Join Jason Hartman as he interviews real estate virtual assistant, Rick Obst about the added value of having a virtual assistant in your real estate business.  Most real estate agents have an idea of how they wish to run their business, but often the details of doing so can be cumbersome. Rick explains how the use of a virtual assistant can allow real estate agents to be agents.  For details, please listen at: www.AIPIS.org. Virtual assistants essentially become partners in the agent’s business, specializing in certain functions, such as Transaction Specialists, Marketing Support, Lead Generation, and Contact Management Systems.  Rick talks about the importance of a robust online presence in today’s real estate business, as many clients go to the Internet to research properties. Rick emphasizes that trust is extremely important, that realtor need to be able to share their ideas with their VA and know they’re not going to be stolen and given to other realtors. A good VA should be able to take a realtor’s idea and actually make it happen, to be able to envision the steps necessary to perhaps focus on investors and how to attract investors as clients. The experienced VA should have recommendations and should know how to get from A to Z and be able to implement the steps, so that in the end, the realtor has a system that can be replicated and that works.

Rick Obst graduated with a B.S. in Management from Arizona State University and with received his MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. His work education has included experience with a regional  commercial real estate developer, commercial property management, commercial leasing, hearing property tax appeals, commercial appraisal and feasibility studies, business plan writing, Small Business Development Center real estate consultant, community college instructor, CFO for a regional long-term care company, and a residential client care coordinator.  My entrepreneurial bent has led to helping found and operate a commercial property management company, audio tour tape company, a medically supervised bariatric center, and a small business consultancy. Rick became a Virtual Assistant almost by accident a little over five years ago when a top realtor who knew his skills approached him about working on some projects. The word spread rapidly and other top realtors began contacting him to help them generate leads and market themselves and their listings on the internet. A loan originator with an Oregon mortgage company asked Rick to become a part-time assistant in February 2010. He learned how to take and process a mortgage loan application. He then caught the attention of the area manager, so in December 2010, he went full time at the bank to provide marketing support for 35+ loan officers in Oregon and Northern California. In addition, Rick continues to work closely with his realtor clients. He is located in Eugene, Oregon. So far, he has had no need for a website to advertise his own business as a virtual assistant, with word of mouth bringing him plenty of clients. His information can be found at: http://www.activerain.com/rickobst