There are people who can market circles around you, folks who can teach you a thing or two about SEO, and those whose sole desire is to spend the workday in front of a computer monitor.
If you find yourself bemoaning any task in your business, such as:
- I’m too busy to create marketing pieces
- I have too many other things to do to engage with people on social media
- I would love to send a newsletter but I don’t know where to start
- My CRM is such a mess it’s just about useless
It’s time to admit that you need help – that is, if you expect to move to the next level in your real estate business.
It’s time to hire a real estate assistant
“If I had to touch every single piece in the system itself, I would never be able to produce multiple amounts of volume,” Jared Jones, CEO of Jones Group in Orlando (and super high producer) tells Jennifer Robison with the Las Vegas Review Journal.
He calls that touching-every-piece thing the “Lone Ranger” approach to business. He also claims that if he hadn’t dropped the control-freak routine and hired help he wouldn’t be as successful as he is.
Some coaches and other real estate consultants suggest that agents have a specific GCI before considering hiring help. The problem with that approach is that it’s going to take far more time to reach that income without an assistant than it will with one.
If you want to kick your business up a notch, delegate. And, no, you don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune on an assistant. Some agents hire one to work part-time while others find great value in hiring a virtual assistant.
What kind of stuff can a virtual assistant take off my hands?
Just about any task you routinely perform in your business can be passed off to an assistant. Sure, some may require that he or she be licensed, so save those for yourself.
Here are just a few of the jobs that agents we’ve spoken with have their assistant perform:
Organize and add data to your CRM
If you’re like many agents, your CRM is a mess. Imagine not having to tackle the organization of the information it contains. Then, as you generate leads, your assistant can be tasked with entering that and other updates to the database.
Various marketing duties
Depending on your virtual assistant’s talents, he or she can create marketing pieces, coordinate the delivery of your direct mail pieces to your farm, create or populate a newsletter, take on your email marketing, track marketing methods and a slew of other marketing chores.
Social media management
One of my neighbors recently listed her home for sale and one of the first questions she asked the agents she interviewed was about their social media presence, especially Facebook.
The agent who got the job is quite active on Facebook, belonged to several Facebook groups and boasted a large group of followers. The agent posted frequently, engages with others and uses Facebook ads for her listings.
If you aren’t on social media, the time to get on it is now – especially Facebook. The beauty of hiring an assistant is that he or she can take on your social media presence, performing the posting, joining local groups and engaging with others.
Amping up organic search results
If this is your goal, hire an assistant who can write, or hire a freelance writer. Local blogging, consistently, is the best way to increase your ranking in organic search results.
No, it doesn’t happen overnight, but it doesn’t take as long as some want you to think. We have a friend who owns a gardening blog that he sorely ignored for years.
He decided to try to make some money off of it so started blogging consistently. Within 3 weeks, his Amazon affiliate earnings almost doubled.
Blogging works, if done often and consistently. Look for a virtual assistant with writing talent.
Transaction coordination
Again, this job will depend on the skills and background of the assistant you hire. Or, you can train him or her to do most of the coordinating of your transactions. This includes:
- Ordering the sign and lockbox
- Coordinating inspections, appraisal, etc.
- Following up with vendors, the title company and lender
- Keeping the homeowner or buyer appraised of the transaction’s progress
As you know, this list just scratches the surface of jobs you can hand off, but this gives you an idea of just how much of the day-to-day admin stuff can be passed on to a virtual assistant.
How to find a virtual assistant
If you’re short on cash, you can find very inexpensive freelance workers—from writers to database managers, virtual assistants and more—at online sites such as Upwork.com and Fiverr.com.
If you have more to spend and need a real estate-specific virtual assistant you’ll find companies that cater to industry professionals.
- Kim Hughes (specializes in real estate)
- Real Support (specializes in real estate)
- Virtual Business Solutions
- Summit VA Solutions
- Zirtual
- Shore Agents (VA located outside the US)
If you’re seeking transaction coordination only, check out Transactly.
Keep in mind that when you pay for assistance in your business, the cost is tax deductible. That may take some of the fear out of hiring help.
Think of what you can do when you dump those menial tasks on someone else. It’s one of the best ways to take your business to the next level.
Schedule three months of fun Comfort Food Recipe postcard mailings and keep top of mind with your Sphere and Farm throughout the holiday season.
Need help targeting a specific niche of buyers or sellers? Use our Demographic Search Tool to create the ideal list (it’s easy). Or call our support team for assistance at 866.405.3638!
There’s no better way to demonstrate your ability to succeed in future home sellers.
PLUS: When you have time…here are some helpful resources we’ve made available to support your success.
1. Become a Neighborhood Brand
Become branded in a specific neighborhood with a 12X15 marketing piece sent automatically each month to an exclusive carrier route. Watch this video to learn more or Click Here.
2. The Free Real Estate Mailing List Guide
The Real Estate Mailing List Guide outlines the top tools for generating targeted prospecting lists including Baby Boomers, Empty Nesters, Investors, Lifestyle Interests, High-Income Renters, Move-Up Markets, and more. The Guide also defines done-for-you marketing campaigns to match these markets. –Click Here
3. The Free 12 Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan
The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 12-Month-Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do when. Four key market segments are included, Niche Marketing, Get More Listings, Geographic Farming, and Sphere of Influence. –Click Here
4. The Free One-Page Real Estate Business Plan
Treat your business like a business it is vital to long-term success in this industry. Some agents may put together elaborate business plans, yet there’s something powerful about keeping it simple. Check out our one page Online Real Estate Business Plan. – Click Here
5. Become a Listing Legend Free eBook
Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here
6. The Free Online ROI Calculator
Consistency and automation are the keys to success. Discover how effective direct mail marketing can dramatically increase your bottom line. Enter your statistics in our Free online ROI Calculator and click the ‘CALCULATE MY ROI’ button to see your results instantly! –Click Here
7. The Free Real Estate Marketing Guide “CRUSH IT”
The “Crush It” Guide includes easy steps to launching an effective direct mail marketing campaign, how to create a targeted prospect list, the perfect way to layout marketing materials for success, seven opportunities available to target in your area right now. –Click Here