Chapter 15: Using Real Estate Assistants Flashcards
What is important to know about unlicensed real estate assistants?
Unlicensed assistants can perform a variety of activities to assist real estate licensees in transactions. However, they may not perform any activity which requires a real estate license.
What types of office administration tasks are important for a licensed assistant to perform?
A good filing system is critical and should include cross-referencing and indexing components.
In what three ways can an assistant aid an agent with appointments?
Act as an “appointment reminder.”
Compile files with the appropriate blank documents for the agent to take to listing and selling appointments.
Meet with appraisers or inspectors as the agent’s representative.
Why is coordinating escrow so important and how can an assistant help?
The escrow process can make or break a sale. An assistant can talk to the escrow officer to find out what documents have been returned, what documents are outstanding, if all contingencies have been removed and if all conditions have been met.
A real estate assistant:
Must have a real estate license.
Needs a license to perform activities that are not strictly administrative in nature.
Can perform some real estate activities without a license.
Must have an assistant license.
Needs a license to perform activities that are not strictly administrative in nature.
An assistant can be licensed or unlicensed, but an unlicensed assistant performs only administrative duties and is prohibited from performing any activity that requires a real estate license.
Which of these items on a resume accompanying an application for an assistant’s position should be kept brief?
Interests
Technical skills
People skills
Education
Interests
Assistants who are hired to work part time:
Work 12-15 hours per week.
Get salary plus benefits.
Usually get a percentage of the commission in addition to a salary.
Should get workmen’s compensation.
Should get workmen’s compensation.
Part-time assistants work 20-24 hours a week with an hourly wage and no benefits but are provided workman’s compensation.
Which of the following would not be a reason to choose to be an assistant?
To gain self-confidence
To learn more about the real estate business
To have a stable, steady income
To make more money than a real estate agent
To make more money than a real estate agent
Gail is a licensed real estate assistant. Which of the following activities would she not be authorized to perform?
Discuss a contract with a buyer.
Conduct an open house on her own.
Write and sign commission checks to salespersons.
Meet with an inspector at a listing.
Write and sign commission checks to salespersons.
Salespeople may only accept compensation from their employer brokers; therefore, a licensed assistant may not write and sign commission checks for salespeople.
What is a good method for an assistant to keep track of the various types of files a real estate broker must have?
An ABC filing system
A master transaction file
A hybrid filing system
A cross-referencing system
A cross-referencing system
Janet is an unlicensed assistant. She can do all of the following except which?
Prepare a listing contract.
File a listing contract.
Gather listing forms for her employer.
Prepare color flyers on listings.
Prepare a listing contract.
Which statement is not true?
Sending cards and newsletters is a good way to keep in contact with clients and prospects.
An assistant should never be left with the task of taking photos of a new listing.
An assistant can keep track of the progress of activities during escrow.
In most situations, an assistant should not have the responsibility of in-person contact with clients.
An assistant should never be left with the task of taking photos of a new listing.
Assistants who are asked to be available for tasks in the field rather than in the office are referred to as:
Part-time workers
Field staff
On-call assistants
Commission-only assistants
On-call assistants
Some employers may prefer to have their assistants available for out-of-the-office activities and may require their assistants to be on call rather than have set i-office working hours.
Which statement is true about a real estate assistant?
Does not need to be familiar with office policy.
Must be a full-time employee.
May be an independent contractor.
Must start out as a part-time employee.
May be an independent contractor.
