Using a VA to answer incoming calls

[Tyson Cross]

Ok, so I am making a plan to start virtual wholesaling. I have a market I am targeting within two hours away. I have some contacts on the ground that I plan to use for taking pictures and estimating rehab costs. I won't actually go to the property, so this will be critical.

The tough part is that I have a full time job that does not allow me to take phone calls all day. So my thought is to hire VAs to take phone calls and screen callers. I would ideally like for the qualified callers (equity and motivation) to then get passed to me. I would then run the comps (I have MLS access) and pass it to my partner on the ground. You know the rest from there.

My main question is, does anyone use VAs to screen callers? If so, what types of tools/information have you given them in order to be successful. It seems to me that I would want someone who has great conversational skills and asks the right questions. This is crucial to me even starting wholesaling with a full time job. Unless I can find a successful VA to take calls, I don't know how I could successfully and consistently close deals.

Thanks.

[Mike Nelson]

@Tyson Cross , yes I have them follow a script at first, mainly to have a flow to follow all through the call. You'd want to make sure you hire someone articulate and well-versed in English. You'd be surprise how there's alot of them....then they don't have to sound scripted. In a few weeks time, I notice that they sound more natural and conversational once they've get the hang of things. I have all calls recorded using mp3 skype recorder and for the first month I check on some calls to see how they're doing and maybe do some coaching.

I don't really tell them to keep calls short. They have to understand that it's a big part of their job that they know how to gauge each lead's level of motivation. So ultimately, it's their call every time. They decide which ones should be forwarded to me at the end of the day. For certain situations where they can't decide on something or not familiar, I always make myself available through skype chat or email.

At the end of the day, the VA forwards the motivated leads to me with all the details gathered from the conversation. I run comps and come up with the offer and tell her so she can call them back.

I set my VA's up with their own Googlevoice and Skype accounts. The GV number for the area I'm marketing. We're able to access it simultaneously. That number is what's listed on the postcards mailed to sellers. If leads call outside of the VA's shift, VA returns all missed calls. If she gets a call while on her shift, she can pick it up live. My VA's also do cold-calling, if it's not too busy and I haven't mailed a new batch, I can make her look up leads in Craigslist and FSBO's.

Sorry this is long but I hope it helps. :)