To Hire An Assistant Or Work Solo?

[Rick Stillman]

Check out ieImpact.com; I've been extremely happy with the service. It's liking having an admin assistant without the training or payroll.

Thanks for the insight Steph ~

I checked them out, and their service looks good - but far from a reasonable level of perfection. This should not be a concern in today's world of computers and programs, but it looks like it is.

I am concerned that I would have to double check everything - the address, MLS #, lot size, etc. BECAUSE it is manually typed. I would be a lot happier if they would import the main data directly, thereby eliminating the possibility of human error in many places.

But, that's not the way their process works, from what I understand (?) I hope I'm wrong on this.

What has been your experience in this regard?

 

[StephHigdem]

First off, i totally hear you, that very issue kept me from trying them for months. Yes, you need to proof read/double check. But that would be necessary for an actual assistant as well. The company makes it very easy to provide feedback on their service, and, if memory serves, 2 bad reviews / mistakes and the person is fired. So yes, I have had a few typos, but only 1 total screw up (list date was used on the grid rather than sale date). I've also learned that double checking is way faster than I thought it would be. The other big plus for me is just knowing I don't HAVE to do the totally boring data input stuff - that alone has increased my productivity.

 

[JTip]

2 bad reviews / mistakes and the person is fired.

Sounds like a greeeaaatttt company to work for....

 

[StephHigdem]

Gotta admit, that did cross my mind.... I'm hoping the flexibility of hours and whatnot balances out the risk

 

[OSU Beavers]

Solo or hire relatives to work for lunch and gas money.

 

[ockyappraiser]

I talked to a guy once that approached things from evaluating EVERY part of his business day. He had an office manager that would input the public data and on line data into the reports, set up appointments, etc. When he got to the office, he would pick up his tablet which was preloaded with the files for the day and leave. He had hired a driver to drive him to the subject and comps. He used a tablet appraisal program (Total for tablet). He finished most of the appraisal in the car while being driven to the comps or next assignment. He would then upload back to the office and the office manger would import and correct spelling, add maps, and check over the report. When he arrived back he would do the adjustments. The commentary was all ready done as he would use dragon speech for the commentary fields while in the car. Office manager would then check over the report against the engagement letter to see if he left anything out. She would email him the appraisal, he would review it again, sign it and email it back and she would forward to the client. Doing this he was able to do 3 appraisals a day, tuesday/wednesday/thursday and took FRidays and Mondays off.

 

[Rick Stillman]

I talked to a guy once that approached things from evaluating EVERY part of his business day. He had an office manager that would input the public data and on line data into the reports, set up appointments, etc. When he got to the office, he would pick up his tablet which was preloaded with the files for the day and leave. He had hired a driver to drive him to the subject and comps. He used a tablet appraisal program (Total for tablet). He finished most of the appraisal in the car while being driven to the comps or next assignment. He would then upload back to the office and the office manger would import and correct spelling, add maps, and check over the report. When he arrived back he would do the adjustments. The commentary was all ready done as he would use dragon speech for the commentary fields while in the car. Office manager would then check over the report against the engagement letter to see if he left anything out. She would email him the appraisal, he would review it again, sign it and email it back and she would forward to the client. Doing this he was able to do 3 appraisals a day, tuesday/wednesday/thursday and took FRidays and Mondays off.

I had to read this over a few times. I like it!

 

[DTB]

Just think of any successful business, was it a one man band or was there support staff. Same with appraising. Let's not reinvent the wheel any more than we have to.