2026 Real Estate Business Planning for Agents

By Mark Dietel

Mark is a lifelong resident of Indianapolis’ Southside with over 20 years of experience in commercial and residential real estate. This gives him a level of market expertise that indirectly creates a competitive advantage in leading the Mark Dietel Realty team

Most agents start the year full of ambition, but they rarely take the time to decide what they want their business to look like 12 months from now. The truth is that success is not random. It comes from having a clear plan and following it consistently. That is why I want to walk you through what it actually takes to build your 2026 real estate business strategy.

The first step is defining a clear target. Imagine yourself at the end of 2026, looking back on a year that was successful. What does that look like in terms of income? Once you know the number, you can reverse-engineer everything else. Many agents spend their time working in their business, handling deals, tasks, and urgent problems. Very few take the time to work on their business, which means stepping back to evaluate the daily and weekly actions that actually move the needle.

To build your plan, focus on the activities directly tied to the results. How many calls do you need to make each week? How many conversations convert into appointments? How many appointments turn into closings? These numbers matter, and when you measure them, you can improve them. Start with your income goal, divide it by your average commission, then use your conversion percentages to work backward until you reach the weekly activities required.

From there, decide how many weeks you will realistically work in 2026.

Many agents choose to plan around 48 working weeks, allowing time for vacations and personal commitments. This gives you a clear weekly baseline for the calls, conversations, and appointments you need.

One habit separates agents who follow their plan from those who abandon it.

Time blocking. Agents who protect their time and schedule their prospecting consistently tend to hit their goals because they create structure instead of hoping to get to it later.

Ultimately, treating your real estate career like a business you design, rather than a job you react to, is the key to long-term success and freedom.

At Mark Dietel Realty, we are already working with our agents on their 2026 plans using a one-page worksheet that simplifies everything. If you’d like a copy, I would be happy to share it with you. You can plug in your own numbers and get a clear picture of what the next 12 months should look like.

If you would like to connect directly, you can call or text me at 317-732-1045 or email me anytime at info@markdietel.com. Let’s make 2026 your best year yet.