If you’re spending 10% of your time dealing with administrative tasks, that’s 10% you could be using towards the more important aspects of your business. You’re busy drafting letters, marketing via email and social media, contacting leads, etc., yet you’re wondering where your clients are. Why are you spending all of this time on building your brand and not seeing results? I will tell you why, and from experience. You need a virtual assistant to handle the small, tedious tasks so you can finally see growth.
Wait, what did I say? Virtual assistant?? Yep, you read it right. A virtual assistant. Why virtual? They are not employees – i.e., no employee taxes, no desk space, no spending days/weeks looking for the right candidate or any other ramifications that go into hiring someone. They are independent contractors. In other words, they are like-minded business owners that want to make YOU more successful.
Now, you’re thinking, “but they are small tasks. I don’t need to pay someone to do them.” And you’re right. Somewhat. They are small tasks, but I want you to calculate how much time you spend in a week or month to do them. Is it 10 hours? 20 hours? 40 hours? Even if it’s 3 hours, that’s 3 hours you could be spending on the more important things. And let’s face it; the most important thing is landing that sale. The phrase “Time is money!” could not be more true to ANY Realtor. So, paying a virtual assistant a fraction of what you could potentially make should sound more appealing. Hopefully.
If you’re not SOLD (see what I did there?) on hiring a virtual assistant, here are some reasons why you should reconsider:
Manage Email
That’s right! They can handle your email for you. Do you need to email 500 people in your target area to get your name out there, but don’t have the time? (If you do have the time, you’re spending way too much time in your email!) Another plus to having a virtual assistant manage your email is leads. They can connect with the leads right away. One thing I learned in my Real Estate career is that if you do not connect with someone within the first 15 minutes, they’ve moved on. That’s right 15 minutes! Now imagine you have been out with a buyer for 8 hours on their 100th showing. Do you know how many missed opportunities you had during that time? No, you don’t… until you get home and see all the dead leads you received that day.
Manage Your Calendar
Now this one is crucial. Not only is it crucial to keep all of your business appointments, such as showings, listing appointments, etc., but it is also crucial for your personal life. How many of you feel as though you’re neglecting yourself, your spouse, your children because you are too busy keeping afloat in your business? Now picture your virtual assistant making dinner reservations for you on your anniversary, scheduling inspectors, appraisers and even the glorious closing. They can even keep track of your friends birthdays, previous clients birthdays, your parents anniversary. If you cannot manage your personal life, how do you expect to be truly satisfied in your business endeavors? You can’t. You too, even as a Realtor, need a work-life balance.
Listing Assistance
Many Realtors have Type A personalities. And let’s be honest, you have to be Type A in this business. So, you will have a hard time letting certain things go because you only trust yourself to get things done. That is not a bad trait to have. You want things done a certain way and it is a struggle for you to have help. But think about this; after you put your listing in the MLS, there are many different avenues to publish a listing that the MLS won’t do for you… one of those being Craigslist. Let a virtual assistant market your listing on Craigslist. Have your assistant create flyers or email other Realtors about your listing. Or maybe you have an amazing rental property you want to market. Your virtual assistant can help with that, too. Hello VRBO!
Online Advertising
Now, this one is by far the most important marketing tool any Realtor can have. Ahhhh, the power of social media. Not only is it free to create a page, but hashtags do wonders. With so many different options – e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN, Instagram… even Pinterest, let an assistant help you with managing these accounts. It’s natural to get on Facebook and spend way too much time divulging on what trip your friend just went on when you could be marketing your brand. If you let your assistant help you with your social media, pretty soon that same friend will be following you to see what amazing trip you went on with your hard earned money. Just kidding, Realtors don’t get vacations. No really, I’m kidding, Realtors do get vacations. After all, it’s your business; you decide when you want a break! Your assistant can post relevant information, post your listings and help you with advertising.
Concierge Services
Spending too much time deciding on the right kind of wine or fruit basket to send your client to thank them? Let your assistant handle that. Want to send out birthday cards to each lead or previous client? Let your assistant handle that. Are you finally going on that dream vacation? Let your assistant make your travel arrangements! Use your assistant as a tool for your productivity! After all, that is what you are paying them for.
Bottom line, your assistant will be a small business owner like yourself. They know the importance of keeping YOU successful because they want to be successful. The list of services an assistant can do for you is endless! Need help with bookkeeping, setting up a website, data entry, picking out what color tie you should wear for the day, finding a gas station with the lowest rate? Get a virtual assistant. The possibilities and potential are endless.
Don’t sweat the small stuff, delegate it!
Stephanie McIntosh is a former Realtor and Property Manager. She now specializes in a virtual assistance for Realtors, Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs. To find out more visit her webpage http://www.virtualmcintosh.com
Stephanie McIntosh 