The Year That Was

It’s only a few weeks left to the end of the year and it’s a great time to reflect on the year that was. It certainly has been a compelling year and there have been laughter, tears, stress and more tears perhaps.
Before we sit down to the traditional turkey or the great Aussie BBQ on Christmas day now is a good time to reflect on the year that was. Not just from a personal prospective but what’s happening across Australia.

Many of us can get into the Henny Penny stage and think that the sky is falling down and it’s all doom and gloom, however once we put things into prospective we quickly realise that this is not the case at all. So let’s take a ride through 2011

Reflection on 2011

• We started 2011 with the hope that the GFC was well and truly over and bring on the good times
• Major Tsunami in Japan killing thousands
• Devastating earthquake in Christchurch levelling a beautiful city
• Osama bin Laden the most wanted man on the planet killed
• Gadafi killed
• Floods in Brisbane, Victoria, Fires in Perth, cyclone Yasi
• Carbon tax and flood levy introduced
• Mass killings in Norway
• 2 interest rate cuts
• Crisis in Europe
• China economy starts to soften
• Borders and Angus and Robertson placed into receivership
• Riots in Villawood detention centre
• Virgin Blue rebrand to Virgin Australia
• Ash clouds from Chile ground flights in Australia
• Gillard Government signs “Malaysian Solution” deal
• High court judge rejects “Malaysia Solution”
• Census was held this year
• Daniel Morecombe remains found
• Ned Kelly remains found
• Visits by various royalty
• Commonwealth Head of Govt meeting held in Perth
• Qantas grounded
• Barrack Obama visits
• Geelong wins the AFL grand final
• Sea Eagles wins the NRL grand final
• All Blacks win the world cup
• Dunaden wins Melbourne Cup

The real estate market this year has been described as stable, flat, changing, challenging, soft…. Auction clearance rates have hovered between 50-70%, the much anticipated interest rate cuts have not really had an impact as yet and we all await for the new year to see if there will be further cuts to stimulate the economy.
Harcourts NSW is had an interesting year and looking at the figures overall we have performed well as a network in a changing market.

Harcourts NSW comparison 2010 to 2011

Sales Volume	58.97% ↑
Average Number of Sales Consultants	30.18% ↑
Average Sale Price	5.68%↑
Number of Properties SOLD	50.96%↑
Total Number of Properties Listed	29.67%↑
Auctions listed	37.44%↑

Refection on you
Now let’s focus on you, how have you performed this year in comparison to your business plan? In comparison to 2010 have you improved? What are the key areas you need to work on for 2012 to have an awesome year?

Work on your business plan now so that when you return in 2012 you have laid the foundations of success and most importantly ensure that you have someone to hold you accountable.