As a real estate investor, you know how busy you can get that sometimes you would wish you can bilocate or have multiple hands to do things at once. But nah… you are not a machine and you neither have more than two hands nor be in two different places at the same time! But with a real estate VA, you can easily unload tasks off your plate and focus on scaling your business instead. Sounds good right?

Hiring a real estate virtual assistant can be a game-changing experience for you. The benefits of having remote assistants working for you can be life-long even especially if you find a reliable and talented VA. So, what exactly are the things that you will enjoy if you hire a real estate VA?

1. Operate a 24/7 Real Estate Business

If you want to maximize your business’ earning potential, then being able to operate 24 hours a day, 7days a week is a powerful strategy to achieve that. Imagine having a fully operational team of remote assistants located halfway around the world (like in the Philippines), picking up where you left off when you go to sleep! You have a business running efficiently, staying productive even while you’re in dreamland. And we are talking about tasks delegated to real people implementing and accomplishing them.

2. Enjoy a more automated and systematized business operation

These virtual assistants are in fact highly qualified and college-educated even that they are fully able to do practically anything under the sun. What’s more, even if they’re literally located for instance in the Philippines where many businesses hire remote staff, they are bilingual and can speak good English. They can help you with a multitude of tasks, automate your office, as well as create and implement business systems. Think about managing your inbox every day, data scraping, calling leads and clients, entering or uploading data, managing your social media pages, and basically everything from A to Z!

3. More time and profit

Obviously, if you are able to delegate essential tasks to capable office assistants, you would be able to focus more on growing your business. And ultimately this would mean increasing your net profit! If you can free up your time, instead of doing time-consuming clerical stuff, you can find more deals, and then generate more money for the company. 

4. Scale your business

The whole point of hiring virtual assistants to begin with is to be able to expand and scale up your real estate business. As mentioned, these remote workers are highly educated and skilled workers. As a matter of fact, you can even seek advice from them in terms of growing or improving your business. Sometimes we get really unique and brilliant ideas from our own employees we would thank them later.

5. Less stress, more time to be happy 

If you hire a real estate VA, you will enjoy a more organized, less stressful working environment, and a happier life overall. Naturally, if you see your business growing and becoming more and more profitable each day, you will become happy and more fulfilled. 

So if you want to see this happening for you too, now is the time to seriously consider having a virtual staff at your real estate company.

Truth is we are currently living in a pandemic-stricken world. And the best way for business owners to deal with it is to face it head on. Nobody’s exempt from this crisis. That’s why despite ongoing quarantining limitations, what we can do as a real estate business owner, is to find ways to stay productive even while working remotely from home.

1. Human interaction is still doable in the virtual world

We know that social distancing is one of the best measures to avoid the deadly coronavirus. While the real estate industry thrives in in-person customer engagement and relationships, networking and nurturing your current clients can be done the safe way online. You must stay healthy if you want to continue doing business amid the pandemic. 

Look for remote solutions to managing your existing clientele and keeping close contacts with your potential buyers. Whether that be a social media app or a property management tool, find ways to stay active and connected with potential property buyers or sellers.

2. Automate payments and systems

As in-person transactions pose greater risk of COVID-19 infection, people prefer to do business online. If you have not put your own remote systems in place, then it is time to do so if you want to stay in the real estate business during this health crisis. Automate your payment systems. There are some tools that allow you to automate not just payments made by your tenants or clients, but also your accounting tasks. 

3. Reinvent your marketing strategy

As we are heading to a more digitally stimulated world, as a real estate agent you must revisit your marketing techniques and make them more adaptable to the current situation. Set up an effective (not overly salesy) email marketing. Take advantage of social networking sites and other digital platforms to boost your online presence and branding. Consider investing in online ads or social media marketing campaigns to reach out to your target clients.

4. Consider Virtual Tours

Now that we are living in a “new normal”, people practice physical distancing and avoid non-essential travels. Thus, providing virtual tours on your website or a Facebook live even, may now be considered a realtor must-have. If your budget permits, then invest in high quality cameras for you to set up professional-looking remote tours for your would-be property buyers.

5. Level up your content

Maintain your blog and add fresh content regularly. Apart from your own blog site, having your own YouTube channel where you show properties available is also a great way to attract prospective clients. People’s content consumption preferences vary, so do all if you can. Keep in mind that when it comes to real estate, visuals are extremely important. Revisit your listings and blogs. Do you need to update or add new photos? Is there a need to rewrite your listing descriptions?

Finally, do not panic and maintain your focus. Know that this pandemic will also become a thing of the past just like any other problems. Keep yourself updated with real estate developments amidst COVID 19 pandemic. Don’t be afraid to learn new things even if you are not that technologically inclined. Above all, stay safe and healthy!

As the medical world is scrambling to find a cure (much more a vaccine) for COVID 19, the real estate industry likewise is facing its biggest challenge ever yet. And that is, “How to survive and manage in this time of the pandemic”. While everybody is trying to stay safe at home, everything else around is also on a temporary halt (who knows until when), unpleasant repercussions on business and economy are expected. 

Things have slowed down, but the future is not dim at all. Thanks to the internet! A lot of businesses have turned to digital platforms and resumed business as usual. And it isn’t a bad idea for realtors to do the same. While we have all yet to see the long-term effects of the COVID-19 outbreak to various business sectors, the effects may vary per market. For instance, while the housing industry remains slightly optimistic, the effects are far more damaging to the tourism sector, specifically rental and luxury properties. 

Undeniably, this pandemic will have huge impact on real estate businesses. However, there are still a lot of things that realtors can do to thrive, survive, and come out stronger once this pandemic is over. Here are some easy tips to help you continue to engage with your current clients while also attracting potential clients. 

Make use of social media

Do business while keeping a safe distance, and that’s the power that social media platforms can offer. Especially that most of us are at home, we spend much more time on Facebook or Instagram than usual. Take advantage of this time to attract would-be clientele and establish connections with prospect buyers. Also, keep your content coming! Make sure to give your current followers updates from time to time. Let them know that you are still alive and kicking. Also, be sure to have your inboxes manned so you can answer questions or concerns straightaway. 

Keep your blogs fresh and updated

In the online world, content is king. And because you can’t share that much information via social media platforms with imposed character limits, use your real estate blog to share the freshest news, tips and tricks and updates about real estate. Blogging doesn’t just solidify your position in the real estate market, it also helps you nurture your leads by regularly sharing your blog links on your social media pages. 

Improve your listings

This is to let your current and would-be clients know that you are active and that your listings are updated. Revisit your listings. Tweak and add more details if necessary. Again, now that the world is on unexpected pause, many spend more time on the web than usual. People still look at their dream retirement houses or fantasy honeymoon destination. Fresh and more vibrant images can capture more prospective buyers and so do catchy titles and awesome copy.

Stay updated on Digital Closings

As most business transactions have switched online these days, as a realtor, you also must update yourself on the latest real estate eClosing options available to you. Is it already available in your state? Knowing the state-by-state regulations when it comes to online real estate closings is imperative if you want to give accurate information and advice to your clients.

Consider virtual real estate tours

If you haven’t yet, consider adding them to your listings. This is really a helpful and smart move as a real estate agent especially that on-site tours are on hold.  Hiring a pro videographer and photographer is still doable if safety precautions are being done. 

With the above said, there’s no doubt that a real estate business can get through this crisis. This too shall pass! Take advantage of available resources. Stay creative and resourceful. Remember, people still buy and consume despite the lockdown. When we would have put all these behind, you will pat yourself on the back for having emerged wiser and stronger.