Blog Viewer

Personal Assistants: Virtual vs. In House

By Missouri REALTORS posted 04-10-2017 04:28 PM

  

key to success

REALTORS® have a lot to juggle. Between showings, marketing, paperwork and appointments, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Hiring a personal assistant is one of the best ways to make your life easier. Having someone else complete part of your to-do list will give you free time focus on other aspects of your business, spend time with family, or get some much needed extra rest and relaxation. Your calendar will be so much more manageable that you’ll wonder why you didn’t hire an assistant sooner!

Once you’ve decided to hire some extra help, you must choose which kind of assistant you’re going to pursue: a licensed assistant, an unlicensed assistant, or a virtual assistant. Each type of assistant is valuable and will provide you with an incredible amount of help. Which assistant is right for you ultimately comes down to what type of tasks you need help with. 

Licensed Assistant

About 51 percent of real estate personal assistants hold a real estate license. Licensed assistants are legally able to do more than unlicensed assistants. They can show properties, explain contracts to clients, discuss the attributes of a property with a prospective buyer, collect or receive money, and conduct an open house. They are also able to independently develop and distribute advertisements. Licensed assistants can provide information to the public that could be considered influential in a real estate transaction, whereas unlicensed assistants cannot.

Unlicensed Assistant

Unlicensed assistants are great if you need help with clerical work. They are able to schedule inspections and appointments, answer phone calls and emails, help with filing, obtain closing and listing documents, record and deposit money, and place signs on listed property. They can also create advertisements as long as they are then approved by the licensee and supervising broker. Read more about what an unlicensed assistant can do here.

Virtual Assistant

Virtual assistants can help you with one off tasks, like making marketing material and uploading contract information to an online profile. They can also help manage blogs or social media. Virtual assistants are usually cheaper than other assistants, and they do not require office space. They also allow you to hire from all over the country. For example, if you cannot find a talented graphic designer in your price range and your area, you can look to other cities or states to find one that is the right fit for you. Virtual assistants’ open lots of doors, but remember that you will not be able to build a rapport with them. A great place to find a virtual assistant is through this network.

When choosing which type of assistant to hire, keep in mind what you dislike doing as well as what you need the most help with. If you hate filing papers and have a hard time staying organized, maybe an unlicensed assistant is for you. If you struggle to come up with marketing material or dread logging onto your social media accounts, perhaps you need a virtual assistant. And if you’re overwhelmed with the amount of home showings you have, a licensed assistant may be your best option. But at the end of the day, your life will be much easier no matter which type of assistant you choose.

If you have any experience with hiring a personal assistant, let us know in the comments below! And if you want some tips on hiring the right person, click here.

0 comments
463 views

Permalink