Employers need to know the assistant will not invent or guess figures in a CMA or listing presentation, because an agent who repeats a wrong statistic can lose credibility with clients.
Name two or three trusted source types, then walk through a verification step like checking primary sources, dating the data, and flagging gaps. Show that you would rather report 'not yet verified' than give a made-up number.
Start by naming the source types you actually trust, not just any website. Say plainly that for US real estate you would lean on county assessor and recorder sites, the local multiple listing service, and established federal data like Census or HUD reports, because those are primary or regulatory sources. Then walk through your verification habit: you check the publication date first, you confirm the statistic appears in the original report rather than a summary article, and you look for the methodology note that explains how the number was collected. Explain that if a figure comes from a blog or a social media post, you treat it as a lead, not a fact, and you trace it back to the underlying data before you include it. Be honest about gaps. Say that when you cannot verify a number within a reasonable time, you would write "not yet verified" in the report and tell the agent directly, rather than padding the document with a guess. Mention that you would also flag the data's geographic scope, because a metro-wide median price can mislead if the client is looking at one neighborhood. Close by offering to share the exact link and date for every statistic you use, so the agent can double-check your work before it reaches the client.
A common mistake is to answer with 'Yung data po, sa internet ko lang nakita' and not mention the actual site or date. Instead say: 'I found this on the county recorder's site from last month; I can send you the link.'
Situation
In a previous role as a virtual assistant for a property management consultant, I was asked to compile a rental market summary for a client call.
Task
I had to gather median rent and vacancy data for three neighborhoods and make sure every number I presented was traceable to a source I could defend.
Action
I started by checking official county assessor records and local MLS data available through the client's subscription. When I found a figure on a blog that disagreed with county data, I flagged it and searched for the original source. I logged each statistic with its source, date, and any limitation, such as a small sample size. I then summarized the findings in a simple table with a notes column for unverified items.
Result
The client used the report in a planning meeting and specifically noted that every figure had a source, which saved time when the broker asked where the data came from.
Always pair a number with its source and limitation so the agent can speak about it confidently.
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