Stay cool under pressure: stress management tips for property practitioners

Between closing deals, managing client expectations and monitoring shifts in the market, the responsibilities placed on property practitioners’ shoulders can be immense. The importance of stress management, preventing burnout and prioritising your mental health should not be underestimated. The team from Prop Data, an award-winning proptech and marketing company, has put together this guide to help you maintain your work/life balance and keep your stress levels under control.

Managing your time effectively

When you’re juggling clients, listings, viewings, paperwork and marketing, time management isn’t just helpful – it’s essential. The first step in effective time management for property practitioners is to limit your distractions. Set boundaries with your phone and only check emails or messages at set times. If your real estate company has an admin team, don’t try to do everything yourself. If you can get assistance with tasks like listing input, photo editing or paperwork, make the most of this. Make a to-do list and prioritise the most important items for each day. If you manage your time well, you’ll find that stress management is easy.

Get some exercise (and leave your phone behind)

If you try to work around the clock, burnout will come quickly. One of the most effective coping strategies for real estate stress is to get some exercise. For some people, that might mean going to the gym or going for a walk. For others, it may involve playing outside with your children or going for a swim. Whatever form of exercise you choose, it will cause your brain to release feel-good hormones called endorphins, which will equip you to work more effectively when you get back to your desk.

Getting any form of exercise is a great reason to not be near your phone for a while. Letting your phone out of your sight may seem impractical as a property practitioner, but you’ll soon feel the benefits. Taking a break from your phone will lower your anxiety and stress, enabling you to be more productive and focused when you get back to work.

Work-life balance for practitioners

In the real estate industry, your weekends are not your own. From private viewings to show days, your Saturdays and Sundays are invariably occupied with work to at least some degree. Find ways to prioritise relaxation and family time, whether that means taking a day off during the week when possible or carving out time for small rituals like a 15-minute walk or a quiet coffee break.

Focus on things you can control

Certain things are out of your control in the real estate industry. You can’t control the market or make clients’ decisions on their behalf — but there are various factors that you can control. Your mindset, your work ethic and your follow-up game are where your focus should be. Celebrate every win — even the small ones — as part of your stress management strategy. A new lead, a great show day or a new mandate are all reasons to remind yourself that your drive will lead you to success.

Improve your sleeping patterns

Getting sufficient sleep (ideally seven to eight hours every night) is non-negotiable. Sleep is an investment in productivity because if you’re well-rested, you’ll be physically and psychologically equipped to deal with whatever comes your way.

The first step to getting better sleep is sticking to a consistent schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day — even on weekends. Avoid screens (phones, TVs and laptops) for at least half an hour before bedtime and create a wind-down routine. This could involve having a warm shower, meditating or doing some light stretching.

Use the tools at your disposal

Staying organised is an excellent way of managing pressure in real estate. As a property practitioner, you have access to various tools specifically designed to keep you organised. By following the five stages of the sales pipeline, you’ll know exactly where in the process each prospective deal currently is. There is also a list of tried-and-tested strategies that you can follow to create a marketing campaign for a property.

Once an offer to purchase agreement has been signed, Prop Data’s Deals Module captures the structure of the deal on your behalf and keeps you organised by allowing you to add as much information as possible. For example, the module records when the buyer and seller have signed the sales agreement, and when instructions have been sent to the relevant attorneys. This process is simple because the system pulls most of the information into the Deals Module directly from the property listing. The module also provides various reminders and keeps all documentation available just a click away.

As a property practitioner, you’re in the business of improving people’s lives and facilitating the realisation of their dreams. You can’t do any of this effectively if your own cup isn’t full. Make full use of the tools available, such as Prop Data’s Deals Module and make self-care a priority.