“Scott, are you taking time off over Christmas?”

It is a question I get every year, usually from well-meaning friends, clients, or parents on the sidelines at kids’ sport. And every year, I pause for a moment before answering. Not because I do not know the answer, but because the honest answer does not quite fit the traditional idea of “time off”.

The truth is, as a real estate salesperson, I am never truly away.

Real estate does not stop for Christmas. People still talk, plan, worry, dream, and decide. Homes still feel too small, school zones still matter, interest rate announcements still loom, and life keeps nudging people toward change. I might be standing on the boundary rope chatting with another dad about a kid’s surprisingly solid forward defence, and within minutes the conversation shifts to what the Reserve Bank might do next year or where I see prices heading in the future. That is not me steering it that way. That is just how property sits in people’s lives.

And honestly, I do not mind it at all.

For me, real estate has always blended into life rather than sitting neatly beside it. Helping a friend find a new home is not work in the traditional sense. Guiding a family through a sale so they can move into a new school zone feels more like being part of a milestone than ticking off a task list. Those moments are meaningful. They are human. They are often deeply personal. At what point does that become “work”, and at what point does it simply become part of life?

People often talk about work–life balance, as if the two must constantly be weighed against each other. I am not sure I believe in balance in the conventional sense. What I believe in is alignment. When your work is about helping people and you genuinely enjoy what you do, it stops feeling like something you need to escape from. Add to that the flexibility to be there for your family when they need you, school events, sports days, quiet afternoons, and the lines blur in a good way.

That does not mean I am everywhere at once. I am very aware of my limits. But this is where having the right support matters. With cover from my highly capable associate, Charise Steyn, it often feels like I can be present without being stretched too thin. Clients are looked after, conversations keep moving, and nothing important is left hanging, even if I am sitting on the grass with a coffee instead of at my desk.

So, am I taking time off over Christmas?

Yes and no.

I will be with my family. I will be at the beach, at games, around the barbecue, and enjoying the slower rhythm that the holiday season brings. But I will also have my phone and my laptop close by. Not because I feel chained to them, but because being available is part of the trust people place in me. Real estate is an always-on business, and I have made peace with that. In many ways, I have embraced it.

If you are thinking about selling, buying, or even just having a conversation about what next year might look like, know that I am never far away. Christmas or not, life does not stop, and neither does the need for good advice, a steady hand, or someone who genuinely cares about the outcome.

That, for me, is not work.

It is just what I do.