Virtual assistants are a rapidly growing industry that has become popular among businesses and professionals looking to hire flexible help. Learn the pros and cons of hiring virtual assistants as a property manager and gain insight into this field.
In today’s world of increasingly digital work, hiring online assistance is an easy way to cut costs and lessen your own workload. A virtual assistant, sometimes referred to as a VA, is a helpful resource for these needs. A virtual assistant for a property manager can provide many highly beneficial services, lessening the workload of a busy job. With the aid of a virtual assistant, you can take on more clients with less stress. Your tasks can be streamlined, and you can make your job much easier.
However, there are some pros and cons to hiring a virtual assistant, which are important for you to take note of before deciding if you want to hire one. You should consider pay, privacy, communication, and many other factors when choosing to hire a virtual assistant.
While a virtual assistant can be extremely helpful, you should think about what you want to find in a virtual assistant. Ensuring that you keep your accounts secure and hire reliable, trustworthy assistants who meet your needs as a property manager is essential to having a positive experience and developing a good relationship with your assistants and clients.
What is a virtual assistant?
A virtual assistant is a remote worker who assists you with various tasks related to your occupation. As a property manager, a virtual assistant can help ensure that you and your business are running smoothly. Virtual assistants are typically contracted through a service or hired directly by an employer. You can find a virtual assistant through freelancing sites and programs, word of mouth, or through companies that hire and contract them out.
What does a virtual assistant for a property manager do?
A virtual assistant can carry out numerous tasks, depending on the needs of their employer, encompassing most, if not all, of the duties of a traditional assistant. They can perform administrative tasks, such as scheduling meetings, communicating with owners and tenants on your behalf, and managing your calendar and schedule. Handling file organization, research, and other similar tasks also fall under their purview.
To perform these tasks, a virtual assistant should have excellent communication skills, problem-solving skills, and computer skills. They should be highly organized, detail-oriented, and independent. Many virtual assistants have gone through training courses online in subjects such as basic computer skills, Excel, and may have experience or training with property management or landlord software options. If you choose to hire virtual assistants, these qualities are all important to look for.
Learn more: Understanding Property Manager Responsibilities | A Quick Guide
Pros of Hiring a Virtual Assistant:
A virtual assistant has many advantages, which is why they are becoming popular in many industries. For one, they are typically more affordable than an in-person assistant, as they do not require office space and are typically hired as contractors rather than as employees, which reduces overhead costs. Many virtual assistants also have training and qualifications. These qualifications mean that they can carry out their tasks more quickly and efficiently than you would be able to by yourself.
A virtual assistant is also on a much more flexible schedule than an in-person assistant. Many of them bill only based on the tasks they are given or the hours they are actively performing a task, reducing overall costs. Since they work as contractors, they will often bill a certain number of hours monthly, which can be used as needed by the client. Due to the varying time zones they often live and work in, the hours of a virtual assistant can be very flexible, especially if you hire multiple assistants.
Virtual assistants are able to work remotely, meaning their cost of living and resulting fees could be lower than a full-time employee in your local area. Additionally, the training they often receive includes computer skills, meaning a virtual assistant can be quite tech-savvy. It is important to note, however, that not all virtual assistants have the same training and experience, nor are they necessarily required to go through training courses to work as a virtual assistant.
Some virtual assistants and companies that contract them specifically cater to property managers. These assistants would thus be experienced in property management tasks and would be uniquely prepared to assist a property manager. As such, they can be uniquely qualified to provide for the specific needs of a property manager. However, it must be noted that there may be some laws and regulations limiting what assistants can do in the field of property management.
Learn more: Do I Need Property Management Software?
Cons of Hiring a Virtual Assistant:
Many of the benefits of a virtual assistant have related disadvantages, meaning that in-person personal assistants retain their usefulness. When hiring one, you must consider whether these disadvantages are a dealbreaker for you.
While a virtual assistant’s schedule is more flexible, they aren’t as readily available as an in-person assistant. This issue can be particularly challenging for you if you hire a single virtual assistant in a different time zone. Similarly, communication with a virtual assistant is not as straightforward as it is with in-person assistants. While an in-person assistant is typically in the same office as a property manager, a virtual assistant never is. This means that all communication will need to be done virtually, and often asynchronously. You can alleviate this through instant messaging or by using regular video or phone calls throughout the week, but these calls are not the same as having them readily available in person. Additionally, if you choose to hire a virtual assistant who lives outside of your local area, you may face issues regarding their understanding of legal compliance within your area. Similar issues may arise with language barriers, depending on how you choose to hire.
Finding a good virtual assistant, one who fits your needs and can be trusted, can also be difficult. It takes time to find a subscription service you trust and like, and hiring freelancers is not always trustworthy. Choosing a stateside virtual assistant and a company that specifically caters to property management can instill extra confidence. Word of mouth is a powerful asset in the world of freelancing, and exceptionally so when it comes to virtual assistants, but that does not necessarily mean that it is reliable. An assistant recommended by one property manager may not be ideal for your needs, especially if you prefer to use different software and management techniques.
Finally, as virtual assistants are often contracted through external sources, they cannot always be guaranteed to have background checks or other verifications of trustworthiness. As such, trusting a stranger with personal information may be a risky move. It is important, when hiring, to consider where you are looking for your assistant. Some services perform background checks and ensure that their assistants are trustworthy.
However, it is essential to ensure that your privacy settings have been adjusted appropriately on any programs they may use. For example, if you use property management software like Rentec Direct, privacy settings can be modified to ensure subusers can only see what is relevant to their job. This can protect your privacy, financial security, and the privacy of your tenants.
Learn more: Add Additional Users to Your Account
Final Thoughts:
A virtual assistant can be an excellent resource for your property management business. They are flexible, convenient, and helpful. However, when hiring one, you need to consider various factors, such as their schedule, where and how they are hired, and the amount of information you are willing to share with them. With all of this in mind, take some time to consider whether hiring a virtual assistant is right for you. As with any virtual assistants or other subusers, ensure that you have updated the privacy settings of any software you use to account for other people using it.
