MI: Karen, I
believe you are the first VA I have interviewed
with a Microsoft "MOUS" certification. You are
also very active in the VA community as
Secretary for the IVAA.org. Tell us a bit about
your background and how you came to be a VA...
KD: I've been a VA
since the mid-80s when we called it 'remote
office work' and the work was faxed or
couriered, or, I picked it up (clients were
usually local). Working 'virtually' is rather
new terminology for the new online technology
that allows us to work remotely for clients
spread out around the world.
I carefully researched the
Industry, which was fledgling at the time, and
chose certain groups to investigate. I was drawn
to IVAA because of its professional approach to
the VA Industry, so last April, I joined the
Board of Directors as Secretary. I am
particularly adamant about the IVAA tag line of:
Ethics, Professionalism, and Commitment.
MI: How does
your Microsoft PowerPoint certification set you
apart from the many VAs that also do good Power
Point work?
KD: 'MOUS' —Now that
was fun! I've been in the commercial printing
industry for over 30 years; I've seen good, bad,
and ugly printed pieces over the years...the
good ones I save in my "Idea File" and transfer
some of those ideas to PowerPoint. That is quite
a program!
I took a look at the 'world
around me' and PowerPoint was everywhere - tired
PowerPoint. When PowerPoint was new to the
presentation world, people looked forward to the
slides. Certain 'guidelines' became rules, such
as blue - use a dark/royal blue for your
background. Aren't you tired of seeing blue?
I researched what was
available to improved PowerPoint presentations.
The first step was to education myself to use
this tool to its fullest extent, and that was
with the MOUS program. I figured that getting
certified by Microsoft for their products was
the best avenue.
MI: Your site
lists at least 40 things you do to help REALTORS
with their work. Out of those, what top two or
three do you specialize in the most?
KD: The graphics end
of it. I don't bill myself as a 'graphic
designer' -I do layouts for my clients;
brochures, open house flyers, postcards. I can
take their project from concept to post office
and see it through to the end.
I am also in a pilot
program with SettlementRoom for real estate
online transaction management. I'm really
enthused about this and hope to make it a core
offering to Realtors.
MI: What do you
like most about working with real estate
professionals?
KD: I choose my
clients carefully; chemistry is important. The
real estate people I particularly appreciate are
flexible and positive. This allows me the
freedom to be creative in helping them be more
successful. I'm always on the look out for ways
to market/promote them in a way that is
different from the run-of-the-mill marketing.
What ever we do, must be on a professional
level.
MI: What special
tools or infrastructure do you use to facilitate
your work with clients?
KD: For local
clients, I take my office to them via my laptop.
I run my entire office from my laptop. I keep my
hardware and software as up to date as possible;
and my awareness of what's new. I use
gotomypc.com, eFax, Acrobat (quite a program!),
Community Zero, and am investigating a uReach
account.
We recently returned from a
cruise. I made sure that I had Internet access
while in port and at sea. I was out of town, but
not out of touch.
MI: What are the
most important qualities a REALTOR should look
for when searching for a VA?
KD: Again, I have to
say ethics, professionalism, commitment,
honesty, integrity, and chemistry. A VA, or
anyone for that fact, can be highly skilled and
trained in their area of expertise, but if the
chemistry between the partners isn't there, the
relationship just isn't going to work.
MI: Last
question - What words of advice do you have for
REALTORS who are considering using a VA?
KD: Do your
homework. Check out "Transform Your Business
Using Virtual Assistants - for Real Estate
Professionals". There are good checklists
included to help the Realtor ascertain his/her
needs/wants/requirements of a VA. Be flexible in
your thinking. Your VA is skilled and trained to
do the things to help you succeed. Be flexible
to new ideas and approaches. Because when THEY
succeed, WE succeed. Also, make sure that you
know what an unlicensed VA can and cannot do for
you.
MI: Karen, thank
you for sharing your wealth of background and
experience as a VA for real estate
professionals!
KD: My pleasure.
Thank you for thinking of me.
You can learn more about Karen Ann Drebes and
her extensive list of Realtor services at her Web
site (www.s4sva.com),
contact her via e-mail at
kad@s4sva.com
or by phone at 480-515-1146.
Always remember to do a thorough due-diligence
before hiring any kind of assistant. This
interview is part of an ongoing series of VA
profiles designed to help you find that perfect VA
that will launch you to the top quicker and with
less effort than you ever thought possible!
