The Real Estate Mom’s Car – Organizing Your Business On The Road

As a real estate professional, you already know your car is an extension of your business. It’s important to reflect this in the organization of your vehicle. You don’t want a client to see popsicle wrappers and other miscellaneous kid stuff in the backseat of your car. The impression you leave with your clients is vital. Nothing spells disaster faster for the real estate mom than to be perceived as unprofessional. Yes, life is busy, and yes, our cars often show that. However, taking the time to create the proper environment in your car is important.

While it can be difficult to do, it is a necessity. After all, our cars are an extension of ourselves and our lives. From business to running to the grocery store to stopping at McDonald’s after picking the kids up, creating boundaries for yourself AND for your children are important. Often, we’re as much to blame for a messy car as our children are, so it’s time to change habits.

The first rule for the real estate mom’s car is…

Keeping It Clean

If the car you do business in is messy to begin with, consider having it detailed at a professional car cleaning establishment to start. Not only easier to begin with, but less stress for you. Plus, they’ll likely do a far better job overall because that is their business.

If you prefer to tackle it yourself, be sure to vacuum up any and all stray crumbs, spot wipe any stains you see, and use a deodorizer to get rid of any clinging smells. When you’re done, the end result should be a sparkling clean car – inside and out.

Now all you have to do is keep it that way! Sounds simple, but let’s face it – at the end of a busy day, the last thing we want to do is clean anything, especially our car. Here are some hints to get you on the road of maintaining a professional appearance in your car:

• Set Rules. What comes into the car must go out of the car. This includes garbage, backpacks, sports equipment, books, etc. Keep a few extra garbage bags in your trunk – easy to pile a bunch of stuff into a bag to carry into the house, or into the garbage, in one haul.

• Use the Trunk. Anything that isn’t needed in the car itself put in the trunk. From real estate signs to basket balls, hide them away where your clients can’t see them.

• Keep it Professional. From simplicities to keeping the floor mats, cup holders, and dash wiped clean of dust and debris; to where you store your briefcase (in the backseat, not in the front), keep your vehicle professional in appearance. Purchase a small container of disposable cleaning wipes to keep in your glove box for quick clean-ups during the week. Also, you may want to reconsider personal accessories such as window stickers, children’s pictures, and fuzzy dice hanging from your rearview mirror.

• Keep Spare Change Handy. Keep some extra quarters in your glove box for impromptu visits through the local car wash. Plan on regular visits, regardless, to keep the car shiny and clean.

• Instill the No Eat Rule. Unless you’re going on a long car trip, it really doesn’t make any sense to ever eat in the car. Not only messy, but also potentially dangerous. Make sure meals and snacks are dealt with BEFORE getting into the car.

Consider some extras you can keep on hand to assist you in your business day. From paperwork to an extra change of clothes in the trunk, think about what “may” happen and be prepared for those necessities.

In today’s crazy rush to everything lifestyle, our cars can easily become a disaster area as we move from one event to another. Take the time to organize the clutter to give your clients the best impression of you possible. After all, their reflection on you could mean more or less business from their associates.