Most virtual assistants specialize in masterfully
performing certain types of tasks like transaction
coordination, CMAs, marketing materials, etc.
However, some VAs offer strategic services such as
managing the entire scope of your business,
including the business planning and coaching.
Katharine Lambeth of
Virtual Rescue is just such a person and here
is her story.
MI: Katharine, you have quite an eclectic
background, including holding an active real
estate license. Please share with us your previous
experience and how it led you to become a Virtual
Assistant.
KL: Michael, you’re right, I do have an
eclectic background and an active real estate
license – which luckily for me brings two
strengths to the table as a VA. I was first
licensed in the late 80’s – before real estate met
technology! I must admit, I was bitten by the
technology bug, and left real estate for a while.
We all come home though! The benefit for me is my
ability to work with two passions of mine today:
technology and real estate. The real estate client
of today utilizes technology every day – it is my
responsibility to assist the REALTOR® in meeting
the client’s needs – faster, more efficiently, and
with service unsurpassed. The main reason I
started my company was to fulfill the need that is
plaguing the REALTOR® -- not enough hats! My
company and services bring a new level to virtual
assistance. We have the ability and staff to
facilitate support services, business strategies,
technology advices, marketing services,
administrative tasks, and business coaching.
MI: What are your areas of expertise you
feel are valuable specifically to your REALTOR®
clients?
KL: Having practiced real estate both in
the traditional and ‘new age’ methods, I have a
clear understanding of the requirements the
REALTOR® must meet. Who better to coordinate the
path to property closings than a non-practicing
licensed REALTOR®? The business of management is
key when multiple tasks must be managed. By having
experience and tenure in real estate and
technology, I am able to utilize both fields of
knowledge to accomplish the task at hand.
MI: Your services go beyond just performing
various types of functions for your clients. You
are more of what I call a "Strategic" VA, someone
who helps their client with the planning and
execution of their entire business strategy. What
sort of things do you do to accomplish this?
KL: The challenges for a REALTOR® of today
are greater than they have ever been. Having a
real estate and technology/business background
enables me to clearly identify those challenges,
as well as recommend and implement solutions. The
‘business’ of today’s REALTOR® is also more
sophisticated. I advise my clients to put in place
a business plan, systems to meet those challenges
we have discussed, and support staffing to take
the ball and run with it on the admin side.
Relationships are important to maintaining
clients, and it is difficult to balance if you are
forced behind the desk with support tasks.
MI: In essence your clients don't have to
manage you, in fact, you "manage" them. Why is
this kind of VA relationship potentially so
powerful for the REALTOR®?
KL: Think about it; top CEO’s have business
advisors, staff to accomplish all of the
day-to-day support tasks, managers on staff to
ensure not only production, but also quality. The
CEO’s job is to maintain the momentum and company
image. That job is much easier to do with a team
in place. What if the business of the real estate
agent was divided into departments, much like most
companies? Where would the REALTOR® spend the
majority of time in a successful company? The
sales department of course! The beauty of the
client relationships that we have is simple: real
estate agents need to stay in the business of
networking – we provide all of the background
support and strategies.
MI: What do you see as the biggest hurdle
in developing that level of relationship with most
REALTORS® who consider using a VA?
KL: Since I have practiced as a REALTOR® I
can identify and voice that since we are forced to
wear so many hats, it is difficult to release
control of certain aspects of our business. We
typically want to control the dollar. This is also
not wrong. The bottom line of any independent
contractor’s business is only affected by one
thing – the independent contractor. The horizon is
incredibly bright however! Having said that, it is
imperative to have a ‘project manager’ or you will
hear me speak a great deal about having a coach.
Not in the sense of establishing methodologies,
but rather having the ability to identify
strengths and weaknesses within individual
business and capitalizing on the strengths, and
outsourcing the weaknesses. That coach is that key
element to driving a business model based on
independent efforts towards greater success.
MI: More REALTORS® than ever are considering
using a VA yet don't know where to start. How
should they go about taking that first step?
KL: There are some terrific avenues
available today for this very question. Many of
the larger real estate brands will have resources
at their company events and also abilities to
facilitate speakers and educational symposiums.
The Internet is a great place to start as well.
There are many available articles through NAR and
regional boards. There is an organization of VA’s
strictly supporting real estate agents:
www.revanetwork.com -- they have an online
resource directory. Anyone can email our company
with questions and/or their needs, and we will
send some suggestions and direct them towards
finding assistance to fit their criteria.
MI: Last Question - Where do you see the
Virtual Assistant industry and its impact on
others 3 - 5 years from now?
KL: In less time than 3-5 years, I see a
dramatic increase in virtual outsourcing. The
profit centers of any business from independent
contractors to large corporations are already on
the rise as a result of outsourcing certain tasks.
As our society becomes more litigious, the agent’s
accuracy of documents and contracts will be
paramount. I frankly don’t see how successfully an
agent can practice AND grow their business without
a support team in place. Certainly if I were still
practicing, the first avenue I would travel is
getting that support team in place. Let my team
handle everything from the marketing materials to
transaction coordination.
MI: Thank you Katharine for sharing your
insights about REALTORS® using virtual assistants
as implementers of a successful strategies, and in
some cases, helping them create those strategies
as well.
KL: Thank you Michael for establishing this
forum to discuss the growth of the real estate
industry, and what tools are in place as of today
to meet those challenges. It is imperative for
today’s REALTOR® to be ready for tomorrow – TODAY!
You can learn more about Katharine Lambeth and
her VA services by visiting her Web site at
http://www.virtualrescue.com, contacting her
via e-mail at
mailto:info@virtualrescue.com or by phone at
804-340-1845. 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!
