, between honoring heroes and flipping burgers, let’s sharpen the hustle and glide into June with momentum to spare.

— Steve

ACCOUNTANT ANGLE

 Seasonal Adjustments in Bookkeeping

Holiday weeks look harmless until you compare May’s five‑day lull against June’s full‑throttle closing schedule.

Start by tagging every expense related to seasonal marketing—flag banners, BBQ sponsorships, or extra signage for Memorial Day open houses. Create a sub‑category called “Seasonal Promo” in QuickBooks; this isolates short‑term spend from routine operations.

Next, anticipate income dips: if you typically close two deals per week, assume half that for the holiday stretch; adjust cash‑flow forecasts accordingly.

Payroll twist: if you pay assistants hourly, track holiday pay separately so overtime doesn’t blur true labor costs.

Finally, schedule a post‑holiday review: compare projected versus actual marketing ROI. If that patriotic mailer generated three warm leads, great—book it for July 4th. If not, pivot resources to a platform with proven pull.

Smart seasonal bookkeeping means celebrating without sweating the bottom line.

BUSINESS BOOSTER

Efficient Time‑Blocking Techniques

Holiday weeks compress five days of chaos into four. Solution? Turn your calendar into Tetris (or a weird combination of Tetris and Jenga 👆️).

Start with “non‑negotiable revenue blocks”: prospecting, follow‑ups, listing prep—slot those before noon, when energy (and caffeine) peak. Protect blocks with a simple rule: no email notifications during revenue time; Slack and DMs can queue up like holiday traffic.

Next, batch small tasks—social posts, mileage logs—into one 45‑minute “Admin Blitz” instead of death‑by‑paper‑cut throughout the day. Add a recovery buffer: 15 minutes after each high‑stakes meeting to jot notes, send recap emails, or just breathe.

Finally, color‑code your blocks: green for money tasks, blue for admin, red for personal (yes, that quick store run counts). The visual cue shows if profit work is truly prioritized.

Time‑blocking feels rigid at first, but once you taste the stress‑free afternoons, you’ll guard those blocks like the limited patio seats at your favorite brunch spot.

COACHES CORNER

Think Win‑Win: Negotiation That Benefits All Parties

Remember Habit 4, Think Win‑Win? Let’s move it from theory to closing table.

Before any negotiation, list both sides’ top three motivators—price, timing, inspection repair? When conflict surfaces, frame solutions around overlapping wins: “What if we reduce repair credits but move closing up two weeks so your relocation stays on track?”

Another tactic: share small concessions first; it signals collaboration, prompting reciprocity. Use empathetic language—“I see why that timeline worries you”—to lower defenses and keep talks constructive.

Quick micro‑exercise: after every negotiation this week, rate outcome on a Win‑Win scale 1‑10. Anything below 7? Debrief what you missed.

Consistent practice sharpens the skill until win‑win stops being strategy and becomes reflex—meaning smoother closings, happier clients, and a reputation that markets itself.

BOOK OF THE MONTH

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey

We’re rounding out May by spotlighting Habit 6: Synergize.

Covey defines synergy as creative cooperation—two ideas colliding to build a third, better one.

In real estate, think staging consultant + mortgage officer + you. Host a joint webinar: the stager shares quick home‑prep hacks, the lender demystifies rate locks, you wrap with hyper‑local market data. Each partner invites their list; three audiences become one bigger pipeline at zero extra ad spend.

Another application: mastermind with a handful of non‑competing agents to dissect tough deals. Fresh eyes often reveal solutions you couldn’t see because you were knee‑deep in drywall dust and disclosure dates.

The habit’s secret sauce is humility—acknowledging you don’t have every answer. But tap into combined expertise, and watch small wins snowball into record quarters.

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

NEWS YOU CAN USE

“Existing-Home Sales Edged Lower by 0.5% in April” — National Association of Realtors

Why You Should Read: Subtle slowdown may influence pricing advice and urgency messaging.

“Inventory back to 2019 levels and what that means for 2025” — HousingWire

Why You Should Read: More listings shift leverage; prep buyers for increased choice.

“A new era for NAR? How its leaders are trying to win back trust” — Real Estate News

Why You Should Read: Policy shifts can reshape client perceptions and your talking points.

TO-DO LIST

Your Next Move — Turn Insights into Action

✅ Tag Seasonal Expenses – Label holiday marketing spend in QuickBooks before month‑end.

✅ Color‑Code Calendar – Set green revenue blocks for Tuesday‑Friday this week.

✅ Win‑Win Scorecard – Rate each negotiation; aim for 7+ balance.

✅ Plan Synergy Webinar – Reach out to stager and lender partners by Thursday.

✅ Share Market Shift – Post one news headline above with your quick take for clients.