5 real estate tasks to outsource in 2022

In real estate, knowing when to start outsourcing real estate tasks is vital to running a successful business. If you're ready to bring on a little extra help, here are 5 ways to get started.

In the beginning, many small business owners take on most of the routine tasks of running the new business. They do everything from janitorial to accounting and marketing.

The smart ones eventually start outsourcing real estate tasks. Those who don’t, become “… prisoners of their own success,” according to David Tal, co-founder and CEO of Agentology.

Sure, there are certain tasks that require your hands-on attention. Others, however, are easily delegated to an outside source, such as a virtual assistant.

Let’s take a look at what outsourcing real estate tasks can do for your real estate business, some of the tasks you may want to consider handing over to someone else and where to find these people.

How outsourcing real estate tasks benefits your real estate business

The biggest benefit of outsourcing certain tasks within your real estate business is that you’ll also be freeing up the time you previously spent on these tasks.

This is time far better spent generating new leads and nurturing relationships with your current leads and SOI.

Outsourcing real estate tasks, if done right, can also be cost effective. With online hiring sites, such as Fiverr.com and Upwork.com, you may find specialists who charge substantially less than workers in your market.

“For example, many of my clients recruited me because my hourly rate is lower than comparable marketing consultants in their own cities,” Matt Keener, author and president of Keener Marketing Solutions, LLC, says at Entrepreneur.com.

“The cost of living in Indiana is lower than most major metropolitan areas so they’re able to get an MBA on a more attractive budget without sacrificing quality,” he concluded.

This benefit correlates to the quality of talent you’ll find when you hire a freelancer as opposed to an employee. Depending on the tasks you require, you are likely to find better talent, for less money.

Hire smart and you’ll also not have to train the freelancer. Sure, there may be a few tasks that will require a bit of training, but nowhere near as much time than you might spend recruiting and training employees. Naturally, this depends on your market’s talent pool, but overall, the pool of freelance talent is deeper.

Finally, once you’ve rid yourself of the routine tasks of running a business and you are instead spending that time nurturing and lead generating, your income will increase.

Outsourcing real estate tasks in 2022

Many agents will choose their most despised and/or time-consuming task and decide that’s the one to outsource. Others choose a task that they know a pro could do better.

If you’re stuck for ideas, check out our list.

1. Administrative tasks

General administrative tasks are the most commonly outsourced by real estate agents. Many hire an in-office assistant while others use a freelancer. Some of the most important tasks this person can take off your plate includes:

CRM maintenance and management
Answering/returning calls and emails
Ordering supplies
Scheduling appointments
Coordinating marketing campaign

2. PPC advertising campaign manager

If I were still in the real estate industry, this is one I would give strong consideration. The intricacies of PPC go right over my head, and I know I’m not alone.

This doesn’t have to be an expensive endeavor; you don’t necessarily need a marketing agency. If you have the money though, by all means hire the best you can afford when looking into outsourcing real estate tasks.

Upwork.com, on the other hand, features many freelancers offering a variety of PPC marketing packages at attractive price points.

The key to hiring remote freelancers is coming up with a list of qualifying/screening questions. Keep the following tips in mind:

If a firm grasp of English is required, ask questions that will require narrative answers to help you verify their language skills.
Ask for references of past clients and then follow up if you have any doubts as to the freelancer’s experience and qualifications.

So, why outsource this task?

“PPC can be a significant revenue driver for businesses. But if you don’t know what you’re doing, it can also be a waste of money,” cautions business consultant Larry Alton at TheAmericanGenius.com.

For tips on how to successfully hire a freelancer on Upwork.com, check out Chad Gravallese’s video at YouTube.com.

3. SEO

If you’re aiming for organic traffic for your real estate website and blog, search engine optimization (SEO) is a critical and time-consuming task. Consider outsourcing your SEO in 2022 as a wise business investment.

Like Upwork.com, Fiverr.com is home to lots of SEO folks with a range of fees. It’s tempting to go for the freelance with the lowest fees. Keep in mind, however, that you may be disappointed or delighted with the lower priced freelancers. It’s a gamble.

Learn what to look for in a Fiverr freelancer at depreneurdigest.com.

There are other freelancers (aside from those on the two mega-freelancer sites) who excel at SEO and you can read about some of them at JoshFechter.com. Consider one when you’re looking into outsourcing real estate tasks.

4. Offline marketing

If you’ve taken the advice of lead gen experts then your real estate business employs a multi-pronged marketing plan. These plans include offline marketing, such as client appreciation events, networking and direct mail:

Newsletters
Just-listed/just-sold postcards
Fliers
Market updates
Open house invitations for the neighbors
Marketing pieces geared to specific audiences, such as absentee owners, renters, veterans and more.

There are many direct mail-related tasks worthy of outsourcing. Graphic design is common as is direct mail campaign execution and management.

5. Transaction coordination

Not all brokerages offer agents the services of a transaction coordinator (TC). If yours doesn’t, and you do a lot of business, hiring one is a must.

“Agents, Teams and Brokerages save 16 hours per transaction by delegating to our Transaction Coordinators,” according to transactly.com’s website. They also claim that a TC performs “… 90% of closing tasks.”

One way to find a TC is to hire an online company that specializes in real estate transaction coordination. Here are a few for you to consider:

Transactly.com—Offers a free trial and then you’ll only pay $95 per year.
Virtualrealestateservices.com—There is no mention of prices on the website but they do prominently mention that you won’t pay “… a penny until your sale closes!”

Simply Real Estate Transaction Management Services— In business since 2008, Kellie, Simply’s proprietor, charges $350 Buy or List Side and $595 if they’ll be coordinating both sides.

You’ll also find virtual real estate assistants who can take on the role of TC:

“Although there is some variation in the numbers, most experts agree that once you hit 40-50 transactions per year, your production will be capped at that level unless you hire an assistant or someone else to help you manage your business,” according to Bernice Ross at Inman.com.

Managing your business should not be your full-time job, which is why outsourcing real estate tasks is so important. You are, after all, the owner of the business and the only person who brings in the commission checks.

Best of all, outsourcing some of the daily tasks involved in running a real estate business frees up your time. Time to spend with family, time to nurture your SOI, time to brainstorm different ways to generate leads.

Time. Give yourself that gift in 2022.