Are you having a hard time scheduling money-making tasks for your HOA such as meeting with existing clients and finding new tenants? If the reason is that you’re too busy with routine duties like replying to messages and looking for contractors, hiring an administrative assistant is a good idea.

Being part of a homeowners’ association, you know how important it is to maximise resources and connections. Every organisation grows through leveraging tools, finances, and people. Under the ‘people’ category are the employees you recruit to help you with your work.

Debunking myths about HOA assistance

Choosing to hire an HOA virtual assistant comes with numerous benefits for your community, but there are just as plenty of misconceptions about them. If these are keeping you from admin assistant hiring despite your need, see what you’re missing out on.

1 – They handle only administrative tasks

Gone are the days when VAs are tied to office tasks as they’re now capable of specialised jobs. As long as the work is done through a computer, you may assign it to your HOA assistant. They are especially useful when you need help with digital marketing for your community.

Other things you might have them perform include editing photos and videos of your properties, keeping track of the fines and dues of your tenants, and monitoring the progress of any renovations or repairs. If you’re thinking of holding virtual showings or open houses, they’ll aid you with that too.

2 – They cheat on their hours worked

One of the main selling points when you decide to hire a community assistant is that they’re flexible. You may employ them by output, by project, or by the hour. When you pay them per hour worked, you may worry that they state more than what they actually did.

It makes sense to be concerned about billable hours and transparency, but there are ways to monitor their efficiency and productivity. An example is using Time Doctor which tracks their activity and even the applications and programs used. Hiring through an offshore staffing agency ensures third-party supervision too.

3 – They cost more than regular employees

Regardless where they are based or what kind of experience they have, an HOA community assistant is always more affordable than their counterparts in your city. They also spare you from operating costs such as those for office space, equipment, and internet connection.

This is possible because a VA prepares their own computer, doesn’t require health insurance, and takes care of their own ISP subscription. While it’s not necessary for you to provide them with these benefits, you may use them as incentives for top-performing workers.

4 – They come with greater risks

Working with anyone is always going to come with some level of privacy or security risk, whether they’re remote or not. You mustn’t let this myth stop you from getting an HOA assist yet remember to always practice vigilance whenever you’re recruiting for your association.

By working with a remote staffing agency, you have greater assurance on the quality of your hires. They will screen candidates more thoroughly and enforce any disciplinary actions should the need arise. They will also be held accountable in case anything happens with the employee they endorse.

5 – They are unable to communicate effectively

A lot of people think that it’s hard to converse with an HOA virtual assistant since you’re unable to walk up to them whenever you need something. The truth is that you just have to use the right tools for staying connected to every member of your team.

Some of the communication options worth exploring include Skype, Zoom, Slack, Trello, and Teamwork. Be sure to contact them on a regular basis, provide clear instructions regarding their tasks, and give them constructive feedback on their quality and pace.

6 – They serve as temporary solutions

Some believe that HOA assistance is a quick fix until the association is able to hire a permanent employee. While they may be based remotely, many of them are actually in the industry for the long run. They are looking for sustainable career opportunities and will commit to them.

The truth is that location has nothing to do with tenure. As long as the HOA assistant is willing to stay and do the job, you may arrange them to work for you as long as you need them. If you want them to work with you for years to come, you’ll have to make the effort to retain them.

7 – They suit certain industries only

This myth is related to the misconception that virtual assistants are only capable of administrative tasks. These days, VAs have different fields of expertise therefore serving in a wide range of capacities. You’re sure to find a specialist in bookkeeping, social media, and even property management.

What’s more is that they are willing to be trained and quick to learn new skills. Transitioning from a physical work setup to a virtual setup alone requires them to be flexible. Learning about your specific field or company isn’t something impossible to ask for.

What’s stopping you from admin assistant hiring?

Now that we’ve debunked seven common misconceptions about working with a community assistant, it’s time for your association to go hire a virtual executive assistant. Not only will you have someone to handle the mundane tasks but also you will save money while boosting efficiency.

We’ve mentioned a few times about working with an offshore staffing agency to ensure that you hire an HOA community assistant with the right qualifications. We at Remote Workmate are specialists in connecting homeowners’ associations with top talents across the globe.