All Forum Posts by: Rick Santasiere

Hmm.. I know a guy who lives in Granby, who might just so happen to know some people.... Hey stranger...

Thanks all. It seems like I may need a higher level of VA based on my need to have someone access my brokerage tools and fill out things that are delicate in nature. I will take all advice and use it. For flipping business, some tasks could work, but the brokerage stuff with client data, I might need to get an office manager.. we shall see

Hello fellow agents/brokers/owners. I own and operate a small Brokerage in CT with two small offices, but growing a little quicker than I expected I would, which certainly is a great problem to have. I wanted to reach out to see if there are other real estate agents (or even Broker/Owners like myself with agents who work with them) who have used VA's successfully. Pro's and Con's? I need an assistant badly, and know that I cannot afford to hire someone full time at $15-$20/hour while in growth mode. Would love to hear some stories (good and bad) about your experience whether it is with VA's or actual live assistants. I would love to have someone who is well-versed in RE to be in my office 40 hours per week, but in CT, that would probably cost me $30k/year... With the amount of $$ I spend on lead's, I just cannot afford to do both! Are there specific VA's that are trained in RE transactions we are commonly using (MLS, zipLogix, Docusign, CRM - TopProducer, etc)? I could use someone monitoring my email, following up with all my leads, scheduling appointments, preparing CMA's, drafting contracts, assisting my clients with their needs, and all of it! Am I asking to much? Thanks so much for your thoughts !!

@Anthony Joyner.  Reach out to me immediately!  We are a full service real estate brokerage that can help you do one of two things: Get your mother a maximum return on her home, assist you in working with her, and an investor on a rehab project.  I do not like the wholesale formula AT ALL when you are referring to you own mother, and the potential for you and her to acquire more money than wholesaling will ever get you/her.  I will gladly assist you i whatever you decide, but wholesaling is NOT the answer.  Talk to a professional broker, whether that means it is someone from my firm or another, it is your best approach. 

Dayo Ade We have multiple offices and cover the whole state. We are an investor friendly brokerage with all of our agents well versed in the current market conditions. Please reach out to me directly as I am the broker/owner.

@Richard Diaz. I am always available to take a call or grab a coffee if you are in my area. I have offices in Granby and Clinton, and spend time at both.  Reach out any time and we can set up a chat or a coffee meet.

@Chad Proctor. Are you working with a good investor friendly broker?  If not, PM me sometime, we might be able to help.

Great advice @Paul Hitchings. Linking up with a large firm makes sense for most new agents for sure. They are given exposure to things that they might not get in a smaller firm. When I meet with newer agents, I would say that at least 50% of them are better sited for the larger firms. However, on the flip side, if you are a self-motivated and self learned individual who doesn't require as much mentoring, then the smaller broker will allow for more flexibility in what type of real estate transactions you can become involved in. For instance, most of the big guys don't want part time agents. Most of them won't allow you to do commercial (and expect yo auto refer it in house). You are not allowed to do any property management, and they do not teach you how to work with investors. One last thing: Big Box agents learn to work "inside the box," if that term is still useful. You will not find a Big Box manager/broker who is going to try and "create options" for buyers and sellers like: Lease Option, Seller Financing, Subject to financing, etc. Pro's and con's to both types of Brokers. If you are looking to work with buyers and sellers (with less exposure to the REI side of things), Big Box is the way to go. If you are looking to capitalize on every facet of the industry, small shop hands down. Con for small shop: Not too much hand holding. Support yes, but your broker in a small shop is not going to write your contracts for you, they will provide guidance and the place to learn, and they will put your learning in your hands, and overall more accountability on you. Good luck in your search!

Go to a large firm and get in their referral network.  I don't see what advantage any broker would have holding your license for you. Your profile says you are a wholesaler, which will make it even harder for you to find someone. Liability alone would chase away the average broker.  Just some gentle feedback.  Coldwell does referral status and I think it costs like $50/year to stay with them and it keeps your license active. There may be others.

Cmon @Michael Noto, you must have the day off! @Dan Giungi Mike is your guy for Plainville. He has some rentals there and Southington as well. Vacancy rates, from my understanding are extremely low, and inventory is as well. Demand is higher than most of the surrounding towns as well. ROI is really tough to share with you because we have been riding quite the wave over the past few years in MFR, so ROI is dropping (from a turnkey perspective), but deals are there, just in not everywhere. Good luck to you Dan. If you ever need help from anyone other than Mike, feel free to reach out. I do manage some properties and represent some investors in that part of the state as well.