I have seriously been looking into Virtual Assisting, but from a career perspective. I have just begun my research and this is the first article I ran across discussing an employer’s real experience (and disappointment) using a VA. A little discouraging to say the least, but I’m hopeful your experience was the exception rather than the rule. From your description, I’m thinking that the end result would have been the same if you had hired her to work with you in person. I’ll be looking for your next article and in the interim, will be enjoying some of your past work.

Best of luck!

Tess

- no fixed fees, subsciptions etc – they use balance for settlement, which is minute-based
- they provide web-based project management system (which is previewed on their website) to allow clear information about stage of affairs (what done by who, how, what’s the progress). Basically all relevant information in one place.
- they charge 9 EUR (VAT included, which is 12 USD) per hour for professional service.

Bart

Unfortunately, outsourcing to India resulted in serious language barriers, timing delays and inconsistent results. I was paying $250 for every 20 hours of work which I thought was great at that time. I recently learned about another company called Red Butler which is based in the US.

I signed up with Red Butler for their VIP membership and now pay $165 per month for a dedicated assistant that will handle up to 100 of my requests each month. It has been remarkable and I try to inform people whenever I can about the service.

http://www.RedButler.com

Cheers,

NV

I enjoyed your article and am looking forward to the follow-up. The other VAs made some excellent points. I’d also like to suggest submitting RFP’s to VA professional organizations like the International Real Estate Assistant Association (IREAA) and the International Virtual Assistant Association (IVAA). You can look specifically for VAs that specialize in the type of work you are looking to have done, and will most likely receive several responses directly from VAs that can explain to you how they will proceed with the task(s).

Personally, I wish more clients were as organized and insightful as you in presenting and tracking their projects. Working from a home office is, in my opinion, often more difficult then working in a “normal” office environment. Distractions abound. And when people first start working from a home office they often think multitasking is one of the perks. However, multitasking — as in doing laundry, running the dishwasher, chasing kids, etc., can chew up time quickly.

From a professional viewpoint we simply must not allow outside interruptions to prevent us from accomplishing our tasks. Accurate record-keeping and time management are also necessary. And last (but not least) projecting a professional image — be it by phone or by our manner of correspondence — is more important than ever for those of us who telecommute. Nothing kills a working relationship quicker — either with a client or with HIS clients — then to have screaming children waging war in the background or a washing machine pounding away next to the office door.

I’ll look forward to your continued articles on this topic. Believe me, there are many out there with the experience and skills you seek. And we appreciate your efforts to keep your work in the U.S.

Regards,

Karalyn Eckerle
http://www.cardinalpointva.com

Virtual assistants are business owners in their own right, they take their businesses seriously and will never conduct a consultation with kids screaming in the background. You are right, this should have given you a hint of what to expect.

I commend you for having your tasks outlined and providing instructions, these are some great steps to ensure the success of your virtual relationship. However I should make a couple points to you and your readers for future reference:

1. You will find it almost impossible to source a professional virtual assistant in the US for $12.50 an hour.
2. Most virtual assistants use their own project management and time tracking software.

Finally, I am happy to hear that the experience has not soured you and that you do still intend to find a good match for your business.

Feel free to email me or visit my website to request an ebook Work Successfully With A Virtual Assistant, is free for the asking. Best Wishes!

As a professional VA and not someone who treats her business as something to ‘fill in time’, I have an office space dedicated to my work and is reserved as such. Additionally, it is exceedingly important when working virtually to understand client’s instructions fully to ensure your client’s valuable billable time is not wasted spent figuring out how to do tasks rather than doing the actual work.

I am glad it seems you haven’t given up on Virtual Assistants and fervently hope you have a better experience the second time around.

Kate V. Kerans
Kerans Virtual Assistance

Andrew