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Old 01-15-2008
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Default Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide
When it comes to deciding to delegate parts of your business to another person, a partner, not only is it important to to know what qualities you would like to have in that person, it is even more important to have a plan! Whether you are ready to delegate a lot or a little, that plan can and will set you up for success in your partnership with a VA or any assistant, for that matter.

Set some time aside to look at your business goals, and find the area that is zapping most of your income-producing time. Is it lead generation, contact management, marketing, listing coordination, or another area? What tasks, or series of tasks, do you feel comfortable delegating to an experienced VA? Go through on paper, your day to day duties, and decide what to delegate, how much to delegate, and what you could delegate later once your partnership is well underway.

Provided below is a "VA Checklist" that not only can serve as a general list of easily delegated tasks, but are also the common talents and services available in the repertoire of a real estate VA. It's a great idea to give each task a VA rating: 1 for "Give over completely to VA" up to 5 for "Not on your life will I let a VA do this!" If you find that your needs are best assisted with in one or two major areas, your task will be to find a VA that specializes in just those areas. If you need assistance in all areas, you can find a VA that is experienced in all areas, and can certainly grow as your business grows! That should be your goal! To have a partner in growth and success~

Listing Coordination

* Prepare Pre-listing Packet, CMA and other marketing materials for listing presentation
* If approved by local MLS, input listings, and manage updates etc.
* Arrange for Home Stager
* Prepare and write well-written ad copy for the listings for coordinated placement in marketing materials
* Create and send Just Listed postcards
* Design & send to printer property flyers/brochures/postcards
* Order/ create/post Virtual Tour on web sites
* Create print ads for open houses for approval by you
* Input listings into all web sites, and manage updates and changes
* Enhance listings on Realtor.com
* Create branded HTML ads/Postlets for use in Craigslist.com and others.
* Prepare Open House materials
* Prepare Seller Reports to keep sellers informed of web traffic on their listing
* Set up and manage showing feedback information
* Create, update and maintain all single property web sites

Marketing & Lead Generation

* Maintain computer based contact management and lead generation system
* Design and create system for drip-email campaigns
* Design direct mail marketing system to databases
* Design flyers, postcards, and multi media materials
* Manage and update community/neighborhood web sites
* Create and run FSBO and Expired Listing campaigns
* Newsletter program (printed or web-based)
* Create & design Relocation materials
* Create & design First Time Home Buyer Packets
* Other

Client Relations Management & Retention


* Send out relocation packages
* Respond to online inquiries
* Manage the purchase & delivery of client closing gifts
* Coordinate appointments
* Send out special occasion cards, reminders, announcements and newsletters
* Put past clients on a retention email- drip campaign
* Think about planning an annual client thank you event
* Other

Transaction Management


* Manage transaction via OTM (Online Transaction Management system, ex: Settlement Room, Relay)
* Schedule inspection appointments
* Coordinate lender appointments and track loan process
* Coordinate closing dates & times
* Other

Don't have a BIG budget for next year, but still use some honest to goodness "good help"? My advice: Start small. Start with one or two tasks that you can delegate. See how it helps free up your time. See if your choice for a VA is a good fit for you, so you can how it impacts your life and your business.

For more information, please visit Creative Agent Solutions.com
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Old 01-15-2008
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Default Re: Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide
Nice article Thank you for posting this!
I've always been curious about what a real estate virtual assistant does - very informative (if I were a potential client, this would help seal the deal )
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Old 01-15-2008
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Default Re: Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide
Thanks, I have started to redirect my VA biz to real estate..do you have any ideas on how to market my biz out...I have started my VA biz 6 months ago and no clients ..any ideas on postcards for adverting and wording

Thanks
Elaine
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Old 01-15-2008
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Default Re: Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide
Have you started networking at the specifically RE boards? I know of Active Rain - and there is at least one more I'm not able to think of at the moment....anyone?

What kind of marketing are you already doing now and how much of it/how often?
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Old 01-15-2008
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Default Re: Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide
What an informative post! I have been considering checking out the Real Estate market as well. I'm kinda gun-shy though as I have been trying to sell a home in Florida for over a year now and the market's SOOO bad I can't even get any calls on it. I'm afraid the Real Estate market might be hard to work with in all facets - not such buying and selling.

Any thoughts?
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Old 01-15-2008
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Default Re: Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide
I have not started at RE boards...I looked in local classified ads for part time bookkeepers and craiglist for leads, got nothing but wah scams..I leave my cards at restaurant boards and got a few calls who would use my service but just have not heard back from them..any postcard ideas..or flyer ideas..
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Old 01-15-2008
recperez
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Default Re: Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide
I will look into the message boards..

Thanks
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Old 01-16-2008
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Default Re: Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide
Thanks Everyone for your comments!

Recperez~ I think being a real estate VA is a very good niche market. Although most of my clients are derived by referral I have had great success on ActiveRain, and other online networking. I would also suggest becoming an affiliate with the Women's Council of REALTORS in your area, and even the Chamber of Commerce in your area.

Direct mail might work if its done once a month, perhaps postcard style to real estate offices in your area. But more than that my website does work, as I tend to think most agents find VAs on the web.

Hope this helps

Laura Monroe, PREVA
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Old 01-16-2008
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Default Re: Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide
I agree, this is a wonderful article. I have been considering redirecting my practice to assist the real estate industry as well. I also believe that it's not a bad idea (if you're not that familiar with the real estate industry especially, but do have good VA skills) that you perhaps should consider taking REVE training. I've been doing quite a bit of research on this training and have concluded that a great place to start is http://www.revacoach.com I'm strongly considering taking the OTM Training, as that is an area I'd really like to get into.
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Old 01-16-2008
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Default Re: Real Estate Virtual Assistants: The Ultimate Guide
jstgermain,

I wholeheartedly agree with you! REVA Coach is a great place to get Transaction Management training, and other courses as well.

Laura Monroe, PREVA
Creative Agent Solutions
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