Managing a real estate business is comparable to a hurdle race. Each stage calls for different tasks, which take time and energy. You have contact management, prospecting, property listing, ad creation, and much more. These tasks can strain professionals, necessitating additional assistance.

On average, a real estate transaction typically requires approximately 40 hours to complete. Note that administrative and unlicensed tasks occupy a significant portion of this time, specifically around 30 hours.

That’s why many brands hire a virtual assistant for their tasks. These beneficial additions can differentiate between success and failure. But what does it mean to employ these experts? How do they impact your real estate business’s progress? Let’s find out.

What is a Virtual Assistant in Real Estate?

To understand what virtual assistants are and do, we must first explore the concept of remote work. In previous times, businesses focused on recruiting experts from different walks of life to handle duties. However, this resulted in an increase in the number of employees on site, which in turn crowded the workspace.

The outcome significantly impacts your brand’s financial obligations. Salaries aren’t the only areas you spend on, since you must also consider incentives. Then there’s logistics, medical insurance, utility costs, and workspace construction. Additionally, you will need to devise strategies to compensate for absences, holidays, or even resignations.

For example, a recent study found that the average annual cost of a full-time employee in the US, including benefits and overhead, is over $60,000. Hiring a virtual assistant can reduce these costs by 30-50%.

Professionals also face stress as they must bear physical and financial expenses. There’s transportation, in-office feeding, wardrobe, and healthcare. Finding these tasks exhausting, many pursued jobs that allowed them to work from home. This ushered in a new age of virtual assistant real estate operations.

Now, we have virtual assistants handling different duties across the globe. These professionals handle assigned real estate tasks from the comfort of their location. They provide support and expand business beyond their geographical boundaries. Plus, they can scale their skills through virtual training, solving the issue of on-site requirements.

Virtual Assistant Tasks in Real Estate

Virtual assistants are so diverse that they can operate in any real estate business section. That’s why many firms today hire them for:

• Administration: Remote staff use various tools and techniques to run different business support duties. They’re effective at tasks ranging from bookkeeping to finance coordination, scheduling, and staff training. Research findings indicate that 82% of small businesses have reported heightened levels of productivity, while 76% have noted cost savings as a direct result of leveraging virtual assistant services.

• Customer Service: Real estate virtual assistants prove you don’t need to be on-site to manage clients. Many remote experts today handle contact management, email scheduling, inquiries, and listing inspections.

• Marketing: Today, social media and the internet have made marketing processes much easier. This also gives virtual assistants more leverage as they run social media, ads, and listing promotions outside the office.

• Data Entry and Management: Virtual assistants across various locations handle the majority of repetitive tasks in data entry and management. They use many tools to ensure the information collated is accurate.

Why Use a Real Estate Virtual Assistant?

With the diverse areas mentioned, you may still wonder if hiring a virtual assistant is the right move. A quick rundown of their benefits may change your mind.

They Improve Productivity

The property business entails a significant workload. This is particularly significant for small businesses or those seeking to manage an operational budget. Though hiring new hands helps, it also means you have more people in the same space. Too many staff in one space can become overwhelming, affecting focus and smooth operation.

But a virtual assistant for real estate doesn’t have to be on site. You can delegate different duties to them online and focus on essential tasks. They’re capable of running your operations without needing to be around. This lets your in-house staff concentrate on more productive areas.

They Save Time and Money

As real estate duties become more demanding, you’ll need to hire more help. However, finding the right staff for physical office duties can be a challenging task. You can screen and hire virtual assistants online, saving you meeting time.

Plus, operating with many full-time employees means more stress on your monthly budget. A real estate virtual assistant, however, costs less. They also don’t need extra office space, saving you potential renovation expenses.

They Diversify Staffing 

Having your total staff in one location means you all see the market from the same lens. So, you’ll miss out on potential opportunities outside your geographical zone. Hiring a virtual assistant for real estate lets you spread your tentacles across different markets. You can enjoy the comfort of your present location while they explore prospects outside.

For instance, if your real estate firm is located in the U.S., your staff will focus only on that market. But a virtual assistant in, say, Mexico, can expose your brand to leads there. With the right instructions, they can kick off a listing campaign for your brand in their locality.

They Optimize Marketing and Sales

Having more hands-on marketing tasks always leads to better sales. Therefore, while your full-time staff is working, virtual assistants can handle support tasks. Because of their remote nature, you can utilize them for various tasks.

• Social media management
• Copywriting
• Market analysis and research
• Email marketing
• Video editing
• Graphic design
• Property listing, staging, and so much more.

They Enhance Customer Satisfaction

Combining virtual assistants with your in-house customer support staff leads to better operational efficiency. You can schedule their operation to match their duty time, creating a guaranteed 24/7 service. Plus, they help your full-time staff shed excess customer data by splitting the tasks. This lets your brand stay ahead of inquiries, improving the customer experience.

Tips for Integrating Real Estate Virtual Assistants 

Seeing how handy a virtual assistant is, you should include them in your real estate business. But note that picking the best options requires a comprehensive understanding of their operation. You want your recruit to excel in every aspect of your property operations. So, when hiring, consider these factors:

Focus on Industry Experience

The remote work industry is vast, so expect to run into a broad selection of experts. However, resist the allure of captivating advertisements, extravagant assurances, and humorous headshots. Ask your prospective real estate virtual assistant for proof of industry experience.

This is because handling real estate tasks takes a certain level of expertise. You should seek professionals who have extensive experience in the field. So, confirm how seasoned the real estate virtual assistant is at managing property business duties. Look for those who have at least 2–3 years of proven experience in the real estate sector.

Evaluate Previous Client Reviews

Sometimes, you don’t need a lengthy interview to choose a virtual real estate assistant. Many experts promote their services on different platforms. Whether it’s through social media or a freelance app, make sure to read through their reviews.

You want virtual assistants for real estate with a rich backup of testimonies. You also want references to previous employment with contact details you can reach. The stronger the positive reviews, the better the assistant. Aim for an average rating of 4.5 stars or higher across multiple review platforms.

Check for Tech Proficiency

Working off-site means experts have to communicate and operate using various tools. As technology advances, these changes will fit the real estate industry’s growing demands. Therefore, when hiring a virtual assistant, make sure to assess their proficiency with various management tools.

Your prospective virtual real estate assistants should be familiar with:

• CRM software like Salesforce or HubSpot
• SEO tools like Ahrefs or Semrush
• Property listing platforms like Zillow or Realtor.com
• Lead nurturing and generation software like Keap or ActiveCampaign
• Staging and virtual tour platforms like Matterport or Zillow 3D Home

They should have a strong footing in the changing real estate tech trends. They must also be quick to pick up on new additions you have onboard at any time.

Balance Quality With Budget

When searching for a real estate virtual assistant, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. You may be disappointed to find you can’t afford your preferred options. Try compiling an extensive list of professionals that work within your set budget. Then, filter by expertise, tech proficiency, and reference to choose the right options.

The hourly rate for a virtual assistant typically ranges between $15 and $40, with variations dependent on criteria such as experience level, expertise, and geographical location.

Conclusion

Running a property firm can be challenging due to the numerous tasks involved. But with a virtual assistant, you can shed that excess weight. These remote professionals are so helpful that they enjoy rapid adoption across the property industry. So, infuse their advantages into your business for maximum productivity and profit. With the right virtual assistant on your team, you can streamline your operations, reduce costs, and focus on growing your real estate empire.