Are you driving yourself crazy trying to find the time to adapt to the changing real estate industry, get everything done, and grow your business?

With most of your time spent out in the field, you might find that your lead follow-up plan and marketing schedule have fallen behind.

Invest in a virtual assistant to organize details and juggle minutiae for you!

What can I ask a virtual assistant to do?

Busy real estate agents can delegate many tasks to a virtual assistant: filtering and sorting emails, confirming appointments, following up with leads, editing MLS listings, updating your contacts database, preparing paperwork, researching trends, etc.

And because they’re paid by the hour, virtual assistants can help you organize your personal life, too. Need to get bids for home projects like house painting or landscaping? Enlist your virtual assistant to help!

What should I look for in a virtual assistant?

Virtual assistant providers are designed to make your life easier. They should be accurate, receptive to coaching, trustworthy, self-motivated, highly organized, and tech-savvy. They should also have a serious attention to detail and effective communication skills.

You want to see a return on your investment in a virtual assistant, so don’t be afraid to shop around for the right one for you!

Some virtual assistants, like those provided by MyOutDesk and AdminOutsource, are based in the Philippines or other foreign countries. Thanks to time zone differences, that means they’re working while you and your clients are sleeping! If you prefer to work with a U.S.-based virtual assistant, check out Time etc.

Are there any risks?

Before hiring a virtual assistant for your business, familiarize yourself with state and federal laws regarding the tasks they can legally perform for you.

Some real estate tasks—like soliciting buyers or sellers, negotiating transaction terms, or even answering certain questions—require a license in many states, and you could be liable if a virtual assistant you’ve hired breaks any laws.

To mitigate risk, legislative liaison at the California Bureau of Real Estate Tom Pool recommends agents train their virtual assistants to say “I’ll have the agent/broker get back to you” in response to any real estate-related questions from prospects.

What if I only need minimal help?

Not ready to completely hand the reins over to a virtual assistant? Services like Phone Animal or Lead Connect 365 can handle prospecting and manage your sales pipeline through lead generation and conversion.

Whether you’re taking the plunge headfirst or just dipping your toe in the water, outsourcing your “grunt work” to a virtual assistant can be a great way to save you time, help you gain a competitive advantage, and boost your business.

Reference to any specific brand, product, or service does not constitute endorsement by Old Republic Home Protection (ORHP). ORHP does not receive compensation by providing third-party links.