Ah...I see I'm not the only one with expansion plans top of mind this year!!!  I think you've got the appropriate tasks narrowed down.  Have you tried searching for VA's on here?  Then you can email interview them and then phone!  Hope it goes well!!!

Hi Chris-I was kinda hoping that some proactive VA would raise his/her hand here!  Since my time is so limited I thought that might cut down on the searching and emailing and telephoning...=)

I am a little slow today.  I thought your post was about military loans.  Good luck in your search.  My goal this year is to get a real time assistant.

Leigh,

To locate an assistant for my business, I did research for this on the internet. There is an organization known as the SEVAG that represents VAs in the southern parts of the country. I looked at websites, made calls and conducted interviews until I found a match that was appropriate for me and my practice. Here on AR, there are some great VA-driven Blogs that will defintely get you the answers/help you are seeking. To give you a great head start, let me suggest Carolyn Nelson. She is located in Charlotte, NC; participates heavily here on AR and is founder of the REVA Coach Network. Her website/contact info can be found here on AR or on her business website: www.onlinerepa.com She is extremely insightful and skilled within your requested needs.

Smart woman! Focus on what you do best and outsource the rest!!!

I say, "life is too short to perfect your weaknesses."

Try contacting

Gayle Buske, TCE, TCRE

Team Double-Click, Inc.

888.827.9129

Fax: 262.364.3022

gaylebuske@teamdoubleclick.com

http://www.teamdoubleclick.com/

She was a guest on one of my Fossland Forums last summer. She shared a great list of what a VA can do for you:

Things a VA can do:

• Answer the telephone
• Forward calls
• Take messages
• Make appointments
• Build websites
• Put up and build PowerSites^TM or single listing sites
• Send listing information to a multiple listing service
• Fill out necessary forms
• Deliver information and forms to a mortgage company and closing attorney or agent as part of the preparation for closing
• Make and deliver copies of public record
• Write and place advertising in newspaper and other forms of publication
• Receive and deposit funds to be held in trust for others including earnest money, security deposits, and rental payments
• Type forms
• Perform company bookkeeping
• Arrange for and oversee repairs
• Collect demographic information
• Solicit interest in engaging the services of a licensee or brokerage
• Set or confirm appointments (with no other discussion) for:
  • A licensee to list or show property
  • A buyer with a loan officer
  • A property inspector to inspect a home
  • A repair/maintenance person to perform repairs/maintenance
  • An appraiser to appraise property
• Make cold calls
• Make follow up calls
• Organize an open house
• Arrange closings
• Perform clerical duties
• Gather listing information
• Hand out preprinted, objective information
• Distribute information on listed properties when such information is prepared by a broker
• Deliver paperwork to other brokers
• Deliver paperwork to sellers or purchasers
• Deliver paperwork requiring signatures in regard to financing documents that are prepared by lending institutions
• Prepare market analyses for sellers or buyers on behalf of a broker
• Contact management
• Drip marketing campaigns
• Transaction coordination
• Personal tasks such as ordering groceries or making flight arrangements
• Flyers
• Listing presentations
• Virtual tours
• Open house invitations
• Thank you notes
• Newsletters
• Customer call backs
• Property cards
• Postcards - just listed or just sold
• Promotional mailing
• Thank you gifts
• Order promotional items
• Many other duties too numerous to mention here

*If you're in doubt as to what an unlicensed assistant can do in your state, please check out her FREE report at http://www.teamdoubleclick.com/unlicensed.html.

 and she has a great team.

HI Leigh! I've been working on projects today but wanted to jump in here. There are some great VA's here on AR and yes, Caroline is great, and is in your time zone as well. She is very experienced in all of the above.

 Another great place place to look is Cyberstarva.com. Its been changed to IREAA (International Real Estate Assistants Association) which has VAs specific to real estate. You can contact me offlist and we can chat too!

Leigh - I am in the reorganization time with my team.  Joeann gave some great points.  Thanks for the great blog.

Joeann Fossland mentioned Gayle Buske of Team Double-Click below.  I'm one of Gayle's Virtual Staffing Consultants and a licensed real estate agent (still affiliate with a RE/MAX office) in Cape Canaveral, FL.  If any of you have additional questions about working with virtual assistants or would like to get started with one, feel free to contact me at 888.827.9129, ext. 805 or via email. 

I just joined Active Rain and did my first blog post that includes several links.  I'm also including a link to my most recent teleseminar here: Getting the Most out of Working with a Virtual Assistant.  If you'd like the handout that goes with it and the follow-up materials, just let me know!

I hope this helps! 

Hi Leigh - I know you've gotten several responses, but in case you haven't yet been able to choose yet, I thought I'd throw my hat in the ring - specifically to handle and update all the information on your database - it's so important to have the most current information!

I primarily work on enhancing websites, but also handle a client's client database locally. I think Laura Monroe has an excellent e-newsletter - she would probably be great for that. Let me know if I can be of service - you can contact me offline at dds586@sbcglobal.net and I'll also drop you an email directly on your AR page.

Deb

Deb Salkeld

Diversified Data Solutions, L.L.C.

Leigh, call me I have a great referral for you for a VA - I also have a transaction coordinator thru her. 425-308-3669

Leigh,

 You can contact my VA at jana_virtualease@yahoo.com.  Her web site is http://www.virtual-ease.net/

 Ask her for a copy of her recent magazine article on VAs.

 Beth Kimber

RE/MAX Allegiance

thanks for all the recommendations and suggestions!

Leigh, Laura included this post in her VA Year in Review.  I'd love to know, a full year later, how this turned out for you. If you posted about it, just say so and I'll be happy to search your blog for it.

I'm trying to make 2008 my best year yet and have been looking into working with a VA myself. 

I have been using a Virtual Assistant for about a year now and have found it is much more productive and cost effective - plus much less stressful - than having an in-house assistant.  After gonig through 3 in-house assistants for various reasons, I decided to try using a virtual assitant.  I went through a company called Team Double CLick.  They offered a free consultation and helped me determine what I could use my VA for.  My account rep suggested trhat I start slow, with just a couple of tasks to test out the VA.  After discussing my needs, she assigned me a VA.  It has been one of the best things I have done for my business.  Some weeks I need my va for 2 hours, some weeks 10, or more.  I only pay for the hours I need.  I dont have to worry about my assistant sitting around while I pay them my hard-earned dollars.  My va gives me a daily report of exactly what she's done and how long each task took her.  This ensures I'm not paying for 2 hours for a task that takes 30 minutes.  Plus, I dont have to worry about payroll taxes, vacation time, sick days, or even issuing a 1099 - Team Double Click handles all of that - it's written off as a regular buisiness expense.

If you want to learn more about how a virtual assistant can work in your business, CLICK HERE

Or, CLICK HERE for a report on 101 Ways To Use A Virtual Assistant

Hope this helps