You love the idea of finding a virtual assistant who specializes in real estate, but you are just not sure where to begin finding the right one for you.
Over the years I have found that any real estate agent, real estate coach or the entrepreneur wants is to have someone to assist them in organizing, maintaining and creatively assisting in building their business with them. Someone who will have an interest your success. One thing about a virtual assistant is they are a business owner and they are successful only when their clients are successful.
1. Decide what you need a virtual assistant to help you with. What skills and abilities do you want your VA to have? What projects/tasks do you want to delegate to them? Do they have the knowledge and experience you need? Visit their websites, view client testimonials, view the services they offer and get to know them through their profile.
2. Jack-of-all-trades. Although VAs primarily offer administrative support, many are now specializing in specific industries/niches. If you’re looking for someone who offers listing coordination, lead management, website assistance, copywriting, blogging, marketing, social networking and/or transaction management look for a VA that specializes in these areas. Most real estate virtual assistants offer these unique real estate services, but it is important that they have the knowledge and experience.
3. Cheaper isn’t always better. Even though you are on a budget that does not mean to find the VA who has the lowest fees. I know it is tempting, but in the long run it could cost you more. Why… if a VA is charging less than the average rate, think about how many clients are they going to contract with before the break even in their business. The last thing you want to do is not have the deadlines met, too busy to call you and give you personal attention, mistakes because they are rushing. This will leave you with a bad experience. Remember, you get what you pay for and in most cases the higher the fee the more experience the VA will have and in the long run will save you money.
4. Virtual Assistants are Business Owners. The virtual assistant is a business owner and should run their business like a business. They may work all hours of the day and night, but they have a business and should run their business like any other successful business. Virtual assistants are organized professionals and they have systems in place to ensure their business runs smoothly so they can take care of their clients. When contacting a VA keep this in mind. This is to your advantage. They have a process of scheduling appointments for client consultations and will offer to try to meet your timeline, but may not always be able to, so work together on this. They are giving you their time for free to consult with you and to discuss your specific needs. Each client is different and will require at least an hour to determine if there is a good fit to work together, making sure they can accommodate your needs, etc. You should never work with a VA until you have spoken to them and confirmed they can handle your tasks and projects. This is the most important part of the process when working with a VA and if the VA determines they cannot meet your needs they will be happy to recommend someone who can. Everyone wants to have a positive experience and it is important to remember that the VA has your best interest.
5. Sign the dotted line. Once you and the VA decide to move forward with your working relationship they will send you an agreement, which you will be required to sign. Make sure to read it. It is important to know and agree to exactly what is expected of each other. The agreement will include information about the fees, terms & conditions etc.
And remember to schedule weekly, bi-weekly or monthly conference calls to stay on target and comfortable with the relationship.
Having a real estate virtual assistant on your team is a great asset and the return on investment in priceless. They can help you to become more organized, help you focus on what is important and allowing you to have the time you need for your business or personal life.
Your Virtual Assistant will help you plan, strategize and achieve the goals you have set for yourself. And if you have worked with a virtual assistant and had a bad experience don’t let that leave a bad taste in your mouth. Find another one. I guarantee if you work together and communicate the possibilities are endless.
Remember to look for Kim Hughes and Kathy Goldman at the 2009 Star Power Conference in Denver July 28th through August 2nd. We can meet with you to get a plan of action going.
If you are going to the 2009 Star Power Conference and want to save. When you register use hughes09 for the discount code.
For twenty years, the STAR POWER Annual Conference has been a must-attend event for Realtors and Real Estate industry professionals who have joined together to network and receive valuable advice from industry leaders. This year, however, there’s a twist: in honor of its twentieth anniversary, the STAR POWER Annual Conference is offering a stimulus package to you, the attendee.
The 2009 STAR POWER Annual Conference Stimulus Package was created to help ease the impact of today’s economic downturn on the Real Estate industry. Real Estate professionals who attend this one-of-a-kind conference will walk away with a powerful bundle of free, useful products, resources and services to help grow their businesses. Currently, the package is valued close to $4,000 – and it continues to grow. Furthermore, 2009’s attendees will enjoy a drastically reduced entry fee and can further cut costs with finance-free payment plans, special discount codes and by referring other Real Estate professionals to the event.
Attendees to this year’s STAR POWER Annual Conference will hear all-new content based on what’s working for top, active Realtors in 2009, including ways to capitalize on the opportunities of current markets, learn the implications of new real estate laws and credits, understand the impact of the government stimulus package on you and your business, earn money with social media networking, discover the latest industry gadgets that will help you improve your efficiency and generate new business, and much more.
As a real estate virtual assistant I have several clients who have attended this event over the years and swear it is the best investment they have ever made. They walk away with great ideas, expand their network as well as discovered new products that will help them achieve their goals.
I am excited to be attending the event of the year and look forward to seeing friends and making new one's.
As a member of several groups across various social networks it is my responsibility as a real estate virtual assistant to know what is going on the the real estate industry. I came across this article today and though this would be something of value to my readers. Let me know what you think.
We know that buying a home is a big and important decision. Selecting a good Loan Officer is a key part of your financial success. You will find our way of finding a good Loan Officer may be different from other blogs or postings. I am seeing quite a few blogs or posts that are saying the same thing and I find the questions do not really pertain to finding a good Loan Officer. Also, I find it interesting to learn that a company is selling the data.
What we have below did not come from any source that we paid for but comes from the heart and after being in the industry for a long time. At LendingLadies.com, we find character and experience plays a large part in finding a good Loan Officer. Therefore our questions are based upon that. If someone is a smart and truly caring person, they will end up being a good Loan Officer. It does not mean that everyone will agree with us, but some of you will. Please see our suggested list of questions to ask below. As always, LendingLadies.com encourages you to ask us the questions below.
Please pass this along to anyone who will be obtaining a loan in the future.
Do you guarantee your fees on a Good Faith Estimate? (This is important. You do not want to work with someone who will last minute add an additional charge. Please do get this in writing)
Have you won any national or local awards? ( If someone is good, they will be recognized)
Do you volunteer in the community? (We suggest you also ask in more detail. If a Loan Officer is a truly caring person, it will show in their efforts in the community. If they care about their community, they will care about finding you your best home loan. You do not want to work with one who only helps a few hours a year but does so on a monthly basis)
Do you have any references or testimonials? (A good Loan Officer will have these available)
How long have you been doing this? (You want to ask this since experience does pay)
What makes you different from the other Loan Officers? ( It is good to learn their own perspective on how they perceive themselves)
Do you prefer a fixed mortgage or an adjustable? Why do you choose so? (Write down what they say and really think about their answer)
Can you shop several different banks local or non local, or do you close loans for one bank? (You do not want to work with someone who is limited on their products or rates. You want to work with someone who can shop different financial institutions and find the best loan for you)
Do you have any specials? (You just never know what they may have going on that they would not tell you without you asking)
Are you willing to speak to my accountant or financial advisor to insure I will receive the best home loan? (You want to look for someone who is willing to work with your team of experts)
2008 was a year that tested me on many levels and I grew from every one of the experiences I encountered. The most important thing I will take with me into 2009 and beyond is to be more aware of those that enrich my life, not only personally, but professionally.
As a real estate virtual assistant for over 10 years now I have met a lot of people in the real estate industry and it is refreshing to know that there are some pretty amazing people out there. Some I have become very good friends with and the support we have for each other goes beyond a professional relationship. It is refreshing to talk to real estate vendors and they know who you are and take the time to ask about my clients and how they can help them further.
2009 is going to be a the year of positive things and as you do every year take the time to review the programs you use in your real estate business, discuss the programs with your real estate virtual assistant or on-site assistant to see how you can better utilize them, make sure you are using all the bells and whistles the program has to offer.
Make the programs work for you, not you work the program. There are a lot of real estate programs that can help you take your business to the next level and now is the time to start implementing them so you are ready for what 2009 – The Positive Year - has for you.
Here are my top programs for 2009:
Real Pro Systems – www.RealProSystems.com
Gooder Group - www.GooderGroup.com
Top Producer – www.TopProducerOnline.com
Take the time to review the above programs to see how they can benefit you in taking your business to the next level.
Call them to discuss how their programs will work for you. Each one has amazing customer service. Tell them Kim Hughes suggested you call.
If you need help implementing these programs into your business, let me know. I would be happy to discuss how each one of these programs can be the best investment for your business.
It just keeps getting better and better! If you are a member of the RealPro Systems Family and you have not upgraded your system to Gold3 - now is the time to make the change.
When you make the upgrade you don't have to worry about finding the time or have the knowledge to do this, just ask your real estate virtual assistant to assist you with implementing the new system.
I love Real Pro Systems! As one of the first real estate virtual assistants to use the program with my clients I will say that there are so many success stories with this program that you will just have to call me so I can share them.
Real Estate Virtual Assistants are the solution to working with the RealPro Systems Team. They are so helpful, patient, and fun to talk to. I don't think I have ever called and an answering system picked up - I have always reached a live person. That right there is a huge benefit and the help is immediate.
Because Real Estate Virtual Assistants have many clients using the program we are experienced in setting up your system quickly.
Visit RealPro Systems TODAY! This is the best investment you can make for your business. OH! Tell them Kim Hughes sent you.
With Real Estate market slowing down you are probably finding you have some extra time on your hands? Well, take advantage of the slow time and take a hard look at your business and determine what you need to do to make it better.
Here are my suggestions:
1. Update your listing presentation.
2. Go for those designations that you have wanted to get, but just did not have the time.
5. Take inventory of your programs. What are you using that you can improve and what are you not using that you should be. Or, get rid of the one's that don't work for you.
6. Update your database. Add your previous sellers, buyers, etc.
7. Update your drip campaigns. How can you improve them?
8. Create your marketing calendar for the next 6 months.
9. Call past clients.
10. Update your newspaper ads.
11. Update your photo and your teams. Get creative with them.
12. Host a client appreciation party. You can put together a movie day, picnic, sports event, etc.
13. Clean out your filing cabinet and set your files up electronically.
14. Set up a home office.
15. Set up Social Networking profiles.
16. Set up procedure for Referral Marketing.
Of course, you are sitting there saying this all sounds great, but I don't know where to start. Well, you need a real estate virtual assistant to guide you though everything mentioned above.
Something interesting happened the other day which I thought would be interesting enough to share, I was contacted by a past real estate client today that the images I used on his website were being used illegally! I, of course, did not use any photos for his website or any other clients website illegally. As a real estate virtual assistant I know better than that and I responded to him that any photo that I personally used on his website were purchased through www.istockphotos.com and I have receipts to verify this and was happy to produce them at a given moment to anyone challenging this fact.
Since I started my company in 1999, as a real estate virtual assistant, I knew right away to always buy your photos or at least get permission from the photographer, not the person who has the photo, but the person who took the photo. This is important because if you get permission from anyone other than the original owner this does not mean anything in court. So always go to the source for permission.
It took me a matter of 5 minutes to open my archives on past clients, pull his folder and review the photos and review the invoice with the photo. I then told the client if anyone was challenging him on this have them contact me to resolve this situation.
In a matter of minutes this problem was resolved, so lesson here people, get a receipt and save it where you can find it. This was a project I worked on over 3 years ago. The IRS says they can legally request your past 7 years of tax returns, but if you need to prove you have the right to use an image, an article, etc. make sure you keep very good records on everything you purchase.
My personal opinion of the online photo company is they are bullies and they are looking for ways to take your money. I researched this company only to find out that they are notorious for sending these emails, but when challenged they back-off. So, don't panic if you get this type of letter, just make sure you can prove it and if not make them prove you do not have the rights. Don't just send them money, make them prove it to you.
And, be careful in the way you use images from Google Images, Flickr, etc. Check to see if the image or photos are copyrighted and if you do find a photo on the Internet ask them where they got the photo and then get permission.
This also goes for articles. Do not take an article without written permission from the author and when you have permission make sure you link back to them for credit.
We all can play nice in the sandbox, just know the rules.
(Mineola, TX, August 18, 2008) Kim Hughes has contributed a chapter to The Power of Leadership - "Finding the Leader Within". In this book, which is available for purchase on www.YourVirtualAssistantCoach.com, readers will learn to find success and happiness in their own lives.
Drawing from more than 10 years of experience as a Real Estate Virtual Assistant, Kim Hughes' chapter teaches readers how to realize the dreams of owning their own Real Estate Virtual Assistant ventures. This chapter is packed full of information, including everything from what it takes to be successful to the type of services that can be offered.
With over 25 years of experience in the real estate and mortgage industry, Kim Hughes is a highly accomplished virtual assistant whose specialty is providing marketing and administrative support to real estate professionals. She was involved in creating two real estate organizations to help virtual assistants network and learn new skills. She is also the author of The FIRST Real Estate Virtual Assistant Handbook and the owner of Kim Hughes & Company (www.kimhughes.com), which offers virtual assistant services to real estate professionals worldwide. She also provides virtual assistant coaching through Your Virtual Assistant Coach and is the founder of a Google Group for real estate virtual assistants that is currently accepting new members upon approval. To join the group, visit http://groups.google.com/group/real-estate-virtual-assistant-rainmakers. For more information about Your Virtual Assistant Coach, visit www.YourVirtualAssistantCoach.com or call 903-569-6763.
As a real estate virtual assistant you have the opportunity to learn programs that will help your real estate agents - who are your clients - implement programs into their business.
A really fun site to keep the real estate agents communities create their own social networking site is www.connectingneighbors.com.
My client who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area has several and we keep her communities up-to-date on what is going on in the area as well as provide them with a resource that is invaluable.
If you are interested in attending a workshop to add this program to your real estate services offered you can send me an email to kim@kimhughes.com and I will get you in or you can go ot their website and register.
This may not be a new tip, but it is one that has proven to be a useful tool.
If you use Postlets to upload your listing to several real estate portals as well as Craigslist, then you might also use the small snippet in Postlets to post the listing on your blog, side bar of your website, newsletter, etc.
You can view a sample of how we use this little tool to further promote your listings. And, don't forget to tell your sellers you are doing this as well.
Let Kim Hughes & Company assist you with:
Social Network Marketing
Blogs
Branding
Listing Coordination
Lead Generation
Websites
Systems & Procedures
www.kimhughes.com
kim@kimhughes.com
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
"Finding the Leader Within"
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