Kim Hughes | Real Estate Virtual Assistant Blog

Converting Your Many Different Types of Images

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:27:46 -0700

Are you tired of having different programs on your computer to convert your many different types of images, videos and files? One program to convert your .jpeg, one program to convert your videos and on, and on, and on. Wouldn’t it be great to have to go to just one place and not have to download anything? You bet it would! Why not try Zamzar?

Zamzar is a new program that coverts your files and videos all in one place and with just a couple clicks of the mouse.

Conversion Types
You would not believe the conversions that this program can do. Documents can be turned into thumbnails versions for websites, PowerPoint presentations can be converted into Macromedia Flash Format. Did someone send you a PC Paintbrush files and you don’t have that program? Convert it for easy access.

Pricing
Basic sign up costs around $7 a month and limits you to 200MB files a month. Bigger packages like PRO and Business let you download larger files and offer online storage.

Check out Zamzar today for all your file converting today and get rid of the extras. Your computer will thank you for it.

5 Tips to Teaming with a Real Estate Virtual Assistant

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:56:16 -0700

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.

So, when you are ready to find the right real estate virtual assistant to assist you keep these 5 tips in mind.

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.

The 2009 STAR POWER Annual Conference offers Stimulus Package for Attendees

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:27:21 -0700

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.

To register online visit www.StarPowerConference.com use this discount code for an additional savings. HUGHES09

10 Things to ask when Getting a Mortgage Loan

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 17:25:28 -0800

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)

Written by Jessica Peterson with Lending Ladies.

Top Real Estate Programs for 2009

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 22:36:15 -0800

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.

Happy New Year - Make it your best year yet!

Have You Upgraded Your Real Pro System to GOLD 3?

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:03:45 -0800

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.

Real Estate Virtual Assistants Offer Assistance In Today's Slow Market

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:50:34 -0800

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.

3. Update your website. Is the material current?

4. Update your computers. If you don't have a laptop - get one! You can find some great deals at www.dell.com, www.gateway.com and www.bestbuy.com

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.

Go to www.REVARoundtable.com to locate a real estate virtual assistant that meets your needs and to help you implement your ideas and tasks.

Make Sure Your Photos Are Legal

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:02:33 -0800

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.

Kim Hughes Co-Authors Powerful Leadership Book

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 19:35:24 -0700

(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.

Connecting Neighbors and Real Estate Virtual Assistants

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 09:34:15 -0700

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.

Using Postlets in Your Blogs

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:44:19 -0700

Hi everyone,

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.

Allyson Hoffman - Real Estate Blog

GREAT RESOURCE - IRS INFORMATION

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:56:30 -0700

Good morning to everyone!

I subscribe to a great FREE newsletter from the IRS. It offers some very good tips for your business and keeps you informed of the latest tax issues. Check it out:

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=154820,00.html

Today I received my newsletter and it offered the following article: Hopefully, you will find it valuable.

SALE OF YOUR HOME

If you have a gain from the sale or exchange of your main home, you may be able to exclude all or part of the gain from your income.

Individuals may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of capital gain, and married taxpayers filing joint returns may be able to exclude up to $500,000 of gain each time you sell your main home, but generally no more frequently than once every two years.

To qualify for this exclusion of gain, you must meet ownership and use tests.

Ownership Test: During the 5-year period ending on the date of the sale, you must have owned the home for at least 2 years.
Use Test: During the 5-year period ending on the date of the sale, you must have lived in the home as your main home at least 2 years.

If you and your spouse file a joint return for the year of the sale, you can exclude the gain if either of you qualify for the exclusion. But both of you would have to meet the use test to claim the $500,000 maximum amount.

If you do not meet the ownership and use tests, you may be allowed to exclude a reduced maximum amount of the gain realized on the sale of your home if you sold your home because of health reasons, a change in place of employment, or certain unforeseen circumstances. Unforeseen circumstances include, for example, divorce or legal separation, natural or man-made disasters resulting in a casualty to your home, or an involuntary conversion of your home.

If you can exclude all the gain from the sale of your home, you do not report the gain on your federal tax return. If you cannot exclude all the gain from the sale of your home, or you choose not to, use Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses, of the Form 1040 to report it.

For more details and information see IRS Publication 523, Selling Your Home, available at IRS.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).

Remember that for the genuine IRS Web site be sure to use .gov. Don't be confused by internet sites that end in .com, .net, .org or other designations instead of .gov. The address of the official IRS governmental Web site is http://www.irs.gov/.

Links:

Publication 523, Selling Your Home (PDF 194K)
Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses (PDF 136K)
Tax Topic 701 - Sale of Your Home

The First Real Estate Virtual Assistant Handbook

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:28:23 -0800

I am just tickled PINK to announce that my new eBook called The Real Estate Virtual Assistant Handbook is now available!

If you are in business now as a Real Estate Virtual Assistant or if you are considering a Niche in Real Estate Virtual Assistance then this is the Handbook you need!

The FIRST Real Estate Vitual Assistant Handbook offers you some of the most detailed information on what it takes to work with real estate agents! Including 15 sample forms! Why re-create the wheel - It is all in this ebook!

This is the FIRST and ONLY ebook that is dedicated to helping you understand what a Real Estate Virtual Assistant can do and the expectations of real estate agents!

Anna Baron of The Virtual Link had this to say about Kim Hughes:

Kim Hughes is one of the most well-known and well respected real estate virtual assistants in the industry. She's like the E.F. Hutton of the real estate virtual assistant industry - when Kim talks, VAs listen!

Do You Have This Problem With Trulia Maps?

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 20:41:28 -0800

In reviewing my client's websites to make sure links are not broken, etc., I noticed on one of my clients #1 site the Trulia Map that #1 has now placed on their members sites shows the actual map with balloons marking the client's listings and then under the map it has a link to their market. When I clicked on balloon it took me to the Trulia website for my client's market, but the listings that show up are not my client's listings, but those of other agents listings with links to those agents websites.

I asked one of my clients if they were aware of this and they said no and asked me to have Trulia removed from their website immediately. The client's view of this was I pay a lot of money for my website and to link to other agents litings and their sites was not something they were willing to do because they felt this was promoting other agents for free through their paid program. This was especially annoying to them because it is on the Featured Listing pages.

After thinking about this I went to the IREAA Real Estate Virtual Assistant listserv and asked our members to check their #1 clients website for this issue and some posted that the map is doing the same as on my clients sites, but one posted that when you clicked on her map to Trulia it brought up only her clients listings.

So, it seems there is an issue somewhere between #1 and Trulia.

If you have a #1 website, please check this out and see if it points to other agents listings and not yours.

How do you feel about this situation? I would love to hear your comments.

Kim Hughes

www.KimHughes.com

www.IREAA.com

Setting Goals For 2008! Be Realistic

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 18:35:11 -0800

We are in the countdown for 2008 and I am so looking forward to what the new year will hold. Not only on a professional basis, but on a personal one as well. I am not one to commit to resolutions, to stressful. So, I set goals! Setting goals personally and professionally are exciting to me. Goals mean that I am ready to take myself to the next level and then to determine what I need to do to get there.

Goals - the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it.

Resolution - finding a solution to a problem.

When you are determining your goals for 2008 be realistic and make sure you have tools and resources to acheive the goal.

Give yourself a realistic timeine to meet your goal.

If you do not meet the timeline of the goal, set a new timeline and then determine why you did meet the first timeline and ask yourself what can you do to ensure the new one is meet.

This is where a real estate virtual assistant can help you. A professional and experienced real estate virtual assistant can work with you on setting up your goals and helping you meet that goal as well as determine what needs to happen to make the goal a success.

When you decide to look for a real estate virtual assistant make sure you ask questions about their background, experience, how long have they been in business, their education as well as how they can help YOU!

It is important to know that you must due your homework in finding the right real estate virtual assistant that meets your needs and they have the qualities you expect and trust.

If and when you are ready to take the journey to find the best real estate virtual assistant you can visit www.IREAA.com. The members of this organization are the cream of the crop and they are excited about their careers and the most important goal they have is to help you meet your goals.

In case you did not know.... IREAA is the first and only organization that offers program training to our members as well as educate them on what to expect when working with real estate professionals. IREAA's certification program is designed for virtual assistants as well as on-site assistants and we are extremely proud to say that we have over 160 members to date.

If you are interested in learning more about how a real estate virtual assistant can help you in 2008 or how your on-site assistant can be the best assistant ever, as a co-founder of IREAA - I invite you to visit www.IREAA.com today and learn more about our very powerful organization.

Ready to find that perfect real estate virtual assistant? Submit an RFP at IREAA.com

What Are Your Expectations of Your VA?

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:41:20 -0800

Happy holiday's everyone!

I thought I would share with you a very nice testimonial from one of my client's - Allyson Hoffman of RE/MAX North. She was recently contacted by another agent on the benefits of working with a real estate virtual assistant. I think Allyson hit the nail on the head! What do you think?

1 - Excellent Communication, so you need a way to achieve that. We do that via email and regular phone conferences that track the tasks for both us that need to be completed;

2 - Clear Procedures. We have established detailed, but clear procedures for the areas that Kim covers for me and this works very well and;

3 - Established expectations for fees and timely payment of those. (The biggest complaints I've heard from VA's is that they do work and don't get paid as arranged because of agents' lack of commissions during a given a time frame. But their business runs based upon steady incomes streams unlike ours and I think those agents who pay regularly and on time will get the most support and flexibility from their VAs -- my theory:).

Kim has definitely increased my effectiveness on the web and that accounts for a proportionally huge increase in the amount of my business attributable to the Internet since her function in my business is to help maintain my multiple websites and associated leads as well as listing maintenance on the web.

One other VERY important and key thing to consider with Kim or any other VA is that Kim works with only ONE person from each market area. So if she has an existing client in your area, she may not actually be available to you. I think this speaks very highly for her ethics since she clearly understands the importance of confidentiality and the nature of competition between agents in the same marketplace.

No one is perfect and so if completely means that there are never mistakes ever, then no, but if that is a generalization about the work, then yes, absolutely, or she wouldn't be with me for all this time.

If you are considering or are already working with a VA what do you think makes your relationship work? I as well as others would love to hear your thoughts!

Travel Tips For NAR

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:54:28 -0800

IREAA would like to share with you some great traveling tips! These come from our members who be be at the NAR Expo Booth 3951. Don't forget to come and visit with us - this could be the best thing you do all week for your business.

Zi-Cam works wonders for the first signs of a cold....in case the Airborne doesn't catch it!
Bring your camera for photos with your clients and the group! (I'm bringing mine!)
Take 2 pairs of shoes to the convention - when your feet get tired it helps to change your shoes!
Consider bringing a few "power bars" to keep in your bag - the lunch lines will be long! And I'm bringing a few of the Crystal Light To-Go packets - when I feel like a little lemonade with my water! They are quite refreshing!
I'm packing a little energy drink called "The 5 Hour Energy Drink". No caffeine or sugar...just natural B vitamins that give you a little extra energy. And you won't feel sluggish when it wears off! You can find them at Walgreen's or CVS, comes 2 bottles to a pack - about 4 ounces.
Take a USB drive and put your clients folders on the drive for ease while away. I do this all the time and it is easier than accessing the office computer should I need something.
Make sure to check the airlines website for what you CANNOT take on the plan.
Have your ticket and driver's license ready for security at the airport. They will be checking!
Go to your local library and borrow a few books-on-tape. I put them on my iPod to listen to while flying.
Leave a trail - you will find yourself having a lot of time to yourself in Vegas, and we want you to have fun - but please be safe and if possible stay in groups! For your safety, let someone know what your daily plans are in case anything goes horribly wrong, there is a trail to start on. If you don't have anyone to share this information with, then send us a daily e-mail to info@ireaa.com to let US know what you're plans are. We're not trying to be your mother, we just want you all to be safe and for someone to know your itinerary.
Laptop batteries - I have 2 batteries for my laptop. Make sure both are fully charged and ready to go!
Ear plugs. I'm bringing ear plugs. I like using ear plugs when sleeping hotels so that I don't hear people walking by or making noise at night. I need my sleep!
While in the airport or on the plane - catch up on your To Read folders, these usually consist of e-zines, etc. that you've been meaning to read but haven't gotten to.
Use your off-time to clean up your inbox. File those email in your folders.
Visit IREAA at Booth 3951 - Real Estate Virtual Assistant - Drawing for a Flip Camcorder or mobi website!

Send A Soldier A Christmas Card!

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:45:16 -0800

I'm sure I am not the only one that has a family member to send jokes, funny photos, etc through email. My mom really enjoys sending my family funny jokes, but she also sends me some very motivational quotes as well. I really enjoy reading everything she sends - when I have time. Last week she sent me this email and I thought it would be really neat if everyone did this how much it would mean to our solidiers!

My cousin has served in the military for 5 years - 2 tours in Iraq. When my oldest son graduated in 2005 three of his friends joined the military and each one has already served 1 tour in Iraq with one still over there.

You probably have a family member or know of someone that is also serving in our military and agree that if everyone sent one Christmas card to the below address it would mean so much to them to know we are thinking of them and appreciate their efforts in protecting America!

There are over 56,000 Active Rain members, so if half just sent one card each that would mean over 28,000 Christmas cards will be received. That is pretty neat! Let's all join together and add one card to our Christmas card mailing list! Reply to this blog when you add the below address and let's see what the final number is after Christmas!

You could also send a mailing to your farms, past clients, etc to add a card addressed to the below. What a great way to pass the holiday spirit!

This would also make a great blog!

When you are making out your Christmas card list this year, please include the following:

          A Recovering American soldier
          c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
          6900 Georgia Avenue,NW
          Washington,D.C. 20307-5001

2008 Could Be Your Best Year Yet!

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:22:28 -0800

Have you noticed all the Christmas decorations in the department stores? A little early, right? I was watching the news the other day and they were discussing this with patrons. Some said it was early, but the majority said it put them in the spirit and helped them get a jump start on the holiday shopping. The bottom line was when asking the stores why they are putting Christmas decorations out so early was to stay ahead of the competition. Makes sense!

With the real estate market the way it is today - you have to know how to market your listings to stay ahead of the comptetion. You have to WOW the buyers and the sellers! You have to be creative ensuring your sellers property is being given the maximum exposure it rightfully derserves to draw the attention of the buyers.

With 2008 right around the corner and NAR being next week - now is the time to review procedures to see how you can be the best in your market.

This is where a real estate virtual assistant can be a huge asset to your business. Your real estate virtual assistant can give you fresh ideas and share what they are doing wtih other agents/clients to see if this will fit into your business.

As for my business, I only work for one agent per market. First of all this gives my client the reassurance that trade secrets are not being shared, but the most important reason is my clients feel comfortable to share what they are doing with my other clients as well as hear what my clients are doing to get more exposure on listings, to build a referral network, how to run a team more effectively and to get new ideas on marketing themselves to their market areas.

By having a real estate virtual assistant on your team can be the best decision you can make for 2008, so while you are at NAR - Las Vegas make sure to allow the time to visit IREAA at booth 3951 to meet over 15 real estate virtual assistant - each one offers specialities that can help your business grow and give you fresh ideas as well as assist you in implementing those ideas!

If you cannot attend NAR to meet with some of the top real estate virtual assistants then visit us at www.IREAA.com to find a real estate virtual assistant or submit an RFP to have those that meet your qualifications respond to you. It is a win-win situation for all!

Kim Hughes - www.KimHughes.com - Kim@KimHughes.com

Get A Real Estate Virtual Assistant at NAR!!!!

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 21:37:17 -0800

One of the best things about NAR is the EXPO! You have made a list of all the vendors you want to check out and are getting all excited about everything you will experience during your 3-4 days. Meeting new people, the education you will receive, seeing old friends and having a little fun while you are in the "City That Never Sleeps!"

If you have ever considered the thought of having a real estate virtual assistant on your team then you are in for a real treat! IREAA - International Real Estate Assistants Association will have a booth at the EXPO! IREAA is located at Booth 3951 - right next to Agency Logic.

When you visit our booth you will learn so much from our experienced real estate virtual assistants! If you are interested in

Transaction Management
Listing Coordination
Lead Management
Branding
Websites
Internet and Direct Marketing
Search Engine Optimization
Organizing your business and your team

Then you MUST make it a top priority to come by and visit with some of the top IREAA members to discuss how you can get 2008 off to a great start! You owe it to yourself!

We will have over 15 real estate virtual assistants available to you! Each Real Estate Virtual Assistant offers a specialty that you can discuss in detail and receive one-on-one attention.

IREAA would like to introduce the team:

Kim Hughes
Anna Baron
Pam Ivey
Patty Keller
Catherine Mallers
Meg Barber
Cindi Pree
Jeannie Clontz
Tammy Lyn Burton
Dean Froyd
Peggy McCabe-Schmitz
Kristi Pavlik
Kathy Goldman
Carla Wilson
Caroline Wright
Ruth Ann Macklin

While you are in your classes make a note of how a virtual assistant can help you implement this valuable information and when visiting the vendors keep in mind a real estate virtual assistant can help you implement the program into your business. Don't let anything hold you back from what you learn and see at NAR! Because IREAA is there to the rescue!

OH! When you visit us at Booth 3951 - ask for your complimentary Real Estate Virtual Assistant directory and register for a Flip camcorder or Mobi website!

See you in a week! Got a question? Email us at Info@IREAA.com

Kim Hughes - Co-founder of IREAA

Is Your Website Mobile?

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:23:09 -0700

Have you ever been on your PDA and needed to visit a website only to find the site looks strange on the screen? Well, it is probably because the site has not gone mobile!

Get on your PDA and view my mobi website - http://kimhughes.mobi

The first order of business is to secure a domain name with a mobi extension then to create the site. Don't want to bother with it? Think of all the potential buyers and sellers who are in the car right now acessing your website from their PDA or cell phone. Now are you ready?

Get a real estate VA to assist you with creating this website. It is very cost effective and can be done in one day!

Visit www.IREAA.com to find the perfect real estate virtual assistant.

Kim Hughes

www.KimHughes.com

ww.IREAA.com

Have you Seen This cool Gadget?

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:34:19 -0700

Flip Video Camcorder - COOL TOOL

$20.00 coupon TODAY!

Ok, I have heard of this new camcorder, but was not interested. Seen one Seen them all, right? WRONG! You have got to get this great tool for your business.

I bought one to play with and I love it! It is easy to use, easy to plug into my computer and easy to upload the video.

Think about this - Take Flip with you on a listing presentaton. Walk threw the home and video tape the best features. Show the seller what you taped. Then tell them you will put this on the Internet for the buyers to see all the details. And, mention - this is JUST one of the services you offer in your listing package. You can post to UTube, your websites, email, etc.

As you know, you can have your real estate virtual assistant load it up on the Internet for you, right?

IREAA is going to be demonstrating this gadget at NAR - Booth 3951. And, we are going to be giving one away, so drop by to visit and see what you can do with this.

Advance Access Email Problems

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Tue, 22 May 2007 10:23:38 -0700

If you are a customer of Advanced Access you are aware that the entire company is down due to a "power failure". Here is the link to their blog on Active Rain.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/104019/Advanced-Access-Outage

Not to go into all the problems this is causing for their customers, but what is happening to your email? If your email is set up to go through Advanced Access and you are not receiving it then you need to do a couple of things to try and correct this issue so at least you can receive email while AA works on this issue.

Andy Norton of www.DCHomes.com shared this with me today and it is worth a try.

Advanced Access requires that the "nameservers" from the domain registrar be forwarded over to Advanced Access. It typically looks something like this:

NS1.AdvancedAccess.com

NS2.AdvancedAccess.com

The email is keying off the nameservers, which of course are now down.

Disable the nameserver forwarding. At the domain registrar the options are to use the registrars internal servers, or forward elsewhere. So just switched that option away from AA.

Then forward to another site that you own. Finally, under email, chose the email forwarding option to send all email to another email account. If you don't have another email account, create one. Normally, your domain hosting company can help you with this and I recommend that you call them to walk you through it. www.GoDaddy.com has great customer service and will be happy to assist you.

Andy also discovered in his case changing the email, forwarding it in other words, was unnecessary.

The only thing that was required was changing the nameserves away from Advanced Access.

That solved his email problem. Or at least, as of now he thinks it has!

Hopefully, this will help you receive email while AA works on the issue.

Great Client Contact! Just My 2 Cents Worth!

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Wed, 09 May 2007 16:15:30 -0700

Looking for a way to make contact with past clients?

Postage is increasing on May 14th. This would be a great time to make contact with your past clients by offering them a sheet of 2 cent stamps.

They will remember this one for sure and what a great way to say thanks for their business.

IREAA Will Be At NAR - Las Vegas

Kim Hughes (Kim Hughes & Company) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 22:29:44 -0800

Exciting Announcement!

For the Realtors that will be attending this year's NAR conference in Las Vegas, NV - Make a note to come by and visit www.IREAA.com - We will have the top real estate virtual assistants available to discuss how a real estate virtual assistant can assist you in your business. Do you have an on-site assistant? Then bring her with you or have her visit www.ireaa.com to find out how this prestige organization can help her be her best when it comes to assisting you!

More will be posted later with information that will benefit you and make it worth your time to visit us!

If you are a real estate virtual assistant and a member of IREAA - then read more below. Not a member? Oh My! Then click as fast as you can on www.ireaa.com to find out why we are the premier real estate assistant organization. www.IREAA.com is the only organization for you! We are the first organization for real estate virtual assistants and on-site assistants to become educated in how they can assist their Realtors in their business, receive RFPs and so much more!

For IREAA members Only:

IREAA has secured a booth for the NAR Expo & Conference!

Here's what you get with your registration:

4 Day Exhibitor Pass to attend the 2007 NAR Expo & Conference, November 13-16, 2007, at the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas;
4 T-Shirts sporting the IREAA logo, one for each of the four days of the expo in order to project a united front to attendees;
1,000 personalized business cards which will include "NAR 2007 Expo & Conference", IREAA and the booth #, along with your name, company name, logo and contact information. Again, presenting a cohesive look to NAR attendees;
Personalized name badge;
Professional booth with eye-catching graphics and provision for your laptop to display your company presentation;
Give-aways and hand-outs;
And much more!

We already have a lot of ideas brewing to attract visitors to our booth so stay tuned for more exciting updates.

But hurry! We are limiting the total number of associates. This opportunity will be given on a first come, first served basis.

We will be scheduling booth time for associates to ensure maximum exposure for all, as well as time for everyone to see the rest of the expo.

"...who else is interested in going to NAR? I highly recommend it for several reasons. There are tons of vendors there. You learn about new products. You should introduce yourself to vendors with products/services you support, and it's a phenomenal networking opportunity. I know it can be hard to do, but you have such a great opp(ortunity) to learn so much and possibly increase your referral value with vendors." - Kathy Goldman, REVAOnline.com

Requirements:

The requirements for this investment will be one year of real estate assistant experience, coupled with one year in business.
CREA designation holders (IREAA Certification Program Graduates) will take priority in securing their position for the expo.
CREA Graduates will receive special resignation throughout the event.

I'm in! Sign me up and keep me informed!