Moving from RE Company admin to VA Assistant

Hi all,
I'm mostly a lurker on these forums, but I love reading all of your posts! I need some advice and I hope you can help me out.

I currently work full-time for a real estate company and have had many roles in the company that make me well-suited to move into working for myself as a VA. However, I don't have enough savings to venture out and do this on my own just yet, and I don't want to create a conflict of interest by doing work for agents that compete with the company I work for.

My question is, have any of you made a similar transition? How did it work for you? Were your first clients the agents you worked with? How did you handle discussing this with your boss? How did you market to agents within the company?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[jemsva]

Hi Lashby,

You'll find that every person's experience is different, there is no magic formula to use to be successful. Your success is dependent on what works for you.

It may be that you will need to retain customers you have contact with at work, and once you have their promise to use your service, you can then branch on your own and quit your day job. I know this is scary, but there are no guarantees in whatever it is you decide. It used to be that if you had a job, you could count on having that job to pay your bills, etc. That is no longer true, just look around you and listen to the news.

Once you are in business for yourself, you are no longer tied to conflict of interest rules. It sounds like you already have a great source of prospective clients. Good luck!

[MegBarberVA]

Hi Lashby,

What you are talking about is pretty similar much how I started. My very first clients came right from the real estate company I was office manager for. It started with me doing stuff on the side for one agent after my work hours. Later, I jumped right into opening my VA business after leaving the office manager job (and after a stint of being an in-house assistant for another agent). Once some of the agents found out what I was doing, they jumped at the chance to work with me.

So the company you work for is probably your best prospecting source for your first clients. So make sure they know what you are planning to do.

Good luck!!

Thanks so much for the responses! I think there are a lot of agents that would utilize my services. I just need to make sure I make the transition in a way that does not jeopardize my current position. I'm afraid that if I make my plans known, I might move forward a little faster than I want to which will hurt financially. That's the hard part.

[OnlineOfficeLink]

Hi Lashby,

I understand your position because it's very similar to what I'm going through now. I was working as an in-house assistant to a realtor team when they suddenly cut my hours (from 30 hrs per week down to 7!). Besides the news headlines every day, I had very little notice that they were going to do this. So my dream of starting my own VA business was suddenly forced upon me! I think of it as a blessing. I'm in the process of turning my employers into my first clients

I wanted to share this with you as encouragement. I understand feeling loyal to your current employer but ultimately you have to look out for yourself. You never know what will happen with your current postion and being prepared for it now is best. I think starting out by doing side work for other agents in your office is a great way to start.

I know it's scary when you think of going out on your own but it's also very exciting. I wish you the best!!

[executive_assist]

My story is similar as well, except I haven't done it for the past 2 years. I was an agent, then went to the office coordinator, and then worked exclusively for the broker and his wife. I left them in 2007 due to the rising cost of childcare and have since moved cross-country. I don't believe there is anyone in my area, so I believe that my business will be something new for my area. My plan of attack is to go to small businesses and RE offices in the area and direct market myself there. I know some offices will let you do a 5 minute presentation of the services offered if they feel it will be beneficial to their agents. It might be something you could consider to help jump start your business. I'm going to prepare flyers and business cards that I can leave at the offices for prospective clients. Hope my idea helps you with launch ideas so that you can more easily transition to being your own boss.

[B-organized]

Hi Lashby!

I am currently an office manager for a local real estate company only working part time now (was full time). Out of respect to my agency (I do not have a contract with them) any agent less than 25 miles away I am only doing basic work (transferring info from MLS to their own websites, etc.). I am not doing any advertising/marketing for them as it would not be fair to my agency. Outside that 25 mile radius - I am unlimited as to what I can do. I also have very understanding bosses - since business has been slow - they cannot afford me full time (and not sure if I want to go back full time either as I love the VA work) they have given me their blessings to whatever I decide to do. Wishing you much success!

[micarter]

Hi Lashby,
I was in the same boat as you as well when I started. I came into the office of a well know RE company as the MLS coordinator. Soon, and I mean SOON, one agent ask if I knew anyone or if I would like to make out and label the postcards for their "Just Listed". The word got around the office and more agents came to me for the same thing. Even after I became the office manager I still did work for the agents in this manner. The owners and broker did know about it. I did all this work at home in my spare time. So they did not mind.
I say if it is simple things such as this it will be all right. If and when u have the word around the office that you can do these same tasks for them and you get more comfortable you can then maybe get some of the agents interested in using you for more tasks and you would be able to quit. This is tricky and you do have to time it right. But I would go ahead and talk to the broker and see if they have a problem for you doing these same tasks for other agents. I have worked in 4 different company's and the brokers or agents did not mind at all as long as I did not do it on their time.
Good luck and I hope this helped in some way.