A Virtual Assistant is a valuable resource in your Real Estate business for help with listings, contracts, marketing and general admin tasks. But, have you considered asking your VA to help out with some of your personal tasks as well. When you have a relationship and a trust with your VA, handling personal tasks is just one more way you can leverage your time and resources.
Being that your Assistant is “Virtual”, she’s not available to pick up the kids, drop off the dry cleaning or deliver cupcakes to the brownie troop. But she might be able to help you with any or all of the following!
Birthday Cards/Presents: With so many on-line programs that keep up with birthdays, a Virtual Assistant can easily log into your Plaxo, Facebook or SendOutCards accounts and send an E-Card or even a paper Birthday card to a contact in your database. Take a few minutes to create a custom/personal message for each of your groups: acquaintance friends, church friends, networking groups, neighbors, etc. and let your VA send the cards on your behalf. You can vary the message every few months or once a year. Ordering gifts, flowers or gift cards on-line is one of the easiest ways to delegate. “Please call X store and order X for my nephew. Address in my Top Producer database. Thanks!” That was Easy!
Research pricing and ordering: Are you the one who always volunteers to order or get pricing for a party, meeting or event? Flowers, invitations, decorations, awards, promotional items, catering, signs, flyers, printing… the list goes on and on. Of course you can call and get 3 quotes for a catering company along with their menus for your Rotary Club meeting the next day… but don’t you have to meet clients, attend an inspection or negotiate a contract? Try handing it over to your VA. She can research, organize the info and quotes and then put all the information in a nice presentation format! You’ll be the hero in your group.
Confirm/Reschedule appointments: If you’re on the go with a car full of people or an out of town client, it’s not easy to confirm or reschedule your personal appointments. Text your VA and have her call your Dentist, Nail Salon, Accountant or next client to let them know you’re running late or need to reschedule.
Community, church or civic groups:
DataBase – Do you manage the database for your “group”? This is an ideal task to delegate to a Virtual Assistant. She can update the info, create a mailing list or labels, set up your database in an email program or do a search to find addresses for members.
Mailing - Just because your Assistant is “Virtual” doesn’t mean she can’t help with a mailing. It takes a little coordination – which is easy for a good VA – and she can handle it all. Printing, labels, stuffing, stamping and mailing!
So next time you are stressed out, wondering how you’re going to get it all done – ask your VA for a little extra help.
