Ha Ha, this is a good one. I don't know about you, but it seems to me everytime a plan a nice vacation the day I have to leave something happens. Whether it is a new contract or saving an existing deal. It just seems that if you want to get busy, just try and leave town.

I take real vacations and "working" vacations. On real ones I have an agent covering for me 100% and I only check my work email and messages once a day maximum. I don't respond to anything unless it really is something only I can handle. My working vacations are great fun, giving me some play time mixed with a couple of hours most days handling work.

I do it all while on vacation, except showings of course. When I'm on vacation I am not in the city.

When I'm on vacation I'm on vacation! I have trusted agents cover my business, go to closings etc. I come back refreshed and my clients are happy for me. They know how hard I work.

It depends. When I was in Italy I did not work and had arranged all the coverage I needed. Other times I am checling email and VM periodically

I do work on vacation because my business does not stop just because I took off for a day or two or three.  So I check emails in the morning and early evening, call or text back and forth. A week before I leave I let all those who need to know that I will be gone for a few days and that usually keeps the majority of the "stuff" at bay until I get back.  And then I have a backup agent who can help if there is an emergency.

Check emails and voice mail... maybe search for property updates in the morning while scanning the internet news.

if the agents are within driving distance, they service their clients and/or they have someone covering for them.... 

Yes, we work on vacation, but we also have an agent that covers us so he can handle immediate needs, showings, new business, on the ground stuff. We still pretty much cover any phone and email type things we can do on our own.   We have 3 times in 13 years gone on vacations where we weren't available - one was to Mexico about 11 years ago.  It was an awesome vacation, but when we got into Phoenix airport and I turned my phone on and started listening to my messages I started crying because there was so much to do! Lol.  The second was a road trip we took to Alaksa about 9 years ago.  Driving through Canada we have several days in a row we didn't have cell coverage and when we would hit a spot our phones would go crazy with messages.  We did work on that vacation, but obviously had limitations with lack of wifi and cell coverage in many places.  The third was a cruise about 5 years ago - we finally had an awesome back up agent and it was the best non-working vacation we've ever done. He still covers us and does a great job and we cover him.

But, mostly we work.  :-)  Kasey

Depends on the deal and the situation.

I do whatever is necessary to move my business along. That means preparing contracts, answering questions, presenting offers, emails, texts and phone calls.

Work when I have to....off when I dont

Just the minimum required.

Paul S. Henderson, CRS, REALTOR®, Why go on vacation if you work.

Yes. I do work while on vacation.

Closed on two houses last year at South Beach.

Of course I can't and don't show houses while in South Beach.

My VM message does not change. The caller will know exactly what to expect and I won't make them feel bad by saying, "I'm on vacation."

And yes, I do get hours and hours of uninterrupted vacation doing all that I want to do. When one loves the change made in the lives of others, it is hard to call it work.

Yes, I do. But it's not full-service... then it's not a vacation and I might as well have stayed home. I alert all my clients at least two month in advance as to when I'll be gone and then every other week until I leave. They get it and always promise not to bother me... and guess what, they don't.

My vacations are always to work destinations, projects in far off exotic destinations, conventions, etc.

I am mobile ready and set up my office wherever I am.

It depends.  A "real" vacation involves someone covering for me but the word and the concept of vacation definitely varies.   

I have coverage - I do speak to my assistants while I'm gone and they copy me on all correspondence and may text me if there is something important that I need to address.  

That is rare though - they typically fuss at me for checking in!

I do work on my vacations, but obviously can't show houses. But I switch more to a responsive scenario. 

I review files, answer calls and emails - but try to limit it to certain times of the day.  If I do get an offer on one of my husband's spec homes, I definately work it while on vacation. But this doesn't happen very often as he only builds a few high end homes a year.

Paul,

We are aware of what is  happening, and just monitor emails.  We have backup also if someone needs help with their website, or design.  A

Yes, though it is limited as you wrote, to e-mails (we have our laptop with us) and phone calls Paul S. Henderson, CRS, REALTOR®,.  Any other request would be directed to the person that is assisting us, who is in town.

When I'm on vacation, I check emails and return phone calls on occasion.  But I also have a reliable agent friend that covers in my absence.

If and when I go on vacation, I will set some time to take care of what needs to be done.

I try to be available when needed.

Paul S. Henderson, CRS, REALTOR®, with technology so advanced, why not?

Yes I do, but hands on stuff, I'll ask another agent to do like letting a contractor in.  Anything on the computer like reading reports, completing documents YES

If you are working YOU ARE NOT ON VACATION, your just working from somewhere else. So everyone that says "yes", is not really on vacation by definition. They are fooling themselves though, so maybe a action from common sense?

NO. I'm off the grid.

I go off the grid when I'm off on Sundays and Vacations. I have my peeps cover my business when I'm away.

"A vacation or holiday is a leave of absence from a regular occupation, or a specific trip or journey, usually for the purpose of recreation or tourism. People often take a vacation during specific holiday observances, or for specific festivals or celebrations. Vacations are often spent with friends or family"

Paul, I used to carry two suitcases-one with nothing but work in it..take the phone calls and answer all emails and texts..I don't carry my lap top - I no longer have Ipad...I shut off the phone sometimes..My approach is for me to work smarter and not harder and still have fun..

It depends. I'm always working no matter what. When we cruised the Mediterranean last summer, I worked in the early mornings, just before afternoon butler visits, and again just after dinner. Of course, I'm a listing agent so it's easier for me.

But when I'm in Hawaii on my winter wor-cation, I work just like I do in Sacramento, from 7 AM to 7 PM. Only it's Hawaii time, so it's 2 hours earlier, which means more like when I get up, which could be 9 AM to 5 PM. Much more normal work schedule in Hawaii.

Depends

Depends on the vacation.  When I went to Costa Rica, I DID NOT work.  When I took some time to drive around Colorado I took all calls and emails.

Just emails and phone calls, have someone else cover.

Emails and important phone calls.

Paul S. Henderson, CRS, REALTOR®, my vacations are usually limited to 2 or 3 days and even at that I only go "hermit" half the time.

It is difficult to work while on vacation, but I take calls and return all of the most important emails.  I have found it difficult to play in the Rain while on vacation, haha.

What's the sense in taking a vacation if you're mixing the two. I tie up the loose ends then disappear with a return date on my voicemail message.

If it is something only I can handle then yes.

It depends.

emaila only and that took a lot of pleading and bribing with my husband!

Depends. When we are at our second home we know it is a working vacation. When we go overseas, we do not work.

For the most part, our clients are unaware when we're on vacation. We work.

Rarely!

I do work on vaccation, but many times it is to pawn off a cal to one of my agents