Are you drowning in the details of your business while ignoring working on your business? Is it time to hire help, but you’re not ready to take on the tasks of hiring and managing an employee?   Then you should consider using virtual assistant services.

 

Virtual Assistants (VAs) are independent contractors whose businesses provide administrative, clerical, technical and/or graphics assistance from a remote office. Some virtual assistants specialize in supporting Real Estate agents. What’s in it for you? If these talented business owners are managing the tasks that bog you down, you can concentrate on your revenue. Here are five examples of projects that can be outsourced to virtual assistants.

 

How many tasks are there to manage when you’ve taken on a new listing? Many! Creating property brochures, uploading photos to websites, placing print advertising, creating service reports for Sellers, and making feedback calls, are just a few of the tasks that can be handled virtually.

 

Some VAs not only specialize in supporting Real Estate Professionals, but they go one step further in specializing in managing transactions. Now that’s detail-oriented! 

 

Real Estate-specific technologies – like lead-generating websites and contact relationship databases - have come a long way. The products available are perfect for the Agent/VA relationship because so many are web-based. However, as streamlined as these products are, time is still necessary for management. 

 

You’re a “people-person”, right? Then why are you toying around with designing postcards and brochures? It’s not a dollar-productive use of your time, so hire a VA to take on the design of the postcards and manage the distribution of the mailings, and you’ll have more time to schedule listing presentations.

 

Wouldn’t it be nice to have all your receipts entered and categorized in your bookkeeping software on a regular basis? You’d be able to turn in all your paperwork to your accountant on time. What a relief that would be! 

 

Location, location, location - doesn’t matter! Consider using virtual assistant services.   Consider the time savings in not having to advertise, hire and train an employee who may or may not stick around. Consider the cost savings in not having to purchase equipment, provide benefits, vacation or taxes for an employee. The hourly rate for VAs is higher than those of employees because they are covering the overhead, and their time is 100% productive for you. Bottom line: The work gets done, but you’re not doing it. That’s what’s in it for you.

 

Where do you find these virtual professionals? Check out the Delaware Valley Virtual Assistants Association (www.DVVAA.org) or the International Virtual Assistants Association (www.ivaa.org) two professional trade organizations for virtual assistants. Typically, you are able to search their member directories by location, or by specialty, and you can submit Request for Proposals to find the perfect support you need.