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With the advancement of the digital world, new opportunities have come for real estate agents and virtual assistants due to the remoteness of work. But this is also where potential issues might arise: it is not easy to work in different time zones. If you are a real estate agent, you realize that managing your virtual assistant’s schedule can make your work easier and offer your clients the best services. Below are some useful strategies when it comes to dealing with time zones about your operation with a virtual real estate assistant.
1. Establish Clear Communication Channels
One thing that is very important especially when one is getting a virtual assistant is that there is good communication especially when the two parties are in different time zones. Set up meetings that are scheduled through messaging applications which include, Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom. Having a definite means of communication helps people be at the same information level and handle emerging problems effectively.
2. Create a Shared Calendar
Using a calendar application, for instance, Google Calendar, can be useful for both, yourself and the virtual assistant. The second specific is to note important dates such as deadlines, meetings, and reminders to contain both time zones. Also try to persuade your assistant to make specific working times in the calendar, so you can visually distinguish the times your assistant is free.
3. Define Working Hours Clearly
Although flexibility is a virtue of such working, it is critical to determine reasonable working hours for employees and employers. Co-location can be beneficial when the schedules of the two organizations can be aligned to have a significant degree of overlap. For example, Eastern Time and Pacific Time that you are in and your assistant is in, check for some hours that are good for both.
4. Utilize Time Adjustment tools
Most commonly, two applications can help figure out the time in the locations an assistant is situated at, and these are World Time Buddy or Time Zone Converter. In this manner, one can reduce the chance of setting particular meetings or calls at specific times that might be inconvenient for both parties.
5. Focus on the Timing of Response
When sending a message or an e-mail, do keep in mind such issues as the working hours of your assistant and his or her time zone. In this way, if you send the message at night you will realize that they receive it in the morning the following day. To avoid misunderstandings on the period to expect a response, coordinate both of your schedules.
6. Leverage Asynchronous Communication
Asynchronous communication allows the team members to respond when it pleases them. Use project management software to assign tasks and track the status of your project using Trello Asana or click-up. In this way, your virtual assistant may complete assignments that do not require constant feedback and thereby maximize their working time.
7. Regularly Review Workflows
Scheduling entails the control of times and timing; thus, it is advisable to review the workflows periodically to try and determine instances that hail from time zone differences and infuse inefficiencies into the processes that you are implementing. Insofar as task delegation is concerned does there exist a possibility of delegating certain activities differently? Are there times that are worse for having meetings? Sustaining these features will ensure that your interaction is optimally effective so that you and your assistant are efficient.
8. Be Flexible and Understanding
Last of all, it is imperative to maintain a certain degree of fluidity and tolerance. Due to time differences, there can be delayed responses or even misunderstandings can occur.
Conclusion
Dealing with time zones is very important to have good cooperation with your remote real estate virtual assistant. Getting fundamental well done, first of all, the organization can improve cooperation and continuously increase productivity by setting up direct communication and using familiar tools and timely flexibility. If well managed your virtual assistant means a lot to your real estate business regardless of the geographical location they are at.
