Whilst Lewis Hamilton bid for world title glory failed at the last chequered flag of the season, no-one can deny he did not keep the momentum going right to the wire.

It may feel like only weeks ago that we wishing each other a happy new year and looking ahead to what was expected to be a major year for the mortgage market but here we are about to enter the final month of 2016. The days are shorter, the shops are stocked up on Christmas cards and the party season is just around the corner.

There is a temptation around this time of year to start looking ahead to 2017. With only a matter of weeks left, it’s easy to put 2016 to bed and spend time planning strategies for the new year. While this sort of planning is always a good idea it’s dangerous if it means you write off the remainder of this year and, in doing so, the opportunities it holds.

We all know what a difference a good month or even a good week can make to businesses so why would you ignore the next few weeks? In fact, with a little bit of effort you could make the last month of the year your best yet.

One of the reasons brokers tend to lose momentum at this time of year is that business levels often dip because Christmas, bad weather and the lure of staying at home in the warm can make house hunters hold off on their house hunts. But as we all know, you can’t sit back and wait for business to walk through your door all of them time. You have to be proactive.

Use the quieter times to revisit your client book. Offer them a financial review. Buildings & Contents is always a good starting point but can lead to much more once you start talking. Indeed, often clients don’t know how you can help them until they start discussing their situations. You may be looking to review a client’s home insurance only to discover they’ve started a business and need cover for that too or they own a buy to let and are looking for landlord insurance. Find the opportunities even if they aren’t always obvious.

Make use of your market knowledge. In the next few months money will become a key concern for many families as Christmas costs mount up so any opportunity to save a few pound will be very welcomed.

Don’t be scared by the threat of technology. Comparison websites have long been a thorn in the side of quality brokers. However, the last 18 months has seen a massive shift in the way these sites are viewed with various critical reviews. Make the most of the opportunity this provides and show your worth by demonstrating your knowledge of the market and access to five star policies.

Clients who use internet sites are more than likely to see their premiums increase considerably when it comes to renewals, so target these and showing them how they can save them money. They may think comparison sites offer them the most efficient service but if you demonstrate how they could be throwing money away by looking to the internet for protection products they’re sure to see the benefit of speaking to you.

Finally, if this year hasn’t been the big year you’d hoped for and you are looking ahead to the next 12 months, consider whether you need to rethink your alliances. The firms you partner up with can have a huge impact on your business. If you don’t feel you’ve been given enough support from your provider this year, or that their systems and product offerings are not as good as they could be consider making the move to a new one. Don’t wait until January. Take the time now to research the providers out there and find one that can offer you the type of service and added extras you need to make your business reach it’s potential.