Posted by Carmen on May 05, 1999 at 09:12:11:
Please do keep us posted! It’s great to see someone building a “business machine” out of REI - that’s my long-term plan as well. I guess I have to learn how to do it myself first, before I teach someone else, though!
Hiring my first employee - Posted by SCook85
Posted by SCook85 on May 04, 1999 at 22:50:31:
I have been contemplating for quite some time now to hire an employee to start doing some of the day to day tasks that keep me from doing more deals. I have been diligently working on an employee manual for this particular position, a training program, and an operations manual. I’m hoping to have it in place by the end of next week. I have decided to hire someone in the sales arena to start out with. Basically a sales associate. This person will be responsible for returning all calls from prospective buyers, relaying pertanent information to prospects, completing daily summaries, meeting with prospecitive buyers to fill out applications, occasionally showing properties, and collecting financial data for financing purposes.
Does anyone else have an employee that performs similar functions? Am I asking to much, or to little of this person? I’d like to hear the good, the bad and the ugly stories regarding employees in this capacity. I’m putting revenue generating aspect of my business into someone elses hands, I feel that my system and compensation plan will motivate them to do a great job and be very efficient at what they do. Their main objective is to get applications filled out and passed along to me. These are the people that I will consider serious prospects and take the time to talk to. If you have any thoughts or ideas I would greatly appreciate hearing them.
For those of you who are interested my next step is to bring aboard a purchasing specialist, and get them making many offers per week. I’ll keep you updated with my progress.
SCook85
Re: Hiring my first employee - Posted by Tom(Germany)
Posted by Tom(Germany) on May 07, 1999 at 06:47:30:
First thing that popped up in my mind after reading your post was LIABILITY. You might want to approach this from a different angle. Instead of “employing” how about finding an independent contractor, and contracting the work out. You shouldn’t have to pay Unemployment comp., Social Security taxes, Medicare taxes… If your employee has an accident at work, you may be open for dammages. If he/she were independent than they are liable for their own actions. My thoughts and I’m not a legal professional. Keep us posted.
Re: Hiring my first employee - Posted by hkCA
Posted by hkCA on May 06, 1999 at 14:51:42:
Steve,
I don’t know the answer to this but one thing that you may want to consider is whether certain duties you are assigning to that employee would require that they be a licensed RE agent or broker. Since they are not the owner of the property, they may not be allowed to conduct certain tasks. Just a thought. Sounds like a good plan, though. Good luck and keep us posted.
hkCA
Sales VS Appointment Setting - Posted by Mark R in KCMO
Posted by Mark R in KCMO on May 05, 1999 at 16:34:50:
Steve,
Hiring a Sales person is in my opnion one of the toughest positions to fill.
However from your discription of what you are wanting, you are talking about a differnet position than sales.
Sale people will get tired quickly if there isn’t a “close” to thier work, they tend to lose interest, because there isn’t a thrill.
You are looking for an appointment setter.
That too is a specialty.
Apointment setters also work on commsission (however usually they have a sizable base and small comission).
Wanted Sales assistant, Outside sales company is looking for a skilled assistant to coordinate appointments and schedule closers. No overnight travel, company paid training. Must have transportation for local field work. Commission + base during training.
Call xxx-xxxx
When they call inform them that much of thier work will be via phone and Leads will be provided however it requires some cold calling (if you are going to be calling FSBO ads).
I am also in the process of creating operations manuals for my companies and I find it interesting the number of things that I do on a normal basis, especailly on the days I don’t think that I did much!
Hope this helps
Mark R in KCMO