Think you need to be a licensed real estate agent in order to become a real estate virtual assistant? Well, think again! You could actually work remotely as a real estate VA without becoming a licensed or registered real estate agent.
So, you want to become a real estate virtual assistant and make money from home? If you have a passion for real estate and a flair for customer service, then this guide is perfect for you.
By the end of this post, you will know EVERYTHING there is to know when it comes to how you can become a real estate virtual assistant and make money online in 2020.
This post may contain affiliate links. It means that at no additional cost to you, I might be compensated for your purchase. I only recommend products and services I personally love and trust.
Become a real estate virtual assistant in 2020: everything you need to know
With advances in modern technology and our ever developing internet, virtual assistants are becoming more and more popular as independent and remote workers who provide much needed support and services to businesses.
According to this article by AZBigMedia, virtual assistants are number one on the recession-proof businesses list in 2020. Considering the global pandemic has wreaked havoc across the world and contributed to job losses and high unemployment rate, becoming a virtual assistant is definitely a good bet this year.
Hiring a virtual assistant is so much more cost-effective for businesses than hiring full-time support staff, with the advantage of saving money for other business-related expenses.
the demand for real estate virtual assistants
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On the other hand, why is becoming a real estate virtual assistant so popular?
A few factors come into play.
- Most people are interested in buying and investing in real estate.
- You do NOT have to become a realtor to work as a real estate virtual assistant.
- Becoming a Real Estate Virtual Assistant means you can learn all about real estate without going to an office! You also do not need to pay for the prerequisite courses for the realtor exam, the license, association dues and marketing materials.
So, how big is the demand for real estate virtual assistants and VAs in general?
According to Regus, the number of people working remotely for 2.5 days or more is over 50% in the business environment. Additionally, the fact that hiring a virtual assistant saves businesses up to 78% more on operating costs compared to a full-time staff or employee means that the VA industry is here to stay!
what does a real estate virtual assistant do?
Basically, a real estate virtual assistant helps a real estate agent or realtor do the following tasks:
- Manage their social media profiles
- Keep up with emails
- Prepare real estate listings
- Generate leads for the real estate agent
- Get organized when it comes to auctions
- Provide real estate market research
In the simplest of terms, a virtual assistant is someone who offers any type of service to clients remotely for money. From Pinterest virtual assisting to Shopify and email management virtual assisting, here is a list of 150 services you can offer as a VA. In this list, you will find plenty of services you already do and can offer online!
You should consider becoming a virtual assistant if you LOVE the idea of having flexible hours, setting your own hourly rate as well as doing meaningful work.
Related resources:
- This interview of Drew Duboff, a virtual assistant who makes money online working with six figure bloggers will definitely interest you!
- Want to launch your real estate virtual assistant business right now? This VA mini course is the best place to start! At just $99, you will be learning a new skill and start making money online in no time!
- Looking for a course about launching your virtual assistant business? Gina Horkey's 30 Days Or Less To Virtual Assistant Success might just be the course for you!
- If you are interested in making money online as a freelance writer, this workbook will definitely give you the kickstart you need! This 19-page Kickstart Your Freelance Writing workbook will not only help you choose the perfect freelance writing niche, but also help you write your first sample and start prospecting for work
why become a real estate virtual assistant?
Real estate agents have their hands full with all the various tasks they have to deal with each day. Those include closing deals, generating leads, organizing their calendar on top of managing their social media profiles.
By becoming a real estate virtual assistant, there are some irresistible perks worth considering:
- Being a real estate VA opens up plenty of NEW opportunities for you
- It is a very specialized niche which gives you a competitive advantage over other virtual assistants
- You will be helping real estate agents run a more efficient and thus more profitable business
- The ability to work where and when you need to, i.e. a flexible work schedule that fits your lifestyle
- Furthermore, you will also get to change careers, get out of your comfort zone and learn new skills and grow as a service provider
how much does a real estate virtual assistant make?
According to this data from Payscale, the average hourly rate of a virtual assistant is $15.85. The average salary of a virtual assistant varies according to your experience, and of course, it also varies from niche to niche.
Payscale estimates the average salary of a real estate assistant to be roughly $39k a year. However, as a real estate virtual assistant, you are an independent contractor and business owner. Thus you can potentially make up to $25-$40 an hour!
Related:
Read this interview of how Laci Hansard, a busy mom-of-three makes $30 an hour working from home as a real estate virtual assistant.
how to become a real estate virtual assistant: 4 steps to launching your business
Starting your real estate virtual assistant business from scratch is challenging, but it is not impossible. Follow these 4 steps if you would like to become a real estate virtual assistant!
step one: do a quick accounting of your skills
In order to become a real estate virtual assistant, you should firstly assess your skill set. Understanding your own strengths and weaknesses will help you position yourself accordingly when you launch your virtual assisting business.
Here are some relevant skills you will need to become a real estate virtual assistant in 2020:
- Email management: Organizing your client's emails, replying emails, newsletter writing etc.
- Calendar/Time management: Scheduling, sending reminders for important dates, managing various tasks using project management softwares for your client
- Real estate listing preparation: Proofread listing, check listing status, understanding real estate paperwork, firm grasp of real estate glossary and terms
- Social media management: Manage your client's social media postings, organizing social media campaigns etc.
step two: complete your real estate virtual assisting training
After you have done a quick assessment of your skill set, you will need to get training for areas you are not so good at. If you are looking for a comprehensive, one-stop shop course to become a real estate virtual assistant, then Real Estate For Virtual Assistants is the answer.
What is so special about this reva course?
Becoming a real estate virtual assistant is a highly competitive game. However, equipping yourself with this competitive skill ensures you having a profitable virtual assisting business. Although REVA is a newly created course, it covers EVERYTHING you need to know in order to become a successful real estate VA.
By investing in the Real Estate For Virtual Assistants course, you will get:
- 24+ lessons with insights from both a current licensed realtor and his Real Estate Virtual Assistant
- Glossary of key real estate terms you need to know
- Quizzes, worksheets and actionable homework to help you build your business
- Suggested rates and pricing
- Real VA workflows to support clients
- You will also get email templates to communicate effectively as well as get new clients
is real estate for virtual assistants worth it?
Once you enrol in REVA to become a real estate virtual assistant, you will also have lifetime access to the course material. Moreover, the course is completely self-paced which means you can go at your own speed.
As REVA is a highly specialized course, you will definitely make your money back after completing it. In fact, I am very confident that you will be making 3 to 5 times your investment in this course back in less than a year! Once you start offering your real estate virtual assisting services, you will have no problem getting new clients and growing your business.
I strongly advise that you be ahead of the pack and start a real estate virtual assisting business! This in-demand service will definitely build the lifestyle you want and help you achieve success in no-time.
step three: sign up with a real estate virtual assistant agency
Joining and signing up with a real estate virtual assistant agency is a smart move as a beginner VA. Not only do these agencies have a great online presence, they also already have a huge client base. If you do not end up working FOR them, it also does not hurt to grow your network within the real estate industry.
Depending on your location, here are a few agencies or company websites worth looking into:
- Australian-based: Apply here for Real Estate administrator jobs.
- U.S.: Join the Priority VA team here to support top-level executives.
- Canada/U.S. Based: Apply here to become a virtual assistant with The Virtual Gurus
Another great way to gain exposure as a real estate virtual assistant is doing guest posts for this site. By displaying your expertise and know-how about the real estate industry, you will easily attract paying clients for your business!
step four: build your online presence
In the beginning stages of becoming a virtual assistant, having a great online presence will set you ahead of the pack. Having a professional website is definitely your number one priority. I highly recommend that you buy your own domain with a good quality hosting company like Bluehost.
Setting up your self-hosted website with Bluehost's most basic plan only costs less than $5 a month!
After you create your professional looking website, the next things you should do include:
- Creating an Instagram business account for your VA business
- Promote yourself on LinkedIn as a Real Estate Virtual Assistant
- Find out which Facebook groups your ideal clients hang out: look for relevant Real Estate Facebook groups to join
- Post consistently on social media with a purpose and strategy. Daily postings are ideal
other in-demand virtual assisting niches
Check out the following in-demand virtual assisting niches for more information and inspiration. Horkey Handbook's courses are all highly information and are great value! You will definitely be getting bang for your buck, as Horkey Handbook also has an excellent email list you definitely should join.
- Project Management VA: Hailey Thomas and Gina Horkey created the Project Management For Virtual Assistants course to train people in project management for business owners, bloggers and entrepreneurs.
- Email Management VA: If you are great at writing emails and have a flair for copywriting, the email management niche is a great one to get into! Most businesses including lifestyle blogs, real estate agents and e-commerce shops NEED their email list for a successful business. Horkey Handbook's Email Management For Virtual Assistants is the best course to take.
- VA Agency course: Want to go big and build an agency instead? The VA Agency course is the right choice for you!