Virtual Assistant vs In-House Assistant: Which Is Better for Your Real Estate Business?

Hiring help is a big decision. Whether you're a solo agent, part of a growing team, or a full-time investor, eventually the admin work becomes too much to handle alone.

So the question becomes: Virtual Assistant vs In-House Assistant

Let’s break down the pros, cons, and hidden costs — and help you decide what makes the most sense for your business.

Cost Comparison: The Numbers Speak for Themselves

Role	Average Hourly Rate	Monthly Cost (20 hrs/week)
In-House Assistant	$18–$25/hr + taxes & overhead	$1,800–$2,500+
Virtual Assistant (VA Depot)	$7–$10/hr all-in	$560–$800

With a virtual assistant, you get skilled support without payroll taxes, benefits, or workspace expenses.

Flexibility & Scalability Virtual Assistant vs In-House Assistant 

• Virtual Assistants: Easily scale up or down depending on your lead flow, closings, or season. No long-term contracts or HR headaches.

• In-House Assistants: More fixed hours and harder to adjust based on your changing business needs.

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Skillset & Specialization

• VA Depot VAs are trained specifically for real estate — cold calling, follow-up, CRM updates, appointment setting, and more.

• In-house assistants may require onboarding, training, and ongoing management (aka, more of your time).

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Office Presence

This is the one category where in-house can win — if you need someone physically present (like handling signage, lockboxes, or in-person errands), a local hire might be necessary.

But for 95% of real estate admin tasks, a remote VA handles it just as well — and often faster.

Tech & Tools Familiarity

VAs at VA Depot are already trained on:

• Podio

• REI Reply

• Mojo Dialer

• CallTools

• Google WorkspaceAnd more.

That means less ramp-up time and fewer tech hiccups.

Which One’s Right for You?

✅ Go with a Virtual Assistant if you:

• Want affordable, specialized support

• Don’t need someone physically present

• Need help with cold calling, lead follow-up, and CRM work

• Want flexibility as your business grows

🚫 An in-house assistant might make sense if:

• You have a brick-and-mortar office with walk-ins

• You need someone for daily in-person errands

• You have a budget for full-time overhead

  
  

Final Thought: Work Smarter, Not Harder

Most agents don’t need more people in the office — they need more time and follow-through. That’s where a trained virtual assistant makes the biggest impact.

Ready to test the waters?🎧 Listen to real call recordings at vadepot.net📅 Book a free Google Meet to meet your future VA and see if it’s a fit.