Posted by Marie on September 11, 2008
Everyone can use some extra cash these days. As all those articles and advice columns will tell you, selling things you no longer need is a great way to do that. You benefit doubly.
- You have a less cluttered and more organized house.
- You’ll gain the extra money from their sales.
Even though there are many more choices today, eBay is still a strong option for selling unwanted items. For such an assignment, your personal assistant can help in a number of ways:
- The two of you can go through your rooms and storage areas to choose appropriate items.
- You may want him/her to take digital photographs of everything.
- The personal assistant could set up the user accounts for eBay and PayPal, the easiest way to receive your eBay payments.
- All the item descriptions need to be written and a full listing created.
- Once the listing is up, your assistant can handle any questions that come through.
- After a sale is completed, he/she can also package up and ship your items.
- Lastly and importantly, your money will need to be taken out of PayPal and transferred to your bank account.
Please note: It is best to do this only if you or your personal assistant is already well versed with eBay. It is very easy to lose money through listing fees and unsold items.
Posted by Marie on September 9, 2008
Collecting is always fun. But for many people, it is also serious business.
A personal assistant can help such a collector amass an enviable library of items. Quite often, professional assistants are expert researchers. They know how to set up alerts to find out when certain items become available on the market. They can find other collectors and set up networking opportunities. They can also find out when topic specific conferences are being held.
A collections assistant doesn’t have to take all the fun out of searching for a bargain or out of finding just the right finishing piece. He or she can simply add to your knowledge base and trim down the search field.
Posted by Marie on September 7, 2008
Many professional organizers and personal assistants have warehouse shopping club memberships. We all know the cost-saving benefits of buying in bulk and at wholesale prices.
Why not ask your assistant if he/she has a membership? Perhaps a warehouse shopping trip is one of his/her offered services.
That three pound box of cereal is going to save you several future shopping trips and however many cents per pound. Another great thing about shopping with your assistant is—you have someone to help you carry all that stuff home.
Posted by Marie on September 4, 2008
Grocery shopping is one of the most requested tasks for a personal assistant. It’s also one of the most confusing for the client. Here is an easy way to use an errands service effectively.
- Create a list of weekly purchases. (bread, milk, apples, etc.)
- Create a list of monthly purchases and another one for bi-monthly purchases. (shampoo, dog food, laundry detergent, etc.)
- For each item, decide if a certain brand name is important to you or if cost is the major factor.
- Keep a blank list in a convenient place, such as on the refrigerator. As you run low of a certain thing or if you realize that a particular item is going to be needed, jot it down.
- Provide the regular list to your errands runner. On a weekly basis, supplement it with the extra list.
After the initial effort, your grocery needs will be fulfilled easily and with minimal work from you.
Posted by Marie on September 2, 2008
When I walk into a party or event with a gorgeously wrapped gift, I can feel all the eyes that turn towards me. A lovely present stands out on a gifts table and under a tree. It demonstrates to the receiver that you hold the occasion in high regard and appropriately went the extra mile.
Some people, however, are just not great at wrapping presents. If this is the case, consider handing this job to your personal concierge. This tactic is great for those times when your gift needs to show that above-and-beyond bit of punch, but it is also great during traditional gift-giving times when there are just so many shapes and sizes to wrap.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you didn’t have to figure out a way to store all these different rolls and ribbons and bows? Imagine being able to individualize all your packages at a group event rather than showing up with everything in the same wrapping paper. Let your personal assistant save you time and improve your reputation with neat and artistic presentations.
