Thread: Assistant

I'm new to the business and have been told it's a big benefit to have an assistant. I can't afford that at this point, however, have been approached by an individual who says that I can share in an assistant for $400-$500/month. The assistant will handle all of my scheduling, answer calls, etc. She can't sit open houses, drop of keys, etc. Is this worth while for me to look into?

Thanks.

You use an assistant to do the repetitive tasks in your business - sending out letters, printing those letters, postcards, just listed cards, ad layouts (if they are good at it), and anything else that takes your time away from being with prospects, customers, and clients.

Anything that you do that is repeated over and over and doesn't require a license.

Why share an assistant? Why not hire a virtual assistant(VA)? A VA is an assistant who works from his or her own office. The benefits include only having to pay for the amount of work you need done. If business gets busy one month, you can use the VA more. If business slows down another month you can reduce the hours or projects for the VA. You would be surprised how much a VA can actually do.

It is a great way for new agents to free up some time to focus on the important tasks and experienced agents can use VA to do some of the extra work her full-time assistant may not have time to do.

Originally Posted by MikeC

You use an assistant to do the repetitive tasks in your business - sending out letters, printing those letters, postcards, just listed cards, ad layouts (if they are good at it), and anything else that takes your time away from being with prospects, customers, and clients.

Anything that you do that is repeated over and over and doesn't require a license.

I have a marketing company that handles allof my mailings and such. It cost a little more than doing it myself but it is cheaper than an assistant. When it comes time for me to get an assistant it'll be for them to handle leg work so I can focus on getting new clients and marketing. But I'm also a Loan Officer not an agent.

As mentioned below a virtual assistant is a great idea. If you start now and gather your prospects and leads and build them into a outlook program (just an example not recommending Microsoft). You can have e-letters go out or if they do not have email. very few now a days you can use a merge and sort program to type your letters and remind you of birthdays. But if you are rockin and rollin and can afford an assistant rock on baby!
But if you are jsut starting out stay away from overhead. My Ethic's instructor for real estate years back told me if you go knowck on doors like you lost your pet you will have business and he was right. So as long as you have time to prospect and can use a computer as intended. You should do well.

its hard to manage people, even if its only one person you are managing in.. i would vote for virtual asst... outsourced someone.. aside from cheaper rates.. there are skilled people who are flexible to do plenty of stuff.. just make sure.. all work is done virtually. and no need to worry about employment insurance, taxes, etc ,etc...