Real Estate Blog - ActiveRain 2007 Year in Review~ Real Estate Virtual Assistants by Laura Monroe

Home : Blogs : Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant : Real Estate Virtual Assistant: Laura's VA Views

ActiveRain 2007 Year in Review~ Real Estate Virtual Assistants by Laura Monroe

I've been asked by Jennifer Fivelsdal to provide a Year In Review for the Real Estate Virtual Assistant profession, and I couldn't be more honored! 2007 Has not only seen amazing growth for Active Rain, but the Real Estate Virtual Assistant category has been blessed with growth from about 30 VAs, to almost 600 now.

I must say that I believe that ActiveRain is one of the most prominent platforms for bringing real estate professionals, and real estate SERVICE professionals together in a profound way. In the world of real estate where solicitations are a necessary evil, social networking in the form of blogging has been a priceless tool. There is not another venue where I have found comfort in getting to know individuals who might be future clients or referrals. Blogging has provided us a voice, and a safe harbor to educate others who may not know about virtual assistance. It has allowed us to learn from one another, the good the bad and the ugly, and raise our standards of excellence.

So without farther ado, I present our Year in REVIEW!

NOVEMBER 2006:

GROUPS were founded in the Rain. Interested members could join Groups of choice. With that, came the Real Estate Virtual Assistants Group, the first VA Group on Active Rain that opened the forum up to allow real estate professionals and VAs communicate together. One of our first posts was from Leigh Brown: I Think I Need a VA-What Next? and from there we started rocking.

Open collaborative conversations started happening, while VAs were finding clientele here in the Rain that could use their services.

Virtual Assistant, Betsy Talbot hit the jackpot with interest in her DISC Personality Profile Series;"Hey, Baby. What's Your Sign?" Part 2,3,4,5 of a Series. Allen F. Hainge, the highly esteemed real estate coach, and founder of CyberStars(TM) helped get the word out on our behalf with this great post: Are You Using A Virtual Assistant Yet? Evy Williams educated us on the amazing fit that Virtual Assistance is for Military Spouses with her post:A Career Military Spouses Can Take With Them: Even when stationed remotely. This avenue can be perfect income generating career!

MAY 2007

The highly popular real estate website provider Advanced Access went down and went down hard. It was then that the real estate VAs who specialize in maintaining and supporting websites came to the aid of many agents who were losing ground by the hour in their online presence. The VAs below were there to lend a much needed hand, and provide answers to those clients who were not getting ANYTHING out of Advanced Access. That is one of the true values of a real estate VA! Web specialist Anna Baron was there to help with this post:What's with Advanced Access? Real estate virtual assistant Kim Hughes was ready and able to help out with this post: Advanced Access Email Problems? Another website specialist Cheryl Allin was on hand as well with this post: Advanced Access Client Websites Down for Over Five Days!

NAR Conference & EXPO

2007 would not be complete without a mention of the NAR Conference and EXPO in Las Vegas. REVAs took Vegas by storm! The IREAA had a large portion of membership representing Virtual Assistance and our organization with a booth at the EXPO. Kim Hughes, Anna Baron, and Pam Ivey headed up the adventure for IREAA, while Jen Wilson, Kandra Hamric, Carolyn Nelson and I forged our way through the EXPO as well, meeting with vendors, technology experts, as well as our own ActiveRain Members that we finally had a chance to meet!

The REVA Group also brought out several posts on how a Virtual Assistant can fit into the business of real estate professionals. Sean Carrol recently wrote about his success using a Virtual assistant in the post:My First Day With A Virtual Assistant. In my blog The Top Technology Tool for Agents 2008: the Real Estate Virtual Assistant, I mentioned many of our AR Collection articles that serve to help those in the information gathering stage when considering using a VA.

The Basics:

Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide Part 1...What You NEED to Know About Professional VAs BEFORE you Take the Plunge! by Laura Monroe

Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide PART 2......Creating a Virtual Action Plan Before You Delegate! by Laura Monroe
The Hiring Path of the Millionaire Real Estate Agent...and the Real Estate Virtual Assistant by Laura Monroe
What's the single best thing you can do for your business? by Deb Salkeld
"Technology and You" Michelle Schoen

What to Consider:

Re-Shaping Your Game..Technology & the 3 "L's" by Laura Monroe
Focus on revenue-producing activities in 2008 by John Novak
Insource or Outsource? by Tony Marriott
Are You Using A Virtual Assistant Yet? Allen F. Hainge, CRS
What To Look For In A Real Estate Virtual Assistant Kim Hughes
The Invaluable Resource Ken Spencer
I Have Surrendered Roberta Murphy

On behalf of the REVA Group, it's our wish that everyone here on AR has a very Happy and Prosperous NEW YEAR!

Join the conversation on our Facebook Fan Page! We'd love to see you there!

Posted by Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant on 01/02/2008 01:14 AM

Comments (41)

2007 ear in review, real estate virtual asistants, laura monroe

Post is included in group: ActiveRain 2007 Year In Review

41 Comments on ActiveRain 2007 Year in Review~ Real Estate Virtual Assistants by Laura Monroe

DEC

2007

Great job Laura...thanks for your contributions here. Happy New Year!

Karen, this is excellent. I have book marked it and will spend the evening reading this and all the years in Review. Thanks for contributing.

Laura- As always excellent information! Looking forward to 2008 and all the great info that the AR professionals will be sharing.

JAN

2008

Hi Laura - You and all of the other VAs in the Rain have made great strides in showing real estate agents how a VA can help them leverage their business models. Great meeting you at NAR, and definitely looking forward to see what 2008 brings. Have a great new year!

Laura, as you know, this is of particular interest to me right now. =) Thanks for putting this resourceful post together!

Hi Neal~ Thanks alot, and happy New Year to you too!

Missy~ My name is Laura, but that's ok:) Thanks for the bookmark:)

Dean Louise~ It was so nice meeting you this year, and hope that this year ROCKS for you!

Hi John~ I have to thank you for your very strong contribution to our group. You are a strong endorser of using leverage in your business, and I appreciate the support!

Hi Maggie~Your welcome and I hope we have a great start to the New Year for you!

JAN

2008

Hi Laura - thanks for a great review, and for highlighting these posts for us. I know virtual assistants, and the concept of such, are new to many of us here, and you've certainly done a lot to help enlighten many of us on this. Thanks again!

Happy New Year!
Ann

Laura - Thanks for an excellent job. This resource clearly shows real estate agent how the Reva sector is a key partner to those wishing to take their business to the next level without actually employing more people.

Thanks again for being a participant.

Great summary, I think there will be even more agents who jump on board in 2008. I started a few months ago with my VA and can't believe I waited so long.

Thank you, Laura--great post! Here's to a prosperous 2008 for you and your VA Group!

Debe in Charlotte, NC

Laura.... hey my fellow AR buddy.... we started about the same time and as you stated, VA's have come a long way on here. Especially thanks to voices as yourself and because of AR's platform. You did an excellent job here and I liked how you did a semi time line.

Thanks and to a happy, safe, and prosperous 2008.

Laura...Excellent summary of the year...I have a lot of reading to do :)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone! May you all have a great 2008!

Great list and resource. I can't wait till I'm so busy I need a VA. Maybe this coming year :-)

Great job on the review. Active Rain has sure been a great place for the virtual assistant profession to get the word out and for many of us to learn how they may play a role in our businesses.

I have booked marked this one great content and worth reading

Ann~ ActiveRain sure has helped get the word out, it has been an awesome year! Thanks for your support through this year Ann, it's so appreciated!

Jennifer~ I'm very honored that you asked me to participate, it was fun to do!

Anonymous~ Thanks so much for commenting! I'm glad you have found success with a VA!

Debe~ You are welcome, and a very Prosperous and Happy New year to you too!

Monica~ I have thought alot about you and Jay this week, and am so happy for you and your family~ Many blessings for the New Year, and thanks so much for your support! It rocked to meet you this year in Vegas!

Jeff~ Thanks so much for all of your support...we've accomplished alot since we joined and I consider you one of my great supporters, thanks!

Tommy~ YOU TOO! I have a good feeling about this year!

Randy~ It was such a pleasure to meet you this year, and I wish you a very prosperous New YEAR! I still can't believe it 2008!

Valiant~ You are welcome, spread the word!

Awesome post Laura! You are a wealth of information. Thanks for taking the time to share this with all of us.

Ciao!

Laura,

As always I enjoyed your post and the year in review is as enjoyable and informative as the rest.

Keep up the good work. I look forward to reading and learning even more from you in 2008!

2007 has been a difficult year for some of us and down right miserable for many. Here's looking to a prosperous, healthy and happy 2008.

Laurie Milliane

Millane Virtual Assistants, LLC

As always Laura, fabulous job! You summed up 2007 very well. Here's to a happy and prosperous 2008 for us all!

Wow Laura! What a fabulous review! Thank you SO much for mentioning me in your article as well as IREAA. I missed a couple of the posts mentioned in your review and I'm checking those out now. I'm honored and thrilled to be able to say that I *know* Laura Monroe and you're truly a fabulous Virtual Assistant!

Laura, Great post!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing.

I think quite a few agents will jump on board in 2008 and use their time well!!!

A well written post that I will bookmark. Thanks.

Laura...

I am here to offer up my support.

I also want to wish you my very best wishes for this new to you year.

Make it a great one and don't forget to throw me a widget to break once in awhile :)

TLW...ROAR!

Laura - I think 2008 will be the year I get a better handle on VAs- I'm so glad to you're here and part of this community. Thanks for a great post - I bookmarked for some quality time reading. :-) Wishing you the best in 2008!

Jen~ You bet girl! I'm looking forward to 2008, and wish you all the wicked best;)

Laurie~ I hope we get to know each other better this year, we must all stay in touch and help each other out. Its how we stay strong, and keep our industry strong. All the Best to you!

Megan~ Hey girlfriend, I hope 2008 rocks for you, you'll be hearing from me soon;) wink;)

Anna~ I didn't think I could mention real estate virtual assistance without Anna Baron, aren't they one and the same..lol! Have a great year and I can't wait to see your goals come true!

Laura~ You are so welcome! All the best in 2008!

DiMuria Team~ I completely agree with you, we must all plan on being busier this year;)

Wayne~ Thank you for stopping by and I appreciate the bookmark.

TLW~ All my blessings for the New Year! I know you have made quite a few changes lately, but you never stop thinking of others, and for that I thank you! Your support means the world to me;) But STAY AWAY from the widgets, SVW;)

Cyndee~ If you need any help getting a good handle on VA's, you know who to call:) Thank for all your support and positive posts. You are a true pleasure here in the Rain!

Laura~

I enjoyed reading your Review...so much hard work and many good things to consider! thanks so much for your leadership here at AR in 2007...and I look forward to more of the same in 2008. Happy New Year.

JAN

2008

Great recap Laura -

I was thrilled to have been a part of the IREAA booth at the NAR EXPO in Las Vegas...not only a fabulous time/place to meet other savvy VA's, but being exposed to all the products and services available to the real estazte professional, priceless!

Thanks so much for all you do to bring a positive light to our industry, and for all the great posts at AR - I will be spending some time checking them all out...have a fabulous (and prosperous) 2008! ;)

:) @ Laura

Laura - You certainly do the virtual assistants group proud. Nice post, and Happy New Year!

Laura,

Wonderful job on the review. Thanks for drawing such positive attention to our industry.

Laura, your info was very well received by my Broker's class today. Betcha never thought your blog would make it all the way to Monmouth County, New Jersey?

JAN

2008

Wow, what a fantastic blog Laura! Our industry is indeed growing by leaps and bounds and I have some wonderful clients who have given me the faith that 2008 IS GONNA BE GREAT!! I am excited about the leverage that we are able to give agents and brokers. The common denominator between all good, reputable REVA's is that we truly enjoy watching the agent's success increase in ways they never thought it could. This is a very exciting time for all of us! Thanks again for all you do!

JAN

2008

Laura: What a wonderful job you have done. Your dedication is tremendous and thank you for all the information. Have a wonderful 2008.

Aweseome Laura! A terrific recap of the year (we expect nothing less from you! ;) Thanks a bunch for mentioning me, along with IREAA in your post.

It was fantastic to finally meet you in Las Vegas ((hugz)) and I hope we'll catch up again in Orlando. Keep up the stellar work in educating and promoting the real estate virtual assistant industry!

Cheers,
Pam

Pam Ivey, Cert SBM,CREA,PREVA,CRESS,CMP
Virtual Assistant Solutions Specialist
MY CREATIVE ASSISTANT | http://www.mycreativeassistant.com/
Virtual Presence. Real Support.

Co-founder
INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE ASSISTANTS ASSOCIATION | http://www.ireaa.com/
A firm foundation for your future.

This blog does not allow anonymous comments