In the fast-paced world of real estate, time is both a precious commodity and a constant challenge. From managing properties to filling out paperwork and juggling a long list of clients, the days of real estate professionals can feel like a never-ending marathon.

Jessica Reinhardt, a second-generation realtor, summed it up well in a recent interview with Business Insider. She highlighted the tough reality of real estate entrepreneurship: there’s “a low barrier to entry but a high barrier to success.” With more than two agents for every home sold in the United States, it's not just about getting things done; it's about surviving and thriving in an industry where competition is fierce, to say the least.

And it's not just agents feeling the pressure—property managers are in the same boat. With over 310,250 of them in 2022, the field is growing year on year. And with all this pressure, burnout is a real risk, pushing many talented professionals out of the industry much sooner than they'd like.

Here, we'll explore a simple solution that's changing the game for overwhelmed real estate pros: hiring a virtual assistant (VA). From taking care of the little things to supporting you with clients, they can give you back the time you need to thrive.

Let's dive in and discover how hiring a virtual assistant for your small business can make all the difference.

What is a virtual assistant?

Also known as a VA or virtual PA, virtual assistants are independent contractors who provide administrative or specialized services remotely, often from home. They use technology to communicate with and complete tasks for their clients. Virtual assistants can provide support in a wide variety of different areas and can either specialize or generalize in a scope of work.

No matter what you need help with, offloading repetitive tasks to a VA can lighten your workload and ultimately free up more of your time for what matters most. It's the ticket that so many real estate professionals need for better mental health, staying ahead of the competition, and ultimately scaling as an entrepreneur.

With virtual assistants, you don't just save time, but money, too. When your business is in the growth stage, you might think that getting an extra set of hands is a luxury you can't afford. But that doesn't change the fact that you still need support.

The good news is that hiring virtual assistants is significantly more budget-friendly than a full-time employee. You only pay for the time they spend working on your tasks, and you can start with as little or as much help as you need. Plus, you don't have to worry about office space, equipment, employee benefits, vacation days, or sick days. When you tally it all up, a real estate virtual assistant could save you up to 90% compared to a traditional hire!

How can a virtual assistant help your real estate business?

1. Scheduling and diary management

Scheduling and diary management is a vital part of being a high-performing real estate entrepreneur. But with multiple appointments, meetings, and deadlines to keep track of, it can quickly become overwhelming to manage your own agenda.

Luckily, a virtual assistant can take over the responsibility of scheduling and managing your calendar efficiently—even from a distance. Thanks to tools like Google Calendar and other scheduling software, your virtual assistant can easily organize appointments on your behalf.

They can make sure that all appointments are properly recorded and confirmed so that nothing falls through the cracks (hey, we’ve all been there!). They can even send out daily reminders for your upcoming client meetings.

In the grand scheme of things, even if scheduling appointments and managing your diary seems like something you can take care of yourself, hiring a virtual assistant means there’s less room for error. These little details play a significant role in keeping your real estate business running smoothly (and save you time in the process!).

See: How A Virtual Assistant Can Help You With Scheduling And Calendar Management

2. Email management

A well-managed inbox is key for maintaining strong relationships with clients and staying updated on new developments in the market.

Any agent or real estate professional knows that sending out and responding to emails is a highly time-consuming task. Your inbox can quickly become flooded with emails from clients, potential buyers or tenants, and other important contacts.

But instead of stressing out over emails, why not let a virtual assistant take over email management for you? A real estate VA can sort through your emails and label them according to their importance and urgency. They can even respond to routine inquiries on your behalf, which can be a major time-saver.

If you outsource to a virtual assistant, not only will you cut down on time spent emailing but you’ll also improve productivity. This will ultimately contribute to the long-term growth of your business.

See: 10 Email Tasks To Outsource To A Virtual Assistant Today

3. Website maintenance

Is your business website up-to-date and professional-looking? It’s the first point of contact for potential clients and can either make or break their decision to work with you.

With that said, keeping a quality website running smoothly takes time and effort that many real estate businesses don’t have.

A virtual assistant with experience in website management can help you save valuable time and attract more clients by taking care of the following tasks:

• Updating your listings (for agents)
• Blog content
• Copywriting
• Making sure all links are working properly
• Regular backups
• Security checks to keep your website safe from cyber threats
• Web design to enhance the overall user experience
• Monitoring website analytics to track traffic patterns
• And more!

By delegating website maintenance tasks to a VA, you make sure that your online presence remains strong while freeing up time for more high-priority tasks—networking, pitching properties, managing properties, or closing deals.

See: How A Virtual Assistant Can Help You With Your Website

4. Lead generation

We all know finding and securing new leads is key for business growth but, let’s be honest, that doesn’t mean you necessarily enjoy the process. It’s time-consuming and requires serious effort.

Have you ever considered hiring someone to help you out with lead generation and follow-ups?

A real estate VA can help identify potential clients or properties through various channels such as social media, online listings, or networking events. They can also support you with the follow-up process, helping to make sure that nothing falls through the cracks.

5. Customer support

Studies show that, after a single bad experience, 32% of customers stop engaging with a brand they were previously loyal to.

In the service industry (particularly in the fast-paced real estate sector), excellent customer service is the key ingredient to success.

This is where a real estate virtual assistant can be a huge asset. They can:

• Act as a first point of contact for your clients.
• Respond to inquiries or concerns.
• Return voice mails.
• Handle all client communication professionally and efficiently.
• Request testimonials from past clients.

In the end, having a VA handle customer support will help you build an even better reputation for your successful business.

See: How A Virtual Assistant Can Help Increase Customer Retention In Your Business

6. Research

Here’s something you may not have thought of—research. You might struggle to stay ahead in the real estate industry without it, but it’s still something that is often overlooked.

When was the last time you sat down to research potential properties and their value, market trends and developments, and changes in housing regulations or tax laws? Despite your best intentions, finding the time is often a lot easier said than done.

Hiring a virtual assistant to help out with research tasks can make a world of difference. They can compile data from various sources, like:

• Online listings
• Government websites
• Industry reports
• Recent surveys or studies
• Social media.

By doing so, they can help you identify patterns or trends that may be useful for your business. Even if research isn’t all you hire them for, a real estate virtual assistant can easily take care of this, too.

Now you can make informed decisions and focus your efforts and resources for maximum ROI (return on investment).

See: How A Virtual Assistant Can Help You With Research

7. Marketing and social media management

These days, having a solid online presence and engaging with potential clients through social media can take your business to new heights.

If you look at the top players in the real estate industry these days, they’re marketing geniuses.

But when there are so many different recurring tasks involved in a successful marketing strategy, it's almost like a full-time job in itself! Have you ever wondered how they have time to keep on top of it all without letting any of their other tasks fall through the cracks?

Well, they're either super-human or chances are they hire a virtual assistant to take care of their marketing tasks for them.

A virtual assistant can create and schedule posts on various platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, or LinkedIn. Not only that, but they can keep an eye on your analytics to see what’s working and what isn't. They can check which content is getting the most traction, report back to you, and make your changes accordingly for better results.

But of course, it's not just the power of digital marketing that real estate businesses can harness. What about your physical marketing collateral—brochures, business cards, flyers?

Despite the fact that they work remotely, virtual assistants can still be an invaluable asset in keeping things running smoothly in your office. From keeping an eye on your inventory levels to contacting suppliers and placing orders, you can leave all these nitty-gritty administrative tasks to them so you can focus on what matters most.

See: 10 Social Media Tasks To Delegate To Your Virtual Assistant

What's the bottom line?

A real estate virtual assistant can make a huge difference in your day-to-day operations—from lead generation and customer service to marketing. By offloading the administrative tasks that hold you back, you can direct your focus and energy to close more deals and take your real estate business to new heights.

If you’re ready to join over 22,000 business owners that have already used a virtual assistant from Time etc to feel more organized and in control of their work, speak to our expert team to get started.

We have a vast pool of experienced assistants ready to dive in and handle those tedious and time-consuming tasks that are holding you back. On average, only the top 2% make it through our 10-set application process to join us, so you can be safe in the knowledge that you’ll only ever work with a skilled professional. Each step of the way, our expert team will carefully assess your needs to make sure you get the right support you need to succeed.

Still on the fence?

Try a virtual assistant for free today!