As an agent, the power of a system will make your processes much more efficient. In order to have a great system, checklists are a must. Here are the 4 main components of building great checklists, the benefits of a great checklist, and what they can be used for.

4 Main Elements of a Great Checklist:

1. It must work for YOU, your market, your business, and your needs.
   • A great checklist contains all of the key fundamental pieces in order to get the job done.

2. It must be accurate and has to be revisited.

1. • Using checklists will make the process more accurate and efficient so that when the activities are completed, nothing is missed.
   • Through the natural evolution of being a real estate agent, you and your business will grow and you’ll need to be sure all steps are accounted for. 

3. It must have clearly defined timeframes.

1. • The purpose of a checklist is to hold you accountable to the timelines in which things need to be completed by. If a checklist doesn’t have timeframes, it’s just a list!
   • Timeframes and checkboxes also help to stay on task. 

4. To isolate core tasks.

1. • Figure out what the big tasks/non-negotiables are that are essential to completing a task. 
   • Chunk those tasks down into individual tasks by organizing and arranging them. 

Some of the benefits of a great checklist are:

1. Efficiency
2. Accountability
3. Sense of accomplishment
4. More free time 
5. Allows you to set expectations not only with yourself but with clients. This will also allow them to see that there are actually processes in place.
6. Leverage by having a roadmap so you can effectively and efficiently train someone else. By simply handing over the checklist for the way you’d like things done, it saves a lot of time and energy.

What systems can you create a checklist for?

1. Lead Gen: What part of lead gen will you focus on? SOI, expireds, fsbo, etc
2. ‘Contract to Close’ process
3. When hiring someone for TC work or social media marketing
4. Client and Past Client follow-up/touches
5. Anything that would make you and your business more efficient!

It’s a great sign of professionalism to have a checklist that can be presented to your buyers and sellers. For example, handing a checklist to your sellers with timeframes associated with listing and selling their home is helpful. This lets them know when they can expect to hear from you in regards to specific things, like how soon will their home be listed in MLS after the photos are taken and what happens between those two checklist items.

The reality is that as an agent, it’s easier to keep track of things without a checklist when you only have a few transactions going at a time. But as you and your business grow, you’ll need an action plan to assist with tasks, and to keep everything in order. Having a checklist is like a procedure manual that assures all tasks are completed on time. If you take the time to develop this for your business, you will have a business!