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Ambassador
1,452,819
Susan Emo
Sotheby's International Realty Canada - Brokerage - Kingston, ON
Kingston and the 1000 Islands Area

I believe in never doing penny work with pound time. (sorry, UK expression)

If you hate it, hire it out to someone that is capable but make sure you're out there hustling to make up their salary!

Aug 28, 2016 04:19 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Very hard to answer your question. But if there are things you hate doing, sooner or later you'll stop. So you may be better off hiring someone for those jobs and focusing on what you like to do. The payback will come.

Aug 28, 2016 04:49 AM
Ambassador
3,383,334
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I hired out my mailings to someone and have never regretted it.  That was what I hated doing.

Aug 29, 2016 03:03 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

There are those who will tell you if you don't have an assistant, you are an assistant.   It's a personal decision.   

Aug 29, 2016 12:29 AM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

If it isn't crucial, now is the time to do it - it is much easier to train someone when you're not under pressure

Aug 28, 2016 11:52 PM
Rainmaker
4,272,548
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

 Do you have enough business to warrant or to have an assistant 

Aug 28, 2016 04:12 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

It's been said that once you have more than 20 transactions a year, it's time to hire your first assistant - an admin.

Aug 28, 2016 03:24 PM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I find that having an assistant frees me up for more important work.

But if the new president gets her way and jacks up the min wage from $8 to $15 next year I may have to let mine go.

Aug 28, 2016 10:35 AM
Rainmaker
1,390,113
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

If you're hiring an assistant to eliminate jobs you don't like, your return on investment isn't financial, it's emotional, and you'll see a return immediately.

 

Aug 28, 2016 07:38 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Read "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent "by Keller to get you answer and exact MODEL to follow in building a Cash Flowing business

Aug 28, 2016 05:58 AM
Ambassador
5,049,133
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Far better to do it now rather than wait for the time that it's crucial when you might make a hasty decision. It depends on your particular situation. The ROI will likely be more time to focus on other activities that will grow your business

Aug 28, 2016 05:41 AM
Rainmaker
1,090,637
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

If you can afford it and will actually use that time to lead generate and are positive that you will bring in enough business to cover the cost, go for it. But writing those letters should not be a Herculean task if you generate a basic form letter for those occasions then customize for the personal touch.

 

Aug 28, 2016 05:33 AM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

it depends on whether you can afford it at this time.  t's your call.

Aug 28, 2016 05:11 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Crucial is a stage that one should have been prepared for in advance. When you do, an interesting dynamic comes forth. Nothing ever becomes crucial

Aug 28, 2016 04:26 AM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

I've thought about this as well and believe if you are spending time doing things that are not producing money but are taking away from your productivity (making money) then you should hire an assistant.

Aug 28, 2016 04:23 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Client letters: Have you thought about a form letter?  Would make life simpler than coming up with something new each time.

If you'd rather lead generate, but not handle the clients... maybe consider working in lead gen for a local realtor team?

 

That reminds me, I need to stop putting off writing the personal interest portion of my newsletter...

Aug 29, 2016 03:40 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,677
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

A assistant is worth their weigh if you train them right.

Aug 29, 2016 01:03 AM
Rainer
232,019
Jessie Cochran
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Panama City Realty Group

Yes, hire now before you get busy

Aug 29, 2016 12:16 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

This is too difficult to answer as so much depends on who you hire and how well they will do the work.

Aug 28, 2016 11:25 PM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

I would hire an assistant to do the things you do not want to focus on sales.

Aug 28, 2016 11:16 PM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

Do you have enought business to justify an assistant?

Aug 28, 2016 10:15 PM
Rainmaker
1,197,097
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

Hire slowly and fire quick is a moto I have used in the past.

Aug 28, 2016 09:25 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Susan Emo nailed this one!

Aug 28, 2016 08:39 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Yes.

Aug 28, 2016 08:23 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

It depends on your budget. If you can afford an assistant, go for it.

Aug 28, 2016 04:09 PM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

If you need one hire one, but if you don't , I would wait.

Aug 28, 2016 02:44 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

I agree with Susan Emo, the last thing you want to worry about is how to pay your assistant  A

Aug 28, 2016 02:25 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I like things done "my way"  So I hired an assistant while I wasn't slammed and got them trained to do things "my way".  When business picked up to the slammed point I had to increase her hours and she was already trained to do what I needed her to do.

Aug 28, 2016 02:24 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I think it is a good return if you can keep your assistant busy and actaully expand on those things you are not getting to do now.

Aug 28, 2016 01:19 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Hard to say.  If you have stuff you hate that has to be done, go for it.

Aug 28, 2016 01:01 PM
Rainer
56,940
Ari Taylor
Century 21 North Shore - Peabody, MA
Realtor with Century 21 North Shore!

I have a very part time assistant that I share with another agent. 3 hours a week sometimes more(for me, the other agent has him like 10 hours a week), he does blogging, expired/cancelled letters, assists with several other things and will be going for his liscense so he can handle showings to help me handle more clients. $10/hour and extremely worth it.

Aug 28, 2016 12:28 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I think you answered your own question.

Aug 28, 2016 11:08 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

You can hire assistants even if it is not crucial.

Aug 28, 2016 10:51 AM
Rainmaker
1,209,215
Amanda Christiansen
Christiansen Group Realty (260)704-0843 - Fort Wayne, IN
Christiansen Group Realty

I feel like you have to be in the trenches for a while until you can be super picky about what you do.  Earn your stripes, kid.  

It might serve you more to hire someone to teach you proper grammar.  

Aug 28, 2016 10:28 AM
Rainmaker
2,362,948
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

go for it - if you use the time to lead gen

Aug 28, 2016 10:07 AM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

Our office has an assistant that will do that if I want her to. It's difficult to say what your return on investment will be. 

Aug 28, 2016 10:04 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Only you will know the ROI depending how productive your lead generation.

Aug 28, 2016 09:11 AM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

If you have enough letter that need to be written on an ongoing business AND you have exess money to spend by all means.  Top Producer has made the letter writting task very easy.  All you do is print the letters and write the names and address on an envelope.

Aug 28, 2016 09:05 AM
Rainmaker
953,617
Pete Xavier
Investments to Luxury - Pacific Palisades, CA
Outstanding Agent Referrals-Nationwide

With several systems in place along with a transaction coordinator (paid per file)...it has made my life simpler without hiring an assistant directly, though I not against the idea of hiring one if there is a need.

Aug 28, 2016 08:51 AM
Ambassador
5,230,057
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

YES!  You won't believe how your business will grow by doing so!

Aug 28, 2016 08:34 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Can you afford it?  If yes, go for it. 

Aug 28, 2016 08:30 AM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Your choice depending on your financial situation

Aug 28, 2016 08:17 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,291
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Yes your time would be better spent lead generating. You have to decide & actually think of things for her/him to do. Are you ready to plan someone else's day?

You make things worse by saying 'I hate'.

Aug 28, 2016 08:14 AM
Rainmaker
4,160,412
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

You can hire an assistant, if you need one.

Aug 28, 2016 07:00 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

no... if you are organized, you'll not need that expense.... I never had one and was always a top producer...

Aug 28, 2016 06:30 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I do not have an assistant.

Aug 28, 2016 05:24 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

In CA it is hard to get assistant who will touch anything with the wage offered. Go to Apple get an internship and get paid $75,000 with free lunch.

Don't like Apple, go to Linkedin, Google? How much is sign on bonus?

Aug 28, 2016 04:52 AM