How Do You Know If You Need To Hire an Assistant?

By Greg Smith

Greg Smith has called Colorado home since 1986, when he came to attend the University of Colorado. After selling a successful marketing company and earning a graduate degree in information systems, Greg joined RE/MAX Alliance in 1998, where he quickly became Managing Broker and later co-owner of the Boulder Valley office.

Running a real estate business can be overwhelming. With all the moving parts, it’s easy to wonder if hiring an assistant is the right move. While it may seem like an exciting solution, the decision isn’t always clear-cut. To figure out if it’s time to hire help, here are a few things you need to consider.

Why does hiring an assistant matter? The question isn’t whether you need help, but how to leverage your time and resources effectively. When you’re juggling multiple transactions, handling administrative tasks, and trying to stay organized, your time becomes more valuable. But before you bring in an assistant, ask yourself: Are you maximizing your time? If you’re spending too much of it on low-value activities, then yes, an assistant might be the right move.

Maximizing leverage: What can you delegate? Leverage is key to scaling your business. But before hiring an assistant, think about what you can delegate. It’s not just about hiring someone to help with paperwork because there are many ways to create leverage in your life. Hiring a house cleaner or getting groceries delivered can free up time to focus on high-revenue tasks like showing homes or negotiating deals. If you’re not already making the most of your time, an assistant might not be the answer just yet.

Money: Can you afford an assistant? Real estate is a business, and just like any business, you need to be strategic with your money. When you’re handling tasks that could be outsourced, you’re essentially losing money. Take bookkeeping, for example. If you’re doing it yourself, are you really maximizing your return? Hiring a bookkeeper could free you up to focus on more profitable activities. The same goes for hiring a showing assistant or other support staff. As your transaction count increases, hiring an assistant becomes an investment that can lead to higher earnings.

Systems: Do you have them in place? Systems are the backbone of any successful business. If you’re constantly reinventing the wheel with each transaction, hiring an assistant might not be the solution. Before bringing someone on, make sure you have efficient systems in place for everything, from managing transactions to staying organized. When you have solid systems, your assistant can step in and make your operations run smoothly.

If you’re maximizing your leverage, making strategic financial decisions, and have systems in place, then it might be time to hire an assistant. But if you’re still figuring out how to organize your day or streamline your processes, start there first. Once you’ve got everything running smoothly, an assistant will help you take your business to the next level.

If you’re unsure about the next step in growing your business, feel free to call or text me at (303) 543-5720 or email me at mclean@boulderhomesource.com. I will help you figure out how you can make the right decision for your real estate business