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Unveiling The Ultimate Virtual Tour - Featuring Single Property Websites

Over the years, I have worked hard to ensure our listings have been given the best exposure possible by using top notch imagery. The saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” is proven every day in the real estate business. Images are of paramount importance when marketing a property for top dollar.

In my article “Listings With No Pictures?” I describe how I believe some agents intentionally fail to use pictures for their personal benefit.

In addition to the images we upload to our listing services, we are now using a new concept referred to as a Single Property Website. It takes the idea of the virtual tour to the next level.

The concept of the Single Property Website puts the focus on the property - where it belongs - rather than the agent.

We secure the URL (web address) for the property using the street address - like www.2561woodcreekct.com for example.

Then we load our flash presentation up with lots of pictures and descriptions - detailing all the finer points of the property.

We include a downloadable printer-friendly flyer and seller’s property disclosure. Although this particular example doesn’t have them - we could easily add floor plans or a survey for the buyer’s reference… as well as any other document that might be of use to the buyer or selling agent.

We link with Google maps which gives the buyer directions to the property as well as satellite views of the surrounding area. We also link to Yahoo! Local for the local businesses.

We link to Sperling’s BestPlaces for neighborhood info which provides great demographic information, as well as the US Department of Education’s School Data website.

With voiceovers recorded and uploaded for each of the photos, this presentation is likely to be very different from any other property presentation you have ever seen.

We do provide a link to our MLS search engine, because if the home they are viewing is not the right one - we would like to help them in their quest to find their perfect match.

Unlike most agents that plaster their pictures and contact information all over each web page, we chose to have a simple contact link to bring up our contact information.

When it comes to marketing, putting the property first is a foreign concept in this business. We look forward to making it the standard by which all other agents will be judged.

Posted by Doug Quance on Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007 at 4:27 pm.

13 Responses to “Unveiling The Ultimate Virtual Tour - Featuring Single Property Websites”

I am impressed.

This might be the best tour I have ever seen. And I have seen quite a few of them.

I like the idea!

Left by David Wilhelm on January 2nd, 2007

Thanks David!

They are a lot of work… I’m glad you like it.

Thanks for your comment!

Left by Doug Quance on January 2nd, 2007

I showed it to my wife, and she really likes it too. We are listed with another agent right now, and our pictures are ok - but it is nothing like this. Would you make one of these for another agent?

Left by David Wilhelm on January 2nd, 2007

Sure. The truth is - your agent probably won’t be willing to pay for it.
It really is a lot of work, and I would need to charge at least $400 to do it… perhaps more if the property was very large.

Since you are currently listed, if you think your agent may be willing to pay for this - have him/her call me. (but don’t be surprised if he/she turns you down and tells you it’s a waste of money :lol:)

Left by Doug Quance on January 2nd, 2007

Doug

Got a suggestion. You use a good deal of your real estate on the blog with feeds for other news. I would place links to your listings on the page above the Atlanta Weather on the right.

It will help 2 ways

1. It will allow interested customers to see the quality work you do.
2. It will get your listings indexed much faster in google.

Tom

Left by Tom on January 2nd, 2007

I will need to look into that, Tom - thanks!

We could use help in the Google indexing area… and that might be a good solution. We are currently indexing them through Postlets, which works pretty good, although with Google - they must be mappable, or you have a problem!

Thanks again, Tom.

Did you like the new tour concept?

Left by Doug Quance on January 2nd, 2007

I loved the tour concept. Especially because it seperates you from the herd.

Tom

Left by Tom on January 3rd, 2007

Very nice indeed. I would say it may be overkill, but your market is slower so who knows, it might help. I like to take wide angle pano photos instead of virtual tours. This somehow makes the rooms look much bigger and is great for kitchens, living rooms or outdoor shots. There are bunch of free/cheap photo stitching software out there that works really well. All you need is a tripod, good lighting and a bit of practice.

Left by John on January 3rd, 2007

This is a nice presentation. The pictures are sharp, too. I like that.

Although I like a wide angle picture like John mentioned, many of those panorama pictures look very warped when stitched together.

If I was the seller of this house, I think I would be pretty stoked about the website.

Good work.

Left by Mel on January 4th, 2007

Tom - Thank you… we are hoping it will be a useful arrow in the quiver.
John - I shot the interior pictures with a 14mm rectilinear Nikon prime lens, which usually gets most of a room into the picture.

It’s not a typical wide angle lens because it doesn’t suffer from barrel distortion… but for $1400 - it shouldn’t.
Thanks for your comments & compliment.
Mel - Thank you - I have some stitching software, but I’m just not thrilled with the results. I like it for outdoor captures… but there’s something funny about my indoor pictures. Maybe I just need more practice.

Thanks for your stopping by!

Left by Doug Quance on January 4th, 2007

Yes, they can get warped. What I have found works best are two shots that are very close together. There is very little distortion and you can effectively double the FOV of the camera. Any more shots inside and it’ll start to curve walls.

Stitching is how virtual tours are made as well, but they project it differently. IMHO, if you go that far, might as well make a video walkthrough.

Left by John on January 5th, 2007

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Unveiling The Ultimate Virtual Tour - Featuring Single Property Websites

13 Responses to “Unveiling The Ultimate Virtual Tour - Featuring Single Property Websites”