The coronavirus pandemic led many companies to close their physical workplaces for health and safety reasons. This meant that the whole of society had to start working from their homes and the transition hasn’t been easy. Homeowners’ associations were not spared from this unplanned shift in work arrangements.

The future of remote work

It’s been over two years since and organisations around the world agree that remote work is no longer a temporary response to the pandemic but a new working norm. This is all despite the fact that virtual assistants had a negative reputation in the past.

Managers were worried that they could no longer keep an eye on their team directly, but the numbers do not lie. Remote work and outsourcing are here to stay even as the world opens again. Check out the data or statistics below to know more:

Employees view remote work as a choice

Sometime around the start of the pandemic, over 60% of workers were working remotely because their offices were closed while 36% were working from home by choice. The number of people deciding to work remotely increased by 24% in 2022 and those choosing hybrid arrangements went up by 16%.

Offshore outsourcing is rising in popularity

Ladders predicted that 25% of jobs in North America would be remote by the end of 2022. Globally speaking, Owl Labs reported that 41% of small to medium enterprises are requiring staff to return to the office compared to 27% of larger corporations. More HOAs are also going fully remote and admin assistant hiring.

Professionals prioritise remote work options

In November 2021, 64% of those surveyed in the People at Work 2022: A Global Workforce View report said they would look for a new job if their employer wanted them back onsite full-time. A study from ZipRecruiter found that more than 60% of job seekers prefer remote opportunities over others too.

Small businesses improve with outsourcing

In partnership with Field Effect, OnePoll reveals that 56% of entrepreneurs felt more productive when working from home. 55% of them also report to have better communication with their team while 63% said that they have improved employee relationships through greater professional trust.

Workers are more effective when virtual

A survey by Airtasker shows that online professionals are more productive than those working in offices. They work an additional day and a half per month plus an additional 10 minutes per day. They are unproductive for only 27 minutes a day whereas office workers are unproductive for 37 minutes a day.

The future of HOA outsourcing

Years ago, homeowners’ associations would have refused the idea of hiring an administrative assistant. These days, HOA management and remote work combined make for better and happier communities. If administrative assistant hiring wasn’t something you did over the pandemic, now’s the time to do so.

Establish a clear remote work policy

Like with hiring a property management company, virtual work isn’t something you may implement immediately after one meeting. You need to properly inform the existing residents and staff of the specific organisational changes that are to happen. This way, everyone knows what to expect from here on.

You may plan to hire a virtual executive assistant while allowing your current team to go hybrid. Either way, make a policy detailing the metrics, tools, and working hours. Explain guidelines on what activities are allowed or not while they are logged in virtually, such as keeping the camera on during meetings.

Manage the expectations of employees

When you hire a property manager online, they may feel they have to be available for work at all hours or that they may log in for fewer hours. You need to clarify and manage what you expect from them per day, be it clocking in at certain times or submitting specific tasks at the end of the day.

In hiring a rental property manager, they might have expectations that the association will provide for their software and tools including subscriptions for premium applications. This is a normal perk so ensure you consider that when planning the budget for your remote team.

Integrate online collaboration tools

On the topic of software, if you aren’t already using remote apps for telecommuting, this is the time to incorporate them into your policy. There are different kinds of tools available on the market today so pick those that are user-friendly, secure, and suit your specific needs.

Project management software is important in HOA assistance since it enables users to prepare and manage projects for various residents and prospects. The same goes for video conferencing tools which allows them to go on video calls with stakeholders, developers, vendors, and more.

Be proactive when addressing concerns

As a community leader, you must guide your team when transitioning from office to home. Look up videos, modules, and other resources about producing quality work even when based online. Schedule a daily progress meeting with every member if you must so they have a chance to raise any concerns or challenges.

Rather than simply assign tasks to them, support them with the right resources and tools. In case any issue comes up, address them as soon as possible but with a broad perspective. It’s important to think about the happiness of not only the residents or tenants but also of your team.

Conduct a number of online activities

Check on your employees’ welfare by organising virtual gatherings every so often. Your new hire property manager for Airbnb units might feel out of place at first so give them an opportunity to know the people they’re working with outside of a professional setting.

Team building activities are also an excellent means for preventing burnout and reducing stress. Your virtual assistant may be curious about the individuals they see in the photos of the recent community barbecue party, for instance. Or they may want to know more about the neighbourhood pool they helped plan for.

Set a standard working schedule

When you hire a property manager for rental units virtually, one of the first things they want to know is the time they’re expected to work. Defining their schedule not only helps them plan their days better but also allows you to inform residents and their co-workers when they may be reached.

A well-defined schedule is even more important when hiring someone from the Philippines or anywhere else with a vastly different time zone. Setting working hours where both sides are able to meet for at least 4 hours allows for better collaboration and communication.

Remote work and HOA management made easy

Now hiring an administrative assistant is one of the top HOA industry trends especially over the pandemic. Some associations may not have felt the need to hire a virtual executive assistant before but they were forced to change gears with all of the restrictions.

If admin assistant hiring wasn’t something your community did, make sure you don’t overlook it now. Hiring an administrative assistant is recommended for staying competitive in the industry of property development and management, after all.

We at Remote Workmate will help you find the right virtual property manager for your specific needs. Your association might manage a condominium building or a subdivision but we guarantee to endorse candidates who meet your specific requirements.