When Cindi Pree, owner of The Kulshan Group, hung up her virtual shingle as a VA, she didn’t anticipate that she would return to work in the real estate field. Now she specializes in providing services to real estate agents and using all the latest transaction coordination tools to provide top notch services to her clients. Here’s Cindi’s story.

MI: Tell us something about your background and how you ended up being a VA.

CP: My admin background goes back to high school and progressed through various jobs, including loan processor and title company escrow closer. When my son was born 21 years ago, I took one look at him and thought “How can I stay at home?" That was obviously much before the birth of the VA industry, but looking back now that I am a VA I see that’s really when I started. I typed depositions for a court reporter and medical reports for chiropractors and vocational rehab specialists. My husband has always been self-employed and I’ve taken care of all the bookkeeping, marketing, and other details for several of his businesses. That developed eventually into a family computer consulting business – hubby and son built computers, set up networks, and did contract system admin. My role was setting up software preferences, office templates and systems, training, and often completing outsourced projects. When our second child was 12, I decided it would be interesting to try a “real” job again. I took a temp position with a local University, and even though they asked me to make it permanent, I decided that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I remembered reading about the VA industry…and the rest, as they say, is history. I’ve never looked back and truly enjoy being part of this wonderful community!

MI: What do you feel are the strongest skills or expertise that you provide to your clients?

CP: Several things come to mind here. Obviously, working virtually means that a high level of tech skills is invaluable! I’m extremely well-organized; think “outside the box” for solutions; and, especially important to my real estate clients, I have worked in the real estate industry in the past.

MI: You’ve mentioned a variety of services that you’ve provided in your VA business. How did you begin working with real estate professionals?

CP: When I launched my VA practice, I didn’t think I wanted to go back to working in real estate. After the initial start-up phase, when I began to think about continued growth, the ongoing references in the VA listservs regarding specializing in real estate began to “sink in.” I became more aware of the potential in real estate and that there was such a thing as “Transaction Coordination.” With my experience in escrow closing, I realized it would be a good fit for me. I also enjoy desktop publishing, and have experience with Publisher, PageMaker, and InDesign. I knew there would be potential to provide unique marketing materials for real estate clients, too. When I also factored in the fact that you, and several others, are continually marketing the VA industry to real estate professionals, it just seemed like I had to give it a try!

MI: Are there real estate services that you primarily focus on?

CP: Although I assist clients with contact management, drip email, and the like, I really focus on desktop publishing and transaction coordination for real estate clients. With my experience in escrow closing and being detail-oriented, transaction coordination is a natural. I also find I’m able to establish a quick relationship with both lenders and closing agents, since I’ve worked in both fields. That can be very valuable when you need a quick turnaround on a transaction!

MI: Would you share a bit more about some of the transaction coordination tools that you’ve used, and how they benefit clients?

CP: When I began offering Transaction Coordination, I chose GuruNet as the platform I would offer clients who are new to TC. There are other services available and, with my tech background I can adapt my standard TC procedures easily to other software, if the client prefers. For instance, I’m currently getting a new client set up to do TC within his existing Top Producer software. I find that some clients really benefit from all the online bells and whistles offered by a service such as GuruNet or Settlement Room, but others just don’t need or won’t use all the functionality. Some agents find it more important to keep everything in one place, like Top Producer, than to have the ability to upload documents and other features available in online platforms such as GuruNet. My personal feeling is that all of these are just “tools” that I use as a VA, and no single tool is right for every client.

MI: If a VA is going to provide transaction coordination for clients, are there any special concerns or cautions to be aware of?

CP: Of course! One of the first steps is to be sure you understand the laws in the agent’s home state pertaining to what an unlicensed assistant can (and can’t!) do. These laws vary somewhat across the country, and you can get yourself (and your client) in hot water if you aren’t aware of the rules. Beyond that, it’s important that you educate yourself thoroughly about real estate transactions. You should understand the basic process, the documents involved, and, of course, the terminology. Another important factor is to have a good feel for those things that can be “sensitive” issues in any real estate transaction – and can quickly cause problems if not diffused. While there are many details we as VAs can handle…it’s also critical to know when to call your client (the agent) and give them a “heads up” that they have a situation that demands their personal attention.

MI: As you’ve watched new software and programs for real estate appear on the virtual scene over the last few years, do you see any trends for the industry?

CP: Yes, unfortunately they’re not all positive. While there is a lot of really good software out there specifically targeted to real estate professionals, there are also a good number of software developers who seem to be jumping on the bandwagon with really poor products (from a technological perspective). I think it’s important for agents, and their VAs, to get feedback from their peers about the functionality and value of a piece of software or online service before spending their hard-earned dollars. The REVA Network discussion group is a great place to ask those questions.

MI: How would you describe the ideal REALTOR®/VA relationship?

CP: For me personally, I enjoy working with agents who appreciate a team approach, embrace the great tools that technology offers, and most importantly like to keep a sense of humor while they work. Even though I take my work (and my client’s livelihood) very seriously, I believe we should enjoy what we do and always take what life hands out with a good dose of laughter!

MI: Cindi, thank you for sharing your refreshing views on your work with clients and in particular your insight on transaction management tools.

CP: You are most welcome, Michael! Thank you for the opportunity to share my perspectives on how Virtual Assistants and Realtors® can truly become more than the sum of the parts!

To learn more about Cindi and her services just send her an email at cindi@kulshangroup.com or call her at 360-961-6478.

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.