What is the most valuable asset of your real estate business? It could be many things - your client list and network, your brand reputation, your database and technology, and of course “your team.”
The success of your real estate business hinges on your agents’ skills and expertise. Your team of real estate agents and brokers bring in clients, handles negotiations, and successfully closes deals, directly translating to revenue generation and business growth.
This is why having a happy and productive team is key to keeping your real estate brokerage in Mississauga in the top rank. And nothing can affect the productivity and happiness of your real estate team like the office environment. Your brokerage office is more than just a place to work - it’s a place that significantly influences how your real estate team feels, functions, and ultimately performs.
Here are some easy and effective ways to create a positive office environment that will have your real estate team perform at their best!
Tips to Redesign Your Brokerage Workspace and Boost Employee Productivity
Create the Most Comfortable Office Space Possible
Comfort is key when looking to create a positive, vibrant brokerage workspace that boosts employee productivity. So, to make your office space comfy and inviting, get strong and durable furniture for your office that can withstand everyday wear and tear and is comfortable enough. Basically, it shouldn’t cause any health issues as the usual non-ergonomic office furnishings do.
You can also encourage your real estate team to place photos of family and pets on their desk. This can make your team members feel more connected to their personal lives while at work, contributing to a positive work-life balance.
Keep in Mind That Office Colours Can Have an Effect on Your Employees
Colours evoke a sense of atmosphere in the real estate brokerage office that can affect your employees in many ways. For instance, if your office space has more neutral grey and tans, your real estate employees may feel inspired and sluggish for no reason at all. And in case dark colours dominate the walls of your office, your employees can feel stressed first thing in the morning.
We’re not asking you to refrain from including neutral or dark colours in the real estate office. We’re just reminding you to keep in mind that these colours do nothing to encourage your team’s productivity and focus.
So even if you don’t want to use bright colours all over your office, you can strategically include both bright and neutral/dark colours in your workspace. We suggest going with a bright colour from your brand logo while designing the brokerage office.
Incorporate Natural Lighting to the Space
No employee in your real estate brokerage in Mississauga office would prefer to work under rows and rows of fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lights often flicker and emit a blueish hue which can lead to eye strain and headaches for your employees. Natural light, on the other hand, offers a full spectrum of light that’s easier on the eyes, reducing these discomforts.
Natural light can also evoke feelings of connection with the outdoors which can be psychologically calming. This can reduce feelings of confinement that are often associated with traditional office spaces.
One hack to invite natural light to your office space is to provide plenty of windows within your brokerage office. Windows let in natural light and help reduce the need for electric lighting (lowering your office’s utility bills too!). In case your office has a flat roof or dropped ceilings, you can consider installing skylights or light tubes.
Bring In Plants to Make the Office Greener
Another amazing way to improve the work environment in your real estate brokerage is to bring in some greenery. Adding just a couple of indoor plants in your office space can make a world of difference. Not only do they make the office decor look more aesthetic, but they also help cleanse the air by absorbing contaminants.
You can go for the living wall concept in your real estate office. This is a vertical garden that is installed on walls, offering a stunning and space-saving way to integrate greenery into your office. Or else, you can place potted plants of various sizes and types throughout your office. Go for low-maintenance varieties that can thrive in an office environment with low light levels.
Maintain Cleanliness and Tidiness in the Workspace
It’s vital to keep the workspace of your real estate brokerage clean and germ-free at all times. Doing so can prevent the spread of illness that halts productivity in your office and makes it difficult for your real estate business to operate smoothly and efficiently.
Office desks, tables, chairs, and other equipment hold more bacteria than any other surface in the office. In fact, a typical office desk can harbour hundreds of thousands or even millions of bacteria per square inch. So, make sure to add regular cleaning to your real estate office schedule at least once a week to tidy up these germ-breeding places in your office.
Build Quiet Areas for Employees to Work with Focus
Another essential component of a productive office environment is the presence of quiet areas where your real estate team can focus and concentrate. You can set up this area in the corner of an office space where employees can go if they have super-important work. You must try to keep the quiet space away from other collaboration or socialization areas as much as possible.
Offer Your Team Flexibility in Workspace and Seating
A change of scenery - or just a change in the seating arrangements - is an effective way to keep up the productivity and energy levels of your real estate team. You can incorporate this flexibility in your real estate brokerage in Mississauga by providing employees with a range of seating options. Offer them adjustable-height desks, multi-person tables, and other seating options.
Also, instead of a free-for-all hot desking system, designate specific areas in your real estate office for hot desking. This can include open areas with individual desks, high-top tables for collaboration or quiet areas for focused work (like mentioned before!). Employees can reserve a workspace within their preferred zone for the day through an app or online platform.
Make Your Office Space Beautiful as Well as Productive
Let’s face it - keeping up the productivity of your real estate team isn’t something that happens easily. Sometimes, your real estate team may feel unfocused at work within the office space.
However, the good news is that by tweaking your workspace with the help of the above easy tips, you can take the productivity of your team under control. This new office atmosphere can stir your employee’s senses, motivate them, and help them stay efficient and focused in no time. So, make sure to foster a positive environment in your real estate brokerage office with the strategies!
