You are overwhelmed with paperwork. The great ideas you had for mailings, newsletters, and blogs on the internet are still just that . . . great ideas. Your New Year’s resolutions to make more calls, follow-up on more leads, and research more markets are still on the “to do” list.
You now are ready to make the wise decision to hire someone to take over the tedious (but important) paperwork and calls. You’ve decided that hiring a person who actually LIKES writing, creating databases, designing newsletter layouts, or spending hours on the computer creating blogs and links to boost your profits would be a great move.
In the next step, you decide on a list of qualifications and have a picture in your mind of the ideal person you will hire. This individual is responsible, honest, trustworthy and personable. This person has a solid education – depending on the particular work you want done, this person may well have a college degree. Your dream employee has experience and has a proven track record of good performance.
This sounds good, but a nagging voice in the back of your head asks, “How much is this going to COST??” According to a 2010 report on CNNMoney.com, the true cost of an employee is 40% more than base pay. Depending on what part of the country you are located in, and what tasks you are expecting your new employee to handle, you may be able to hire the person described above for $10.00 -$15.00 an hour, but in most areas you are looking at a much higher rate. For the sake of this example, let’s assume you get a great person, ready and eager to do your work for $15.00 per hour.
Social Security tax must now be added and the employer’s portion of that tax in 2011 is 6.2% of each employee’s first $106,800 of taxable earnings. In addition to Social Security, the employer must contribute 1.45% on every dollar earned by the employee for Medicare. Employers also pay a federal unemployment insurance tax of 6.2% on the first $7,000 of each employee’s wages. Worker’s Compensation rates vary by location and type of business.
Optional benefits such as sick days, paid vacation, health insurance, group life insurance, retirement benefits, or perks such as daycare will add to your cost. It occurs to you that your new employee will need space to sit in, a chair and a desk . . . oh, and a computer, printer, phone, paper, ink, and other office supplies. Your $15.00 per hour assistant is now costing more like $21.00 per hour, and that is not taking into consideration the cost of hiring and training a new person. BUT, wait, there is another way - - and it really is a no-brainer!
Have you considered a VIRTUAL assistant or better yet, a group of virtual assistants? Now, you have access to a bank of talents and skills, with no social security, tax, insurance, sick days or other benefits to be concerned about. The virtual assistant provides the office space, desk, chair, computer and printer as well as all the office supplies required. When working with a team of virtual assistants, you are covered at all times with no need to worry about one individual needing sick time or vacation time. You are paying only for work accomplished and delivered to your satisfaction.
A Google search for “virtual assistant” will bring many pages of results. At this point it makes sense to do some research. There certainly are varying degrees of quality and reliability among virtual assistant services. It is wise to work with a firm that is well established, hires only well qualified individuals, and focuses specifically on services to real estate agents.
For more details about what a virtual assistant team could provide for you, call Steve Kantor at Best Agent Business. This firm has an outstanding record of providing teams of well qualified virtual assistants who focus solely on the real estate business.
Your expertise is making real estate deals happen. The expertise at Best Agents Business is to provide excellent “behind the scenes” assistance to ensure the deals come to YOU. Give Best Agent Business a try and see for yourself . . . this is a no-brainer when it comes to getting the best assistance at the best price.
Blog contributed by Beverly – Virtual Assistant – Best Agent Business
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