Creating the right marketing product for the task at hand doesn’t have to mean doing it yourself. VA Roselle Paquette, owner of e-Roselle administrative services in Fredrick Maryland, provides a variety of creative marketing solutions to help her clients reach the top. Here’s her story.

MI: VAs seem to come into the profession in a variety of ways – how did this happen for you?

RP: While purchasing my home in 2002, I worked with four different Realtors® before finding the one that fit my needs. Each of them was so busy that my phone calls weren't being returned and new listings weren't getting to me in a timely manner. It became obvious to me that these Realtors® were short on time and administrative support. My business (and most certainly the business of other clients) was lost because the focus wasn't where it should have been - on the client.

When I needed a part-time job I sent my resume to area Realtors®. I worked for a year with agents on-site; they were so overwhelmed with paperwork, and I could see the need for administrative support. The mileage and time spent traveling became too much for me, so that is when I started researching the VA industry. After 5 months of intensive research in the VA industry I decided to target the real estate field.

MI: Did you have any work experience or training that has helped you specialize in real estate support?

RP: I was contacted by a real estate VA who needed support and from there she taught me a lot of the real estate programs; once I felt comfortable I branched out on my own. I have been a virtual assistant for 2 years. I have the IVAA CRESS (Certified Real Estate Support Specialist) designation too.

MI: Your website gives a comprehensive list of services you can provide for clients. What do you enjoy the most?

RP: I really enjoy marketing – designing/customizing property flyers, postcards and email campaigns for new clients. Prospecting, farming, and targeting marketing. I also love enhancing and managing websites, whether it be a template or through Dreamweaver.

I recently began specializing in the REO market (real estate owned) assisting agents with various tasks such as Broker Price Opinions and marketing of the foreclosed property.

MI: Are there any special tools or services that you find invaluable in assisting your clients?

RP: My knowledge is in so many real estate programs such as Advanced Access, Constant Contact, Imprev, Virtual Tour, etc. My being available week nights and weekends at no additional charge. GoToMyPC has become a useful tool in accessing client’s computers and I use Whalemail for emailing documents and photos that are too large to send through email. And lastly AOL Instant Messaging – clients can contact me if they should have a RUSH job – it’s a great communication tool and it’s the quickest way to get a hold of me.

MI: In this age of technology, a website is an important and necessary tool for today’s successful Realtor®. As a VA, how do you assist your clients in creating and maintaining their websites?

RP: I am constantly adding and updating content in order to keep the website current. I create visual presentations for each agent designation and/or about the area, and/or about each school, etc. Virtual tours are created for each property that include floor plans (for new homes), info about the neighborhood, and the benefits of each feature the house provides.

I want to make the site more appealing so visitors will want to stay longer. Add a bulletin board where neighbors can collaborate, add a section to advertise yard sales and all open houses (not just the agent’s) in the area. Provide forms and checklists that visitors can access without having to fill out a form or having to send their personal information. Add a kids and pet section.

I work with my clients to create relocation, neighborhood, FSBO, and Senior packages that visitors can request. I customize website content to show the agent’s personality and mention keywords about the agent and area that will stand out to not only visitors but to search engines.

As agents receive new listings they email me the photos and content – I can then upload it to their site and create a virtual tour. I will also create a property flyer, a Just Listed postcard and send an email to the farming area and area Realtors® about the new listing.

I can do area research about the cities and subdivision that the agent specializes in and add this content to the home page. I also, on a continual basis, do reciprocal linking with agents across the US.

We create/personalize special reports that visitors can request after filling out an online form – this is how leads are captured – then these leads would be entered into a monthly campaign.

MI: There are a variety of vendors targeted to real estate that you mention in your list of services. A common tendency among Realtors® seems to be purchasing the next best product that comes along and then not having the time or skills to even begin using it. Is this your experience with your clients?

RP: Definitely, they get so excited about wanting to have the "latest technology" that they purchase every product expecting to have the time to learn each one. Then they become so busy they don’t have the time to implement any of them!  I’m able to help them utilize these programs. Also a lot of programs can interact with each other – like Advanced Access leads can be customized to go directly into TP7i, etc. These are tricks agents may not have time to learn on their own.

MI: One specialty service you mentioned is REOs. Share with us some of the ways you assist your clients who work in this area.

RP: For agents across the US my main service is providing assistance with inputting BPO’s (broker price opinions). I am familiar with many asset companies’ forms. A bank will contact an agent requesting subject info on a property along with 3 sold and 3 active properties – I can either get this info myself from the agent’s MLS (abiding by the MLS rules) or the agent can pull the comps and fax or email them to me. Banks pay agents between $30 to $60 for each BPO that is completed. The agents work on as many BPO’s as they can because these could and sometimes do turn into a listing for them. A lot of BPO’s are needed same day or next day – this is where I can help out – I’m available, most of the time, at a moments notice to assist with these.

MI: We don’t hear a lot about VAs offering assistance with REOs. Do you think it’s a specialty that more VAs will become include in their services in the future?

RP: Possibly. I don’t think there are a lot of REO agents out there yet, but foreclosed properties are becoming a popular niche for Realtors.

MI: Looking at the VA-client relationship from the client’s perspective, what are the most important qualities a Realtor should look for when working with a VA?

RP: His/Her availability, having experience with various programs, being able to assist agents on rush or last minute jobs and being available at a moments notice, as working in real estate is so unpredictable. One minute you can be crazy busy and the next slow. Also a VA that is proactive and will go that extra mile to learn or research a problem.

MI: Roselle, thanks for taking the time to share your experience and perspective with my readers. You’ve given us some great ideas.

RP: Thank you so much for contacting me! It’s been fun!

To learn more about Roselle and her services just send her an email at info@e-roselle.com, or call her at 240-372-1930. 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.

(NOTE: Mr. Internet, his company and staff receive no compensation whatsoever from any third party vendors or service providers.  Also any virtual assistant or consultant profile found in this publication is not to be construed as an endorsement of their services by Mr. Internet or his company.)