The Virtual Assistant Industry has become incredibly popular because it allows a person to become their own boss. However, becoming a successful Virtual Assistant is not an easy job that just anyone can do. Most Virtual Assistants work from their home offices creating an overwhelming workload that they eventually find they cannot handle. They may work between 14 to 18 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 52 weeks a year.

What happens to that Virtual Assistant is they experience some level of burnout and need to take some time off, generally leaving their clients in the lurch. Many times Realtors also find that they are unable to find a Virtual Assistant that fits their specific needs or one that has the time to take on more clients.

The solution is 'Virtual Office Assistance.'

Virtual Office Assistance has gone beyond the normal concept of a Virtual Assistant by providing a fully staffed Virtual Assistant Center offering a wide range of specific services without the risk of burning out each individual Virtual Assistant. More and more Virtual Assistants are extending their business entities to a fully staffed Virtual Office and establishing long-term partnerships with Brokers and Managers to assist them with office management and recruiting. This offers a unique solution to those companies that want to utilize the services of a Virtual Assistant throughout the entire company.

In the search for maximum efficiency and profitability, today's real estate companies often find that, Virtual Staffing is an essential addition to their workforce to achieve corporate goals. They are maintaining a base of core employees supplemented by skilled specialists from the outside resources of a Virtual Office Center. It is a staffing solution that enables them to respond to the challenges of cost restraints, shortages of skilled personnel, quality demands, fluctuations in staffing needs and rapid technological advances.

By partnering with a Virtual Office, Brokers/Managers can offer their newer agents assistance with lead management, marketing, and even training, while seasoned agents can get assistance with setting their appointments, lead management, marketing, listing/transaction coordination, etc. Brokers and Managers are also utilizing this unique business entity by enlisting help with Bookkeeping, Office Management, Training via Webinar, and the list goes on and on.

Finding a Virtual Office Center is not as easy as finding the Virtual Assistant but you can find them. Go to your favorite search engine and type in 'Virtual Office Assistants' or 'Virtual Office Center'. You can also search through the usual VA channels, such as revanetwork.com and ivaa.org. Just be sure to look for specific criteria in the VA's listing for Office Management, Recruiting, Coaching and/or Virtual Office Assistance.

Published: September 22, 2006

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As a National Real Estate Virtual Assistant Specialist, Bev King serves as a leader throughout the industry. For nearly her entire career, over 20 years, she has worked serving clients in the areas of Listing & Transaction Coordination, Coaching, Management and Marketing. Ms. King serves as a founding member of the REVA Network and as an affiliate member of the Women's Council Of Realtors. She loves to travel, read and experience the great many things that life has to offer. You can reach Bev by visiting her website, globalvo.com, or via email at bev@globalvo.com.