In this post-pandemic work-from-home era, virtual assistants (VAs) are becoming more popular than ever. With more than 3.5 million administrative professionals in the United States, and around 35% of the total American workforce working remotely, today’s real estate investors are learning how to leverage VAs to make their business operations more efficient and more profitable.
But what exactly does a virtual assistant do? And is getting a VA the right move for your real estate investment business? Let's take a look.
What Is a Virtual Assistant?
Virtual assistants (not to be confused with AI-based digital virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Cortana), are simply professional assistants who work from home. Rather than having an assistant join you in a brick-and-mortar office, you connect with your assistant virtually via calls, emails, instant messages, or project management software.
In most cases, VAs are freelancers. This means you don’t have to assume any liability for hiring an assistant as an employee. It also means you can pay only for what you need, rather than having to commit to a set number of hours per week. Say you just need someone to organize your digital documents. You can hire a VA solely for that project. However, if you need someone to clock in daily to answer phone calls and respond to emails, that’s an option as well.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a VA?
There are many advantages of hiring a VA for your real estate business. Here are three of the biggest:
- Flexibility: You can structure your arrangement with your VA in an infinite number of ways. Your agreement can be as unique as your business.
- Affordability: In most cases, hiring a VA is more affordable than hiring a traditional assistant because you don’t need to pay for full-time hours or benefits packages.
- Freedom: With your VA handling your administrative tasks, you can concentrate on growing your business through the tasks you enjoy most.
What Can a Virtual Assistant Do for a Real Estate Investor?
Virtual assistants can take a number of tasks off your plate, including:
- Making appointments and managing your calendar
- Answering phone calls and responding to email inquiries
- Researching properties (with PropStream’s team access, your VA can generate lists of potential deals while you’re busy closing the deals already in the works)
- Managing your social media accounts
- Data entry
- Content creation for marketing campaigns
- Digital file management and auditing
- Generating reports
- Addressing renter issues
As you can see, a VA can take a lot off your plate as a real estate investor. Maybe your business generates leads through sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. If so, you know how time-consuming it is to create and post content regularly. Imagine having a VA who specializes in social media management and can leverage their knowledge of each platform’s algorithm. It could free you to grow your business and focus on what you do best.
Should I Hire a VA for My Real Estate Investment Business?
So how do you know if a VA is right for your investment business? If you’re finding that administrative tasks are preventing you from focusing on revenue-generating activities, it may be time to get some assistance. And, if you’re looking for a flexible arrangement and you're comfortable having your assistant work off-site, a virtual assistant is likely the right move for you. Why not try one and see what possibilities it opens up for your business?
