4 Essential Time Management Tips for Mortgage Brokers

Ever feel like time slips away from you while you’re running your business? These time management tips for mortgage brokers can boost your productivity, helping you get more out of your workday.

We’ve all been there. You walk into the office, coffee in hand, ready to tackle all the projects on your to-do list. So you put your head down, start plugging away at your emails, and glance at the clock when you realize: Eight hours have passed – in what seems like the blink of an eye.

Sure, we all wish there was more time in the day, but what if you could manage your time better and actually get more done in those same eight hours? We put together a list of four essential time management tips for mortgage brokers, so you can unlock more time in your day, land more clients, and grow your business.

Time Management Tips for Mortgage Brokers

1. Set clear goals—and stick with them.

Plenty of mortgage brokers walk into the office with a general idea of what they’d like to get done that day: Make some phone calls, update the calendar, catch up with clients. But the most successful brokers take time to organize their daily, weekly, and monthly goals, so they can put their time into what really counts.

Think S.M.A.R.T: Make your current and future goals Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based. Don’t be afraid to get specific here. Write down the details of what you’ll need to do to make your goals happen and what roadblocks you may need to overcome.

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2. “Eat the elephant.”

What’s the key to your success as a mortgage broker? Breaking down unwieldy projects into manageable steps. If it ever feels like the hardest part of a project is just getting started, you’re not alone. South African archbishop Desmond Tutu once said, “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.”

So, if you’re getting overwhelmed by your email inbox or you’re not looking forward to compiling the paperwork necessary for a client’s loan, try to break down these tasks into smaller, more manageable subtasks. Each time you strike a subtask off your list, you’ll feel even more motivated for the next one.

3. Create “time blocks.”

What makes a great mortgage broker? The most successful brokers stay efficient throughout the day by creating dedicated “time blocks.” If you make your best phone calls in the morning, and you prefer to meet with prospective clients in the afternoon, schedule your appointments throughout the day accordingly. Time blocks can help you focus on one task at a time, so you can give it your 100% undivided attention. Don’t forget about your work-life balance: Block off space in your day to rest, to learn, and to spend time with your family. How effective are you really being if you’re emailing your staff while you’re sitting down at dinner?

4. Automate everything you can.

Life as a mortgage broker moves fast. Think about all the repetitive daily tasks you do every day like answering the phone, replying to email threads, and keeping up with new loan updates. Spend time automating some of your daily processes, so you can free up more time for the tasks that really demand your attention. It always helps to use a loan origination system that does the heavy lifting for you. In fact, Octane gives you email updates at every major milestone, so you don’t have to babysit your loans.

Takeaways

The highest-producing mortgage brokers are always looking for ways to squeeze more time out of their work day, so they can provide the perfect loan options for their clients. With these tips, any broker can move faster, be more efficient, meet more people, and close more loans.

At Cardinal Financial Wholesale, we’re committed to giving you the keys to drive your business, as well as delivering the best tools for you to do so. Learn more about becoming a partner today.

Can you think of any other time management life hacks? If so, we’d love to hear them on Facebook or LinkedIn!