As real estate agents, it can often feel like our “to-do” list is never-ending. Realtors often have to do it all: administrative work, customer relations, marketing, business management, and sales. However, there are some tools that can save you a lot of time without costing an arm and a leg. Virtual assistants can drastically reduce the amount of time you spend performing administrative tasks. And outsourcing these services can drastically reduce your overhead and administrative costs.
Here are five virtual personal assistant services for Realtors to help you build your business faster.
Virtual Assistants vs. Virtual Receptionists
While many professionals use the terms “virtual assistant” and “virtual receptionist” interchangeably, there are distinct differences between the two. Before hiring a virtual employee, decide which tasks you need the most help accomplishing.
Virtual assistants are there to help you, but they will have limited interaction with clients. Their tasks might include updating social media or your website, performing research, completing online paperwork, updating and maintaining databases, and other office tasks.
Virtual receptionists, on the other hand, will interact with your clientele. This person will answer phone calls remotely from their location, answer questions about your business, schedule showings and appointments, and update your calendar.
Before deciding which option is right for you, consider your business and which tasks you want to hand off to someone else.
A Note About Outsourcing Overseas
It’s tempting to hire an overseas virtual assistant to cut costs. Often, foreign workers require significantly less pay, making these workers an attractive option. And while we recognize that the decision is entirely up to you, consider the hidden costs associated with outsourcing overseas.
- The workers aren’t usually native English speakers. And even when they are, the vernacular between American English and British English can often cause confusion.
- When you outsource, you take away jobs from American citizens.
- You get what you pay for. Sometimes the work is incredible. But other times, you’ll end up with work that needs to be redone, which will cost you more in the long run.
Upwork
If you’re looking for a real person, at an affordable rate, Upwork gives you nearly unlimited options. In fact, administrative assistants are the most popular job available on Upwork.
The platform allows businesses to connect directly with qualified freelancers from the United States or around the world. Simply fill out a profile, place a job posting, and connect with the best candidates. Depending on the tasks you assign and the level of expertise, it’s not uncommon to find administrative assistants for less than $15 per hour.
Plus, the platform handles payment for you, making hiring and payment easy and worry-free. And you can select options to hire only native English speakers, only American freelancers, or those who have experience in real estate.
Time etc.
Like Upwork, Time etc. connects real estate professionals with experienced virtual assistants. However, unlike Upwork, Time etc. does most of the pre-qualifying and vetting for you. If you’re really short on time, this screening process can be a lifesaver.
Time etc. hires qualified virtual personal assistants who can help with multiple administrative tasks. The freelancer assistants have an average of 12 years of experience, giving you the best bang for your buck.
Plus, you can find virtual assistants on this platform who have a background in real estate, meaning you’ll spend less time training them to do their job. Just hire, connect, and get back valuable time in your day.
VirtuDesk
If you’re looking for an affordable option and want to explore outsourcing work, VirtuDeak is a virtual assistant service catering to real estate professionals. Their highly-trained assistants can help with everything from scheduling appointments to managing real estate transactions. And at as little as $9.55 per hour, it’s one of the most affordable solutions you can find.
While the company is based in the U.S., many of their assistants come from the Philippines. However, the company makes sure each of its candidates speaks flawless American English before pairing them with a real estate company.
Agent Assistant
If you’re looking for a virtual receptionist over a virtual assistant, Agent Assistant is a great option. This company will help increase your sales by contacting past, present, and potential homebuyers for you, 
freeing you up to focus on other aspects of the job.
Agent Assistant doesn’t just robocall prospective clients. Instead, highly-trained real estate assistants connect directly with your clients, one-on-one, giving a personalized touch to every phone call. And instead of spending hours on the phone, chasing leads that never end in a sale, you’ll only get leads from clients who are ready to move forward in the buying and selling process. The virtual receptionist does all the leg work for you, so all you have to do is swoop in and close the deal.
Task Bullet
The pros at Task Bullet help real estate agents through nearly every step of the sales process. The experienced personal assistants can help with back-office tasks, marketing, data collection, sales, and more. By hiring a knowledgeable personal assistant to help with your to-do list, 
you can free up more time to do what you love: spend time with your family, travel, or play an extra round of golf.
Task Bullet is unique because they use the “Bucket System,” which allows you to choose how many hours the assistant spends on each task. That way, there are no hidden fees. Plus, the company offers a money-back guarantee for unused hours.
Do you have a virtual assistant or virtual receptionist for your business? Let us know! We’re always looking for reputable companies to recommend to our readers. Drop us a note in the comments below!
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