As a new agent, it’s tricky to decide how much time you should be spending in the office. You’ll even read a plethora of varying answers online. But, we want to set the record straight. When it comes to determining your hours, the question you should really be asking yourself is not how much time, but WHAT you’ll actually be accomplishing while in the office.

Job #1 is prospecting

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—sales fix all problems. To find success, you must prospect 1-2 hours every day. There’s really no way around it. One of the worst things you can do is wait around for the next sale. Take action and spend your time in the office searching for new prospects. Brush up on the local market, send emails, and pick up the phone.

Get stuff done (a.k.a. avoid distractions)

Let’s face it, it’s more than challenging to focus at home. Between your family and the television, temptations come in all forms. If you have an ever-growing to-do list that seems nearly impossible to accomplish, head to the office. You’ll be able to hone in on your priorities, and be more productive with your time.

Be close to the action

When drawing up a contract, you may run into issues that require help from the legal side. While it’s possible to communicate remotely with your managing broker, being in the office will make it easier. Just remember—being a few feet away from your broker instead of a phone call away will help you complete the contractual process in a timely manner.

In addition to readily-available help, being in the office will also allow you to hear, see, and learn from others in the office. Find the big gun, and ask if you can shadow them for a day.

Finding a healthy balance between working from home and being in the office can take time. However, as a “newbie,” it’s advantageous to grasp just how much more you can accomplish from being in the office.