Are There Virtual Assistants I can Talk To On The Phone?

Question

Hello Bigger Pockets,

I’ve had some challenges communicating effectively and efficiently with virtual assistants, the ones I’ve worked with I have not been able to speak with directly over the phone, it’s been only through text messages or through some middle manager.

Where can I find a virtual assistant whom I can speak with directly on the phone?

Thank you for your help.

Corina Eufinger · Answer

Wow, okay this thread kind of went off the rails....

@Brolin Whitaker It is possible to find a VA that will speak with you over the phone however usually its only the freelancers.  The ones you hire yourself through upwork, fiverr, etc.  Getting a VA through a big company has never resulted in direct phone contact that I know of. Going through a big company is also where you get the large time difference.  It is possible hire domestic VA's through freelancer sites.

There are many freelancer VA's who do not like giving out their phone number to clients until a good rapport is established and an understanding of boundaries is achieved. The freelancer VAs like their independence and clients with phone numbers teether them down.  I suggest going the route of Zoom or the like when you need spoken communication with the VA. Exchange emails to set up a virtual meeting and do a quick hash out over Zoom.  Don't view that as replacing your text or email communication, you still will use those as your main form.  However if you are struggling to get something across a Zoom is great backup.

Brock Mogensen · Answer

Upwork is great for finding VA's.  I've been able to speak with some through the platform on there.  It takes a lot of time to find a good VA.  We have a great one.  The reason you can't speak on the phone with most of them is because they need a phone service platform to use.  Ring Central is a platform we use for our VA.  This is a ~$50/mo cost that falls on you to pay so the VA can call with a local area code of your choice.

Mark Shaver · Answer

@Steve Morris, you wrote: "Well, I guess if you think someone in Moscow is an
 expert on American real estate, say in Kenosha, WI, that's pretty 
good."

Moscow is overflowing with US real estate experts.

1) There is a strong centralization in Russia. The regions send most 
taxes to Moscow. Moscow distributes them by regions and does not forget 
about itself. As a result, there is an excess of money and people with 
money in Moscow.

2) The USA is one of the best regions for real estate investments. 
Russia has an unstable investment climate. Moscow residents are eager to
 buy American real estate for investment purposes.

3) The United States is located to the south of Moscow and has an ocean. Moscow is cold in winter and has a small river:

Source via Wikimedia.org

Residents of Moscow buy houses in Florida for winter holidays and yachting.

4) There is an excellent education in the United States. Moscow 
residents send their children to study in the U.S. and buy apartments 
for them while they study.

A couple of questions

Question 1. Who helps Moscow residents choose real estate in the United States?

Answer. Moscow experts who know real estate in the USA.

Question 2. How competent are Moscow experts in American real estate?

Answer. Exactly the same as American real estate experts. Most American 
real estate experts (agents, brokers, investors,...) of Russian origin 
work closely with Moscow real estate agencies and Moscow investment 
companies. There is an exchange of experience. Also Moscow experts in 
American real estate:

• Read American Real Estate and Investment ForumsGo on business trips to partner U.S. real estate and investment companies.Participate in American real estate and investment conferences.

The old commonplace truth "Only a local real estate specialist can be good" sounds not so categorical in the 21st century.

Steve Morris · Answer

Well, I guess if you think someone in Moscow is an expert on American real estate, say in Kenosha, WI, that's pretty good.

I think I'll just sit here and watch what happens myself.

Mark Shaver · Answer

@Steve Morris, Merriam-Webster.com wrote:"Definition of virtual: being on computer network"In the Virtual Assistant concept, the word "virtual" means "remote". For example, a virtual investor is an investor who invests in other states without leaving his or her state. You can call a virtual investor in the same way that you call a local investor.

Mark Shaver · Answer

@Brolin Whitaker, There are 4 reasons why you cannot speak directly to the virtual assistant before hiring him.

Reason 1. Virtual assistants are mostly from the Philippines. There is a difference with Georgia in time zones of 12-13 hours. When you are full of desire to talk on the phone, the Philippine assistants sleep sweetly. When the Philippine virtual assistant is awake, you sleep sweetly.

Rudyard Kipling prophetically wrote in his "The Ballad of East and West" about time zones:

"Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God's great Judgment Seat."

If two countries are on opposite sides of the globe, the Sun cannot illuminate them simultaneously:

Image via Pexels.com

Reason 2. Virtual assistants mostly do not speak English well.

Reason 3. VA agencies prohibit contact between investors and virtual assistants before hiring. This insures against direct contracts between investors and the virtual assistant besides VA agency.

Reason 4. Virtual assistants, who can speak fluent English on the phone, are no longer virtual assistants, but virtual call managers. Hourly payment for virtual call managers is 1.5 times higher than for virtual assistants.

Steve Morris · Answer

Where can I find a virtual assistant whom I can speak with directly on the phone?

Look up the meaning of "virtual" in a dictionary.  KInda hard to expect to talk to them.

Claudio Salvatorelli · Answer

Hey Brolin,

Every time I need a service like that, I just hire someone on Fiverr.com,

Hope this help