Author Archives: Patty

About Patty

CEO/Founder: AnotherME - Virtual Assistants of Real Estate Providing RE Support, Mktg & Social Media ~ We do Business in the Cloud ~ Love a Good Martini or Glass of Wine ~ RE TrendWatcher

Outsourcing… Is it for Real Estate?

  By Patty | September 2, 2009 - 9:24 am |
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My background is in corporate telecommunications/technology sales …many moons ago!  And outsourcing was the big buzz word – everyone was doing it!  Outsourcing was used for management’s “pet projects”, for services we didn’t offer and in some cases they outsourced an entire department to another company who could do it better for less!  It made sense… and cents.  Using the talents and resources of strategic partners to save on staffing, expenses and training. It was a way for my company to stay focused on it’s core business.

Back then, I sold “services” for a video conferencing manufacturer.  We offered everything from maintenance services, coordination of equipment installations – worldwide, bridging video calls ‘across the pond’ and around the country, plus designing and building custom video rooms for distance learning and corporate boardrooms.

There’s no way we could have staffed and managed all of those services – worldwide, while maintaining focus on our core business of building video conferencing equipment!  We outsourced all or a portion of every service we offered; with no apologies!

Fast forward to Real Estate – How can YOU focus on providing the best service to your clients when you’re the one who does it all?

Do you have a “pet project” you need to get done?  Do you need a Marketing Department or a Bookkeeping Department.  Do you need a strategic partner to help you grow your business?

If you’re not focused on your core business, then maybe it’s time to think about outsourcing!  But, where do you go, who do you call?

Hit the easy button… the Virtual Assistant business is your vehicle for Outsourcing!

AnotherME Virtual Assistants offer Real Estate Outsourcing!  Real Estate Support is our core business: listing coordination, closing coordination, marketing, database support, blogging, social media support, bookkeeping and expense management!  We also offer mailing services, general admin and graphic design.

As a real estate professional (and a small business owner), we can learn a few lessons from our friends in the corporate world.  Outsourcing is one of those lessons.  It’s a business decision that makes sense …and cents!

5 Personal Tasks You Can Delegate to your Virtual Assistant

  By Patty | August 25, 2009 - 9:29 am |
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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.

Virtual Assistant
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.

Under Contract… Are your Clients Out of Sight and Out of Mind?

  By Patty | August 4, 2009 - 10:22 am |
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Transaction Coordination, Contract to Close, Closing Coordination, Transaction Management… Whatever you call it, this is the one service you should consider adding to your business.

Business Man

One of the challenges facing many agents today is keeping the paperwork and communications flowing during the closing process. When you’re out with new clients and can’t respond to calls or emails until the evening or the next day, the closing process for your Under Contract clients has been slowed down or sometimes derailed.

A Transaction Coordinator is on the job and working for you. She will be responding to those emails and phone calls during the day and making sure that everyone is “doing their job!” Then you can focus on new clients while still providing excellent service to your clients who are under contract.

Coaches and brokers recommend adding a Transaction Coordinator to your team when you are handling at least 20-24 sides per year.  A Virtual Closing Coordinator just makes sense.  Most Virtual Transaction Coordinators charge a flat fee per contract, paid at the closing.  No overhead, no additional phones or computers to buy and no salary.  Just pay as you produce!

Your Transaction Coordinator/Closing Coordinator is responsible for managing the process and deadlines, monitoring the progress, following up, communicating with all the parties in the transaction, and assisting your clients through the closing process.  When you stop and think about it, there can be up to 12 parties involved in just one deal: buyers and sellers, co-op agents, escrow companies, title companies, closing attorneys, appraisers, inspectors and don’t forget the loan officers and processors.  And with today’s market, deals are taking longer and are a bit more complicated!

Closing table conversation

The bottom line…  when you get to the closing table and everything has fallen into place, then you look good and your clients are happy!  Happy clients equal more referrals!

Real Estate Marketing

  By Patty | July 30, 2009 - 11:41 am | ,
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PC 100 Alden AveAnotherME Virtual Assistants offers Real Estate Marketing for both on-line and print media. From property flyers, postcards, listing booklets, feature cards to Real Estate Shows, Virtual Tours and email flyers.

Do you use a “template” flyer for your listings? If you don’t have an assistant to create your marketing pieces, let us design a template for you. A Listing Flyer Template includes all your information and logos in the basic design; and one that is easy to swap photos and descriptions for each of your listings. Using a template will save you time in getting up your listings set up and on the market. And will help you establish a marketing theme/brand.

Sending a video email to your sphere and top agents in your market area will give you leg up on your competition. Real Estate Shows is a wonderful program for Virtual Tours and property marketing. You can post your show to ActiveRain, your Blog, your MLS, REALTOR.com, and even email the show! Ask us about the special discount.

Check out this Real Estate Show of AnotherME Real Estate Marketing Samples!

Wordless Wednesday – Fans!

  By Patty | July 1, 2009 - 4:41 pm | ,
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Ceiling Fans, Hand Fans, Window Fans, Cooling Fans; I think fans are Fantastic! fansblue fan

But I’m really talking about a different kind of fan… a Facebook Fan! Facebook Fan Pages are hot!

We need more fans for our Fan Page – AnotherME Virtual Assistants! On a mission to hit the magic number of 100 fans – to get our custom URL!

Takes 5 seconds!  Click here: http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/pages/AnotherME-Virtual-Assistants/106351018440

Facebook Fan PageThis is our Fan Page on Facebook – info on our VA’s, services, products, tips and hints, events and more!  Just click on the image below!

Want your own FaceBook Fan Page? We can help!  Email me at patty@anotherme.com

DIY-ers …Check out this great tutorial from CyberHomes!  http://snurl.com/leb5g

Become a FAN today –  AnotherME Virtual Assistants!

Are you LinkedIn… with the leading Social Networking site for Business?

  By Patty | June 28, 2009 - 9:08 pm | ,
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This week I had the opportunity to attend a class for real estate professionals on using LinkedIn and how to “data mine” for new business with this Social Networking site.  I was surprised to see that out of 25+ agents in the class, only 7 or 8 had set up a profile!

The instructor was Richard Kirby, a recruiter who has developed a network of over 3500 connections!  He has successfully used LinkedIn to meet new clients, make connections with Corporate HR contacts and develop his business!

Here are some eye-opening facts about LinkedIn:

* There are over 40 million business users on LinkedIn, including managers and executives at virtually all major employers.

*LinkedIn is the leading online Social Networking website for Business.

*LinkedIn is a giant database of members who are relatively open to networking and inquiries.

*Nearly 60% of the members have incomes over $93,000. (based on a study done by Anderson Analytics)

Are you on LinkedIn?  It’s easy to navigate and set up a profile.  You’ll get the most visibility on your profile when you complete each section: Photo, summary of current position, email address, website links, interests, previous jobs and work experience.  Then start connecting with colleagues, old friends, new friends, past clients, etc.

Join a few groups: college alumni association, sorority/fraternity, special interests, employer groups, and of course, there are lots of real estate groups to join!  Once you have made connections, ask for recommendations.  Richard Kirby recommends getting 5-10! This will complete your profile and give you more visibility!

Start today using LinkedIn to find and develop new clients, connect with clients who aren’t on Facebook or MySpace, share updates, and establish yourself online!

And while you’re there – connect with me!

What's in your Mailbox?

  By Patty | June 27, 2009 - 9:43 am | ,
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Peanuts Mail

Sending a birthday card; is it Social Networking – IRL? (in real life)

When was the last time you sent someone a real card in the mail?  Did you get any actual “Paper” cards on your last Birthday?

Remembering someone’s birthday is an easy, personal way to stay in touch with your past clients.  Everyone loves getting a card on their birthday. Recently, I had a client call and thank me for sending her a Birthday Card!  And just last week, a friend at church came up to me and thanked me for her card!  Imagine that…A simple little card!

Today’s technology has made it so convenient to post a short birthday message to clients and friends on Facebook or send an e-Card via email.  Now, I’m not knocking those methods… they’re great and more than most folks do!

However, a card sent through the mail clearly demonstrates that you took the time to be thoughtful and shows how much you care. When you remember your clients, they will be more inclined to remember you… when it comes to referring your name to  their friends and associates!

But, I don’t have my client’s birthdays, you say? Here are 3 tips for building your birthday database.

1) For those who attend closings, ask the closing attorney or title company for a copy of your clients driver’s license for your closing file.  Closing attorneys and title companies always get a copy of the driver’s license!

2) Use Facebook to find friends birthdays! Depending on how many friends/clients you have, you just might need a Virtual Assistant to help you with this project.  It’s on-going, so remember to go back each month to find “recently added” friends.

birthday cards

3) Have your Seller’s and Buyer’s fill out a New Client Information Form that includes a section for birthdays.  Add children’s birthdays and pets, too… Talk about making a good impression!

Whatever method you use to build your Birthday Database – Start sending Birthday Cards and see what kind of reaction you get!

P.S. Send me your birthday and address, I’ll send you a card!