I just wanted to ask if anyone has any does and don't for a currently small agent with a new unlicensed assistant. I know she can't do any "real" real estate related things but she has been a great help for me. She basically makes copies and does some filing for me among a few other things. Do you have any advice of some other things she could be doing to help me without crossing the line?

Before I get slammed, I must tell you that I did do a search regarding assistants but so many used it in the place of "assistance".

You need to figure your 80/20.

20% of your daily activities generate your leads and income. The remaining 80% are 'busy' work.

You should be doing your daily lead generation, taking out buyers, going on listing appointments, and attending closings. Most of the rest is in the 80% and little, if any, of that requires a license.

Good luck!

My "assistant" is requesting more duties so this help out a lot. I have so many leads that I have been unable to touch bases with because I have really been tied up. I have told her that it is ok as long as she doesn't get real estate specific.

Texas agent thanks for your response. I really like your formula. I am such a control freak and I guess I'm having trouble giving up some things.

LUVDUV you are treading dangerously here...

The activities that can be performed by a liscensed and unliscensed assistant vary greatly. Every state real estate commission board is different on what activities they deem ok.

Our board the GREC has a list on there website of what unliscensed assistants can do and not do. They put this list up to clarify questions and misunderstandings from broker and agents using liscensed and unliscensed assistants.

Hopefully your real estate commission has th erule sliste don there site or if not they should be able to provide you one when you call them.

Think about this... if you paid a young college student $10/hr to run your errands... go pick up your dry cleaning, make a postal run, drop paperwork off, pick up office supplies, fill the gas tank, bring back a frappuccino from Starbucks, and a few other chores... and that freed you up for an hour and a half to get on the phone and call past clients or prospects who you've put aside, how much potential business could you generate in that 1-1/2 hours? Would that be worth the $15 you just paid?

That's what I did when I was super busy - I hired a "wife" who came over every morning and took care of all my household duties and errands. I've never had much luck with assistants, so it worked much better to just hire out my personal stuff and handle my business on my own.

Well I forgot to add that my new "assistant" is my Mom. She does all of those extras for me anyway.

I am just so lucky. Her job got shipped overseas so she is free again. My kids and my husband are in heaven and don't want her to go home ( she cooks breakfast, dinner, does the laundry and takes the kids to school)She also has a strong managerial background so that comes in handy with my business.

She can go and put signs up, put lockboxes on (using your key though some associations say "no no" to non members using someone's key, check with your board, might be okay for an assistant), get extra keys made, write MLS descriptions, take pictures, enter your stuff on the MLS, update your contact database, send out mailings for you, author your blog for you, take photos, etc.

If you do open houses she could sit at the sign in sheet to get people's info and if you're with other clients she can ask them to wait until you're ready - she can give them a flyer but just can't answer any questions or talk with them about the house...

There are a bazillion things she could do...

My assistant helps me with lead generating. She posts internet ads with my approval. Responds to internet leads with an approved template and does all the busy paperwork that kept me from generating more sales. I went from 10-12 hour work day to 6-8 and have increase my sales. She's unlicensed at the moment but will be taking the test next month. I can't wait! I will probably have to hire another assistant as she will be promoted to a Buyer's agent bringing in more sales.