What Is A Virtual Assistant?

What is a Virtual Assistant? This is a question you’ve probably asked yourself if you have heard of the title “Virtual Assistant.” A Virtual Assistant (VA) is an independent contractor and a home-based entrepreneur who uses the Internet, phone, fax, email, and other technology to communicate with hisher clients.

Virtual Assistants provide administrative support andor specialized business services. Many Virtual Assistants were most often Administrative or Executive Assistants in traditional work environments before launching their Virtual Assistance Practices. Most Virtual Assistants work from their home office and, with the help of technology, other virtual locations. Technology has enabled Virtual Assistants to have a global client base.

Virtual Assistants: What do they do?

Ok…so now you know the answer to the question of what a Virtual Assistant is, now let’s talk about what they do.

Virtual Assistants provide much of the same services as an onsite employee, but without the added expense to employers. Some provide general services while others provide more specialized services such as a Virtual Real Estate Assistant.

Here are some services Virtual Assistants offer (this is not an exhaustive list):

- Website and Graphic Design
- Website Maintenance and Updates
- Online and Offline Marketing and Promotion
- Accounting  Bookkeeping
- Data Entry
- PowerPoint Presentations
- Advertising in Print Media
- Desktop Publishing
- Custom Ad Design for print media
- Travel Arrangements
- Writing, Editing & Researching Services
- Secretarial Services
- Word Processing
- General and Legal Transcription Services
- Database Management
- Personal Assistant Services
- Event Planning
- Technical Support
- Coaching  Consulting
- Customer Service
- Real Estate Support

These are just a few services you can offer as a Virtual Assistant. The more specialized your services are, the less saturated the market will be. Try to find a niche and target market if you have a specialized skill andor expertise.

Basic equipment and software needed can include, but is not limited to, the following:

Basic Equipment:

- Computer andor Laptop
- Cable, Satellite, or DSL Internet Service
- Modem
- Fax Machine
- Printer
- Copier
- Scanner
- Telephone with unlimited long distance service
- CD Burner

Software:

- Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Word, Outlook, Publisher)
- Macromedia Dreamweaver or Microsoft FrontPage (for web design, editing, and maintenance)
- Instant Messenger (AOL, Yahoo, MSN etc.)
- Antivirus Software
- Adobe Acrobat

While all the equipment and software above is not mandatory, they are very useful and worthwhile to learn how to use.

The Virtual Assistance industry is growing tremendously. It has enabled many to start their own business while being at home with their family. There are many great resources out there if you’re an aspiring Virtual Assistant.

The Role and Uses of Real Estate Virtual Assistant

Among the various kinds of virtual assistant profession, real estate virtual assistants are those who provide services to the real estate agents by taking the load off them. They are very similar to the virtual assistants except for the fact that they are specialized in real estate business providing specific and specialized services to their clients.

The real estate virtual assistant’s job includes the following:

The real estate virtual assistants maintain and update their client’s websites with the present information on homes, contact information; some may even create flyers, advertisement, logo, scheduling appointments with prospective buyers etc. A certified real estate virtual assistant can simplify the process for the realtors. They can handle queries more professionally, handle phone calls and do the general secretarial and administrative jobs, answering emails etc.

Advantages of using a real estate virtual assistant:

The realtor can achieve higher sales and increase the revenue generation when getting the assistance of virtual assistants. The business is well structured with their help and growth of the business is sure. The realtor gets more time for listing and selling homes than taking care of routine activities as they have the professional help got from virtual assistants. The realtor gets more leisure time with less amount of stress. Long-term clients can be taken care with their help by sending updates etc.

Real estate virtual assistants are capable of handling lead generation activities, follow-ups, client database management, coordinating online transactions, planning marketing activities and so on. They can assure the realtor for meeting overall objectives with greater satisfaction.

Virtual real estate assistants will be able to promote the important aspects of business called the “customer service.” Even though many real estate agents intend to send holiday cards, birthday cards, thank you cards and follow-up emails and cards to their customers and open house attendees, time does not permit them to do so. All these can be done with the help of virtual assistants, as a happy customer is a customer for ever. Apart from these services, a virtual real estate assistant can send closing gifts, creating and sending mailers, creating CD tours of real estate listings, planning events for the customers etc.

Hence the services offered by the real estate virtual assistants are crucial for running the business. It is very important to check the references before hiring a virtual real estate assistant. Hiring a virtual real estate assistant who is self-motivated and efficient is a priceless possession for a real estate agent or a realtor.