In today’s competitive real estate industry, running a lean and efficient operation isn’t just smart—it’s essential. As your business grows, so do the demands: more listings to manage, more leads to follow up with, and more back-end tasks to complete. That naturally leads to the question—should you hire full-time, in-house staff, or bring in a virtual assistant (VA) to support your business?

At first glance, hiring someone to join your office team may seem like the logical next step. But when you dig into the actual costs and compare them to the value and flexibility of a virtual assistant, the answer becomes clearer. Let’s break down the comparison.

1. Salary and Compensation

In-House Staff:
Hiring a full-time administrative assistant, marketing coordinator, or listing manager typically involves a fixed salary. Depending on location, experience, and role, this can range anywhere from $25,000 to $60,000+ annually. On top of that, you’ll need to account for:

• Government-mandated benefits (SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, etc.)
• Bonuses and holiday pay
• Potential overtime

Virtual Assistant:
VAs are typically paid by the hour, per task, or monthly retainer—based on your workload and budget. Rates vary by skill level and region, but are often more cost-effective, especially when hiring from global talent pools like the Philippines, India, or Eastern Europe. You only pay for the work you need, when you need it.

2. Overhead Costs

In-House Staff:
Hiring locally also means providing a workspace—desk, chair, computer, phone, internet, and often office supplies or software licenses. For businesses operating in physical office spaces, this adds up. Even remote in-house employees still require equipment and tech setups.

Virtual Assistant:
VAs work remotely using their own devices, software, and internet connection. No need to expand your office footprint or invest in additional infrastructure. This dramatically reduces your operational costs while still expanding your team’s capacity.

3. Flexibility and Scalability

In-House Staff:
With a full-time hire, you’re often locked into a set number of hours regardless of your workload. During slower seasons, you may be paying for idle time, and during peak seasons, a single assistant may not be enough.

Virtual Assistant:
VAs offer scalable support. Need 10 hours this week and 30 next month? No problem. You can add or reduce hours based on your business flow. Some real estate companies even work with multiple VAs who specialize in social media management, customer support, property listing updates, or market research, rather than hiring several in-house employees for those roles.

4. Productivity and Focus

In-House Staff:
While having someone in the office may feel more accessible, it doesn’t always translate to productivity. Office distractions, commute fatigue, and rigid schedules can hinder output. Plus, generalists are often asked to juggle a range of tasks they may not be fully trained for.

Virtual Assistant:
Most virtual assistants are highly focused, task-driven professionals who work on specific deliverables. Whether it’s updating your CRM, designing a listing flyer, or conducting real estate market research, they bring expertise to the task and are motivated by performance and output—making your investment go further.

5. Training and Onboarding

In-House Staff:
Hiring and onboarding new employees often takes weeks. You’ll likely need to invest time and resources into training, especially if the person is unfamiliar with real estate systems or tools.

Virtual Assistant:
There are many real estate-specific VAs available who are already trained in platforms like MLS, CRMs, email marketing tools, and lead generation systems. This reduces ramp-up time and allows you to get support faster, without starting from scratch.

Real-World Example

Let’s say you need help for 20 hours per week. Here’s a simplified cost breakdown over 12 months:

Total potential savings? Up to 50% or more, while gaining flexibility, speed, and specialized support.

Final Thoughts

Hiring full-time staff has its place—but for many real estate businesses, especially small teams or solo agents, a virtual assistant offers a smarter, leaner, and more cost-effective alternative. From managing client communications and property listings to handling social media and marketing strategies, VAs provide targeted help at a fraction of the cost of in-house hires.

If you’re looking to grow your business, improve efficiency, and keep your bottom line in check, a virtual assistant might be the best investment you haven’t made yet.