Question for real estate assistants VA's.

[mandymitchell]

I have a few questions for all of the real estate VA's.

• How long did it take you to get your first client?
• how is your business doing right now? ( slow market and all)
• Did any of you advertise on Craigslist?
• Do you find that most of your clients are local or from all over?

Sorry so many questions. Just something I wonder about.

Thanks
amanda

[MegBarberVA]

How long did it take you to get your first client? I got my first client within one month of starting my business. It was an agent who knew me already from when I was their office manager. I stayed in front of them and made sure they knew that I was starting a VA business and they jumped at it.

How is your business doing right now? ( slow market and all) I started my business 7 years ago when the market was still HOT (or the "bubble" was growing). And though the market tanked nationally, I am still going strong 7 years later. In down markets, agents need VAs more than ever, and the smart agents realized that. I refined my ideal client profile, and made sure that I only worked with agents that understood how important it was to continue to market even in bad times, and know how to leverage their time appropriately.

Did any of you advertise on Craigslist? I did a little bit when I started. Too many scammers on there. And really, Realtors do not typically go looking on CL for Virtual Assistants, and the ones that do only want to pay peanuts. You have to get in front of them on other arenas... know where they hang out online and offline.

Do you find that most of your clients are local or from all over? When I first started, most of my clients were local because I knew many agents in my local area personally. Then I really worked on building my online presence because local will only get you so far (and I lived in a REALLY small town at the time). I still have some of those first clients today, but the last few years, nearly none of my clients have been local to me. They come from all over now, finding my website and blog via Facebook/Twitter, ActiveRain, and VA membership organizations I belong to. I also gotten several clients by answering some RFPs that come through my membership organizations.

[iRealEstateVA]

How long did it take you to get your first client?
I started backwards, I had clients before I had really knew this was going to be my niche if that makes sense.

How is your business doing right now? ( slow market and all)
Well, however I tend to focus on top producing agents and also have clients in Canada where the market is completely different than ours.

Did any of you advertise on Craigslist?
No

Do you find that most of your clients are local or from all over?
I don't have any local clients - my town is really small and the re industry is not so hot here at the moment.

Hope that was somewhat helpful - good luck to you!

[AugustaVirtualAssistants]

How long did it take you to get your first client?
Like Melissa, I had a client before I started my VA business. I am a licensed Realtor and saw the need for assistance in my own office.
How is your business doing right now? Very good. I have an 8 member team who specialize in particular fields of support offered. I handle the RE agents. As the word gets out, I pick up more and more clients.
Did any of you advertise on Craigslist?
I haven't but I'm not opposed to it. I agree with Melissa that agents aren't looking for an assistant on CL but with the other support I offer, it wouldn't be a bad idea and I know the tricks to not getting spammed.
Do you find that your clients are local or from all over?
Both. I have a client in NC and one in Calif. as well as locally.