Why Adaptability is Key for Real Estate Success

Every property practitioner knows the sweet satisfaction of a well-laid plan. You’ve got the listing, you’ve lined up the show day, you’ve got buyers scheduled, and maybe you’ve even planned where to grab your celebratory coffee after the offer to purchase is signed. Everything looks neat and organised — in theory.

And then reality arrives.

The buyer gets cold feet. The seller suddenly remembers their “uncle’s cousin’s neighbour” who might want to buy directly. The bond approval falls through. Or the printer jams ten minutes before you need the contract. (Yes, even technology enjoys curveballs.)

A testing job

This is where the job really tests you. Because in property, as in life, the plan almost never plays out exactly as expected. The real skill isn’t in creating the perfect plan; it’s in how you respond when that plan collides headfirst with reality.

Think of your plan like a GPS. It’s brilliant for setting direction. But when there’s roadworks, traffic, or the odd protest march rerouting half the city, the GPS starts politely yelling “Recalculating” at you. Do you give up on getting to your destination? Of course not. You reroute. You still know where you’re going, but the way you get there changes. That’s what property practitioners do every single day.

The mistake some make is clinging too tightly to the original plan. They push forward as if nothing has changed, even when everyone else can see the road is blocked. They insist “this was the strategy” instead of adapting. But in property, flexibility is survival. Resilience doesn’t mean bulldozing ahead; it means adjusting without losing sight of the bigger goal: closing the deal in a way that’s fair, ethical, and sustainable.

Here’s the thing — when reality throws you a curveball, it’s not a sign your plan was bad. It’s just feedback. That buyer who vanished? Feedback that motivation wasn’t tested strongly enough. The deal that fell through on finance? Feedback that pre-qualifying could save you time. The seller who suddenly changed their mind? Feedback that expectations weren’t aligned at mandate stage. Reality isn’t your enemy; it’s your best (and often bluntest) teacher.

And this is where culture counts. A practitioner working in a strong culture doesn’t panic when the plan unravels. They don’t throw ethics out the window chasing a quick replacement deal. They regroup, adapt, and lean on values that keep them steady. Culture is what helps you smile when you’re explaining — for the third time — why the leaking roof really should be fixed before show day. It’s what helps you reassure a nervous buyer when financing takes longer than expected. And sometimes, it’s what keeps you sane when your “sure thing” collapses the morning before transfer.

Plans

So yes, plan. Prepare. Build your strategies. But don’t mistake the plan for reality. In property, the plan is the guide — not the guarantee. What sets great practitioners apart is how they respond when reality throws its curveballs: calmly, ethically, and with enough flexibility to reroute without losing the deal (or their sanity).

The takeaway? Don’t fear the collision between your plan and reality. Expect it. Because in property, reality always has a sense of humour. It’s your response that decides whether you strike out or hit the curveball straight out the park.