Planning to Make 2026 Your Best Year Yet!
CREATE YOUR PLAN FOR 2026 AND HIT THE GROUND RUNNING!
As the year winds down, many real estate agents take a well-earned break over the festive season to recharge. It’s no secret, this industry is relentless. Open homes, auctions, negotiations, paperwork and pursuing leads doesn’t stop. But while rest is essential, Christmas is also the perfect time to carve out a few quiet moments to plan, set goals and create a clear strategy for the year ahead.
The agents who start January with clarity and intent are the ones who gain momentum earlier, secure more listings and build stronger client relationships before others have even opened their diaries.
Why Planning Matters
The market resets every year, inventory renews and buyer activity often increases after the holidays. A well-structured plan gives you:
Clarity on goals: Know exactly what you want to achieve - listings, GCI, auctions called, or team growth.
Confidence in action: Instead of reacting, you start the year proactively with a roadmap.
A competitive advantage: While others are still warming up, you’re already executing your strategy.
Better balance: With targets and systems in place, stress reduces and productivity increases.
Holmes & Co Auctions works alongside high-performing agents every day - and one of the common traits of successful agents is this: they always plan ahead.
Step-by-Step Guide to Planning for the New Year
✅ 1. Reflect on the Past Year
What worked? What didn’t?
Which campaigns, auctions or vendor relationships brought the best results?
Where did you experience the most challenges?
✅ 2. Set Your Goals and Metrics
Listings secured per month
Auctions booked and clearance rate targets
Gross commission income (GCI) goals
Personal development—training, scripts, coaching, networking
✅ 3. Build a Quarterly Action Plan
Break big annual goals into quarterly milestones.
Map out seasonal trends, key auction dates and regional events.
Schedule prospecting sessions, database calls and vendor follow-ups.
✅ 4. Prepare Your Marketing Strategy
Update listing templates, social media content and personal brand messaging.
Plan your first quarter of campaigns now - rather than waiting for January.
Align with suppliers like auctioneers, photographers and copywriters early.
✅ 5. Organise Your Database and Systems
Clean and segment your CRM.
Reconnect with past clients, pipeline vendors and buyers.
Automate reminders, touchpoints and follow-ups where possible.
✅ 6. Invest in Yourself
Book training, auctions coaching sessions or industry events.
Refine your listing presentation and auction strategy.
Commit to skills that help you win more business and close deals confidently.
Start Early, Start Strong
January isn’t the time to start planning - it’s the time to start executing. By spending just a few intentional hours during the festive downtime, you’ll set yourself up to hit the ground running in the new year.
At Holmes & Co Auctions, we’re here to support agents in delivering exceptional campaigns and achieving standout results. With the right preparation, 2026 can be your most successful year yet.
👉 If you’d like to work with an award-winning auctioneer team we would love to hear from you.