Create A Free Profile

    Why VPM

    The only Platform designed for Property Managers and Real Estate Professionals by Industry Experts.

    Learn more about Why VPM Learn more about Why VPM

    Job Descriptions

    Fill a variety of roles for your property management or real estate business.

    What can a VA do? Learn more about Why VPM

    Refer & Earn

    Earn residual income by referring Companies and Virtual Assistants with the VPM Referral Program.

    Start Referring Learn more about Why VPM

    How It Works

    See how easy it is to find a Virtual assistant. View a Demo here.

    How It Works Learn more about Why VPM

    Recruiting Service

    Regardless of experience, budget, or time constraints, VPM offers a solution for everyone.

    More about Recruiting Service Learn more about Why VPM

    FAQs

    Connecting virtual talent from across the globe to meet your business needs.

    Find your answers here Learn more about Why VPM

    Company Testimonials

    Hear from satisfied clients about their experience working with us.

    View Reviews Learn more about Why VPM
    No Platform Fees

    Companies

    VPM Solutions delivers the property management and real estate talent you need without any platform fees for companies!

    Companies pricing Info
    More about Companies Pricing
    VA-Platform-Fees

    Virtual Assistants

    Find Your Next Virtual Assistant Job for Free.

    Virtual Assistant Pricing Info
    More about Companies Pricing
    A man waving and recording on his laptop

    The Benefits of a Video Resume for Virtual Assistants

    Read Full Blog
    Read Full Blog

    Top 11 Skills to Look for in Your Next Real Estate Virtual Assistants

    Read Full Blog
    Read Full Blog

    VPM Learning Center

    View all Free Resources
    Get The Ultimate Guide to Managing Property Management Virtual Assistants

    Get “The Ultimate Guide to Managing Property Management Virtual Assistants!”

    Download Now
    Download Now
    What a Property Management Virtual Assistant Can Do as Your Maintenance Coordinator

    What a Property Management Virtual Assistant Can Do as Your Maintenance Coordinator

    View Resource Here
    View Resource Here
    Empire Industries case study - part 1-thumb

    Empire Industries Case Study (Part 1)

    Watch Case Study
    Watch Case Study
    Employer-Referral-1

    Can I Trust A Virtual Assistant?

    Watch Video
    Watch Video

    VPM Podcasts

    View all Podcasts
    VPM Podcast

    NARPM Radio host Pete Neubig interviews Kobi Bensimon

    View Podcast
    View Podcast
    VPM Podcast

    NARPM Radio host Pete Neubig interviews Aaron Holt

    View Podcast
    View Podcast

    A Guide to Microsoft Tools for a Real Estate Virtual Assistant


    There are many ways a virtual assistant can help your real estate company. To get the most efficient help from any assistant you choose, you'll want to ensure they have the right tools. When you hire a virtual assistant, they can handle repetitive or low-level tasks so you can focus on others areas of your business. 

    However, it's much easier for everyone if your assistant is familiar with all the tools they'll be using and isn't concerned about how to complete something you've asked them to do.

    Among the most significant tools for any assistant is Microsoft Office, which provides a lot of value for a real estate virtual assistant to help your property management company or real estate business succeed. As a suite of great tools, Microsoft Office gives your helpers and support personnel what they need to get the job done. Here's what to consider when choosing tools and training for a VA.

    Why Microsoft Office Is Important

    When adding virtual assistant services to your team, you want to feel confident they can do what's asked of them. Microsoft Office is important in this regard because it allows people to complete many different tasks. From Word documents to Excel spreadsheets, Office allows for collaboration, development, and expansion no matter your business type.

    A property management company needs assistants who can quickly use all the tools in the Office suite of products. Still, many people aren't as comfortable with computers as you might expect. So it's best not to assume a potential virtual assistant knows the ins and outs of Microsoft's products without testing those abilities. To make sure all assistants have what they need, you can offer training.

    3 Ways to Train a Virtual Assistant on Microsoft Office

    With the right virtual assistant training, you give your assistants the tools and resources they need with the confidence to use them properly. It's important to realize that not everyone learns the same way, and some people need different kinds of experiences to internalize the information they're given. That's why it's good to give assistants learning options instead of insisting that they all learn from the same place or in the same way or time frame.

    With that in mind, there are three primary ways you can provide training for a virtual assistant who needs to learn Microsoft Office skills. That way, they can choose the right one for their needs and get through their training faster. 

    Happy casual young man working on a laptop at home

    They'll be up to speed more quickly, so you'll have a more efficient experience working with them. Letting an assistant choose which option they prefer can be beneficial, as the best training is the one that works!

    1. Microsoft E-Learning Courses

    When your property management company or real estate business purchases Microsoft Office, you have an option to include e-learning. There's a catalog of courses, many of which are several hours long. Each course walks users through common tasks to ensure they know how to use everything that comes with the software. 

    The e-learning courses are included without an extra cost, making them an inexpensive way to help your many virtual assistants learn more about the Microsoft Office suite of products. While these courses can be lengthy, and some of them are more detailed than your assistants might need, there is a wealth of good information coming right from the source.

    2. Microsoft Training Through Other Providers

    Many online training providers offer Microsoft Office courses in their training libraries. You can sign your virtual assistants up (or ask that they sign up) for a monthly or yearly subscription to get access to the entire library. Then each virtual contractor can pick and choose the courses they want to take, so they can learn everything they need to know. 

    The good news is that several training providers offer the option to purchase only the courses you want and need instead of gaining access to the entire library. In addition, business owners can get significant discounts when they purchase a bulk license for the courses, so all employees and contractors can access them. 

    Because virtual assistants are contractors, you could include them in the license to benefit from the training. The most commonly used providers for as-needed courses are:

    • Udemy

    • Open Sesame

    • Biz Snack

    There are also companies that offer story-based learning for Microsoft Office, along with scenario-based courses that center around business development and productivity. You and your virtual assistants will have plenty of options when it comes to how to learn about Office and all its features.

    3. Microsoft Online Video Tutorials

    Virtual assistant training can also be done through online video tutorials from Microsoft. The tutorials are short, at around three minutes in length. They focus on specific tasks or details and provide quick insight into how to perform common operations. There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced options to meet your assistants where they are with their current level of knowledge.

    Spreadsheet Document Information Financial Startup Concept

    Your assistants can watch videos online or download them as PowerPoint presentations they can watch later. These are free for organizations to use, so it's easier than ever to use the tutorials for virtual assistant education. The videos don't provide comprehensive information, but if your virtual assistant needs to know how to do something specific, there's probably a video to help.

    Hire a Trained Real Estate Virtual Assistant

    Hiring a trained real estate virtual assistant familiar with the real estate and property management spaces is an important way to help your company grow. Most virtual assistants not only give you additional support but can increase your peace of mind. However, even the best assistants need training, though. Therefore, providing access to that training is a worthwhile investment in the business relationship you're working to build.

    VPM Solutions offers training for VAs through our platform! Set up your free Company Profile, then find a specialized virtual assistant that has the experience, skills, and training you need. 

    Download "The Real Estate Virtual Assistant Hiring Kit" for additional resources to help you find the ideal VA!