The pandemic brought on a ‘race for space’
In what has been called a ‘race for space’, the arrival of the Covid pandemic in 2020, saw the UK property market take off – in spite of predictions of a slump. During this property boom, even hard to sell houses were being snapped up. The outcome, according to the Lloyds Banking Group1, was that at a national level, average UK house prices grew by +20.4% between January 2020 and December 2022.
For Estate Agents to conduct business as usual during lockdown, two things had to happen. In-office support staff had to work from home. And property software providers had to ramp up the development of digital solutions to facilitate remote work and client interaction. Advances in PropTech have since vastly enhanced many estate agency businesses and streamlined processes.
Post-pandemic problems
However, even with the post-Covid downturn in the UK’s domestic property market – and the subsequent equilibrium leading to a predicted upturn – three problems have arisen within Estate Agency’s “new normal”.
- Technology has ramped up the need for speed and fitting more into each working day.
Yes, technology is an essential tool for automating workflow and facilitating seamless client communication. But it also means that clients have the marketplace at their fingertips 24/7. Prospective clients start their house-hunting online, giving rise to the need to market online, respond instantly to client enquiries and a whole host of other responsibilities that are added to each Estate Agent’s working day.
- Talent is hard to find.
Even before the pandemic radically changed employees’ expectations and the working environment, a looming talent gap was noted as one of the most pressing concerns facing UK companies. UK-based Estate Agents are particularly hard hit in this regard, as industry-related skills and know-how are hard to find.
- Remuneration costs are on the rise.
Today, with the cost of living on the increase, not only have salary expectations skyrocketed, younger employees are looking for faster career progression. They are taking on more senior roles without sufficient experience behind them and may quickly move on, changing jobs after a relatively short period of time.
Filling the talent gap – affordably
Award-winning Estate Agent and Mentor, Sanjay Gandhi, from Moss Properties and his Operations Director, Bronwyn Schmidt, quickly spotted the critical need to build an expanded talent pool from which UK Estate Agents could source a wider range of experienced support staff to grow their business.
Sanjay and Bronwyn understand that to be successful, freeing up valuable time and saving money is every Estate Agents’ imperative. They founded VA Central in 2020 to provide each of their UK-based Estate Agent clients with access to a global talent pool whose salary requirements are affordable – in line with the National Living Wage. Every VA Central client gets to take on the best Virtual Assistant to suit a variety of needs from among top quality, English-speaking candidates who reside in a parallel time zone.
How VA Central is transforming UK Estate Agency
Our Virtual Assistants have emerged as a game-changer for more and more UK-based Estate Agents – saving them time and money while supporting their business growth. As our clients’ needs grow, we assist them scale though taking on additional Virtual Assistant support. In this way, the business can adapt quickly to meeting changing demands.
Here are 7 more ways in which VA Central is transforming UK Estate Agency:
- Providing experienced, specialist professionals
There are many experienced specialists who prefer working as Virtual Assistants, loving working in a first-world market and earning pounds. The outcome is that our bespoke VAs fill a wide range of specialist roles, bringing passion and many years of experience to their work. Our recruitment team has identified industries in which staff have transferable skills, applicable to Estate Agencies. This further enhances our talent pool.
- Containing costs
Taking on a Virtual Assistant, or two, has been proven to be a more cost-efficient alternative to employing in-office support staff. Estate Agents save on overhead costs such as office space, equipment and employee benefits, while still benefiting from the support that their Virtual Assistants provide as committed members of the team.
- Levelling up efficiency
Our Virtual Assistants are specialists at what they do. Though experience and focusing on specific routine tasks they take a fraction of the time that a busy Estate Agent would have to invest in handling administration, operational tasks, marketing, social media, bookkeeping and more.
- Enabling technological advancement
Virtual Assistant are technology savvy. Their automation of tasks and updating processes helps to streamline workflow. AI is a tremendous tool in the hands of our VAs as they put it to work in conducting intelligent research and analysis, optimising marketing campaigns, creating impactful social media content and even creating 3-D virtual property walk-throughs.
- Helping business growth
With a bespoke team of Virtual Assistants handling important routine tasks, Estate Agents are freed up to identify and focus on their top priorities – the work listing and selling more property. Expanding the team can transform an independent Estate Agent who sees themselves as working solo into a leader who is running a saleable business.
- Supporting our VA team through ongoing training
We don’t place VAs and walk away. Our team of VAs is supported through ongoing training and workshops that keep them up-to-date and well-equipped to be the best they can be. There are occasions when clients request that we provide particular training to their VA.
- Promoting work-life balance
Our top-quality Virtual Assistants work either half or full day and are bespoke to each client, making them a trusted member of the team. It is this teamwork that makes it possible for our clients to take much needed time off, knowing that the day-to-day work within their business is in good hands.
Read our blog on Cost Effective Staffing to learn more about how taking on a Virtual Assistant provides all the benefits that having exceptional employees brings – without having to bear added costs beyond their monthly salary.