Real estate is a numbers game. You have heard that over and over, haven't you? The normal context of this statement is based on the focus of cranking out numbers of contacts. Or, the simple belief that the more people you contact, the more successful you will be.

While that does produce a result, it is rarely the most productive way to spend your prospecting time. In other words, all calls and contacts are not created equal.

A better tactic is to examine how can you leverage the numbers and increase your time with the people that are most likely to list with you or buy from you.

To be more successful this year, focus your precious time on those things that bring the best return. These days, real estate is a relationship game rather than a numbers game!

Ok, so that gives you some food for thought about your contact numbers but what other numbers are we talking about that are important?

Here are a few key measurements that, if known, allow you to make better decisions and set your priorities in a different way.

As you pull together last year's totals, this is a perfect time to delve a bit deeper and examine where you really are and what is and what is not working.

Numbers That Can Make a Difference

Your hourly wage

What did you make per hour last year? When I ask this question of agents I meet when I speak, so few have a handle on this, it amazes me. How are you doing business if you do not know what you are worth? If you don't know, do this now: take the net that you made last year and divide it by the number of hours you worked. Now you have a baseline to work from. You can better make decisions about what you personally should do and what you should delegate.

You've also got the place to start from if you want your business to be more profitable this year.

What do you want that number to be for 2005? How many hours do you want to work and what do you want to net? This, most likely is a higher number. To get there you have to stop doing low payoff activities. Write down right now, which three things are you doing that are not the highest and best use of your time and find someone else to do them or make the decision that they will not be part of the plan this year. Find someone else do the transaction coordinating if you aren't a whiz at details and don't like paperwork. Find someone else to do your marketing. Quit writing ads and spending money where you are getting no return.

Your skill level

These numbers are all about working smarter. The really wonderful reality is that you won't have to generate more leads, work with more buyers or list more homes, you will simply need to raise your level of expertise to become more proficient at your craft.

What will it take? Do you need some advanced sales training? Taking the ePRO Course to learn how to better convert internet leads? Getting the ABR Designation to learn how to close 80 percent of buyers vs the NAR average without a buyer broker agreement of 20 percent? Should you get a coach to help you stay accountable and see how to better leverage your strengths?

List your:

• Call Conversion Ratio- of the calls you get, how many turn into clients?

• Buyer Close percentage- of the potential buyers that contact you, how many buy? How many did you use an Exclusive Buyers Contract with?

• Listing/Sold percentage - of all the listings you took last year, what percentage sold? While you are here, also research:

  1. your percentage of List To Sale Price vs. The MLS Average

  2. your Average Days on Market vs. The MLS Average

These are competitive figures that will differentiate you on a listing appointment or in prospecting with FSBOs.

Have goals that propel you into action

You are unique and your goals probably aren't terribly empowering if you choose them to be 10-15% above last year or if they are a reflection of what someone else thinks you should be able to accomplish. Ask yourself, "What goal, if I accomplished it, would make me supremely happy this year." Then go for it, no matter how unrealistic it may seem. Aim high, dream big. Even if you don't hit the goal, you'll be thinking and taking action on a different scale. Ask others to help. Upgrade your skills and personal operating system! Do what it takes to BE a person who can accomplish those goals.

Choose three measures of satisfaction for each area below and write them down, share them and look at them every day!

• Your financial goals

• Your personal goals

Knowing all of these numbers is certainly different than just trying to make more cold calls than anyone else. In 2005, act as if real estate is a relationship game and build and deepen your expert status with those who come to know and love you, but then know your numbers to work smarter not harder this year!

Published: February 4, 2005

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Joeann Fossland ePRO, GRI, MCC, PMN, SRS is a dynamic speaker and business coach. Co-creator of THE REAL ESTATE GAME® and NoBloggerLeftBehind.com, she provides coaching solutions to enhance your effectiveness and life balance. You can subscribe to her free weekly tips, attend free monthly tele-seminars, and find out about classes delivered by email and personal coaching by visiting Joeann.com or email her at .