There’s more to working with a VA than just handing off the paperwork. Read on to see how veteran VA Christine Wade of ChrisTech Industries in Vista, CA works with her clients to build a strong partnership – right from the beginning.

MI: How long have you been working as a VA – and at what point did you begin focusing on working with REALTORS®?

CW: I opened my business as a VA in March of 2000. I had over 12 years of administrative experience in the “real” world before I started my VA business, from general clerical all the way through executive assistant and then on to managerial levels. I am a self-taught computer junky - I am always the one that my friends & associates call for computer/software advice. These two factors combined, make a great basis for a career as a virtual assistant. Soon after I started out, I decided to buy a magnetic car sign to offer more generalized services to my local market. A neighbor called me and said that she saw my car sign and had no idea that I offered these services and that she definitely needed my help. She was a REALTOR® and part of a husband/wife associate broker team and they had several agents working under them. That was in May of 2001 - she is still one of my biggest clients today! She actually became an unofficial mentor, and it’s because of her that I got my own real estate salesperson’s license and became a REALTOR® myself!

MI: What’s your specialty area in providing real estate support – and why have you chosen to focus on that area?

CW: My specialty area with agents has been web site design/maintenance and desktop publishing (flyers, postcards, specialty marketing pieces, etc…) Why? Who knows? I enjoy these activities, and the creativity they allow. In turn, I think the agents enjoy shining through as individuals, rather than just being another agent surviving on franchise templates and canned services. I work closely with the client to develop materials that reflect their personality, approach to business, and target market.

MI: For some of our readers who may be thinking about working with a VA but aren’t quite sure how this works, would you explain how you communicate with your clients to get the work done?

CW: I am available 24/7 via e-mail, Instant Messaging programs, fax and of course, phone. I prefer the majority of my communication via e-mail. Why? Because there is always a record to refer back to easily, it’s electronic - so if I need to sort through them all for a certain project, keyword, etc…I can find them easily. I think it offers better protection for both my clients and myself that the project gets done exactly as the client has specified - and it leaves far less to interpretation than a phone call does, especially when you are dealing with clients from all over the country.

As for actually performing the work, many clients like for me to log in to their own computer via a remote access program like GoToMyPc.com or PCAnywhere and do the work directly on their machine (for database management, etc.). However, there are also clients who prefer to utilize online versions of popular software applications such as Top Producer 7i, so that I simply use the login information that they provide for me and can login from any computer. It simply depends on the agent and the type of work that I am doing for them at the time.

MI: As a VA you’ve taken a step that many don’t in obtaining your real estate license. Why did you choose to take this direction – and how do you think having your license will affect the services you offer your clients?

CW: At first, I took my license as a way to improve my service to my existing VA clients. I thought how better to serve them than to walk a mile in their shoes and truly know what it will take to help them succeed. I also thought it would benefit me and my husband as well with our personal investing interests.

MI: What qualities do you look for in a potential client before you agree to work with them?

CW: Well after living and learning, my rule of thumb is that if they don’t check their e-mail at least once a day, I cannot work with them. Seriously. We all go on vacation and out of town, emergencies happen, etc…but I am saying that on your typical day, that potential client must check their e-mail once a day. If they don’t, I have learned that they just aren’t a good match for me. Clients expect to be able to e-mail agents and have their contact returned promptly - and if a potential client isn’t checking e-mail at least once a day, then they aren’t servicing their clients properly - and they aren’t going to be able to work with me properly either. Many old-school agents have a hard time with this at first and promise that they will try, so I give them a trial period, but if after that trial they haven’t improved drastically, then I offer to find them another VA that is perhaps local to them and can work better with them in the style to which they are already accustomed.

MI: As a VA who has worked virtually with clients for several years, do you see any trends or changes in the virtual support arena?

CW: I see more training becoming available for VAs, and of course, more certification programs - hopefully they will improve as well. It’s like anything that’s “new,” it either grows and develops in a positive way, or it will wither and die. There are great organizations such as ivaa.org and REVAnetwork.com that support real estate VAs. And there are fabulous role models such as Kim Hughes, and the support of industry icons like yourself, who see all the good that the industry can do and they help to promote us as a valuable tool for agents. With all this going for us, I believe the industry as a whole is going to flourish.

I also see that in the future, people are going to be careful about screening their VAs, they are going to expect more knowledge from their VAs, and check their references…and this is all very good. If you don’t hear about a VA through a trusted referral or through your own research online - be very thorough in your reference checking. The VA industry is just like real estate in the sense that most VAs (or agents) possess excellent quality skills and integrity - but it’s that one who deals in slightly less than desirable measures that gets remembered and the industry as a whole gets a “scarlet letter” for it. So, by carefully screening your potential VA, you are helping us to improve the reputation of the industry and protecting yourself in the process.

To learn more about Christine and her services just send her an e-mail at christine@christech.net or call her at 800-650-0019.

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 the perfect VA or VA team to help you get organized, profitable, and in control of your business.