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Vancouver, BC V6K4P4
Phone: (604)732-7070
Browsing the archives for the Real-Estate category
Ever wanted to show people some of your most recent videos, but don’t want the hassle of having to keep things up to date? We can help you set up a nice little customizable widget that will take care of it for you!
Here are some of Jim Noonan’s recent works!
Sorry it probably won’t work in email, you might have to come to the site for a visit!
I just noticed that the presentation center for First On First (www.firstonfirst.com) opened on the weekend. Located at Burrard Street and 1st Avenue in the heart of Kitsilano Beach, the development is for a 6 storey concrete building that is “thoughtfully designed and impecccably finished.” It’s a great opportunity for those who desire to live in Kits.
Stacy recently sat down with with Matt White from The Real Estate Channel – I think the interview turned out great. Thanks to The Real Estate Channel for the opportunity.
For those of you who are unfamiliar, take some time to look at what The Real Estate Channel has to offer.
After a night of investigating some new website stuff, a new spam filter for the blog, some interesting new prospects for playing flash video, an overall assessment of website performance… I got to thinking about a common thread in many different real estate blogs. Articles with titles like:
I got to wondering WHY MLS.ca seems to have lost in real estate searches to Google and others. So I did a little looking around, I went over to MLS.ca do do a little checking. Now I realize real estate agents do not use MLS.ca to do searches, and that may be why nothing has been done about it. Here are a few of the website atrocities I noticed:
I feel sorry I had to write all that. You probably didn’t read this far! I wouldn’t.
So Why did I have to click on 5 maps, then select my property search criteria just to see listings!
Before someone points out the “Advanced Search” page on MLS.ca would have been quicker, I will try to recall the the last time I clicked on the advanced search link in google. Never! Why? Because I don’t have to.
It is not too late, some basic site redesign, speed enhancements and a proper marketing effort could save MLS.ca. The call for change might have to come from the people who don’t use it, the Real Estate Agents.
About 2 weeks ago, someone mentioned ComFree to me. I felt obliged to evaluate their website and found nothing that significantly differentiates them from all the other FSBO sites out there. They offer website listings, publish a magazine of their listings every 3 weeks, and provide marketing packages for homeowners that include brochures and signage. But about a week ago, I saw my first ComFree television commercial. During the past week I noticed billboard advertising across the city and heard multiple radio ads as well. ComFree is obviously well-funded to market in such a traditional and cost-ineffective way, but it may be the tipping point that differentiates them from all the other companies that offer similar services.
A good realtor is well worth the commissions that they earn. They carry a large overhead and spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars marketing listings. There is no guarantee of any compensation for an agent if a home does not sell. But still there exists a public perception that many real estate agents are overpaid for the service they provide. Perhaps it is too easy to become a realtor. Definitely, not all agents fall into that “good” category either, but that can be said of any profession.
Will Comfree acquire a significant portion of the Real Estate Market here in Vancouver? They currently have 9 listings on their website. They have a long way to go. But they claim to have one third of the market in Edmonton and a 15% share in Winnipeg. I will wait and see how events play themselves out, but for anyone connected to the real estate industry here in Vancouver, it is worth watching.
We found an article in The NY Times titled “Making Every Pixel Count” about how photography may be your best chance at getting people to come view a property. This reinforces what we have been saying about listing pictures,
In the first paragraph they get straight to the point
“Less-than-flattering pictures can turn buyers off and lead to lonely open houses”
and
Good photos will grab people’s attention and help you sell a home.
Our photos stand out. People who know us tell us that they can spot our pictures immediately, that they stand out from the rest.
I recently came across a website that claimed to list new houses & condos Canada wide. This site had listings in Ontario, Alberta & BC. I wanted to learn more so I entered their forum area to see what people were saying. To my dismay, the forums were littered with spam, I could not count a single legitimate post.
Real Estate Blogs & Forums can be a great addition to a real estate website. If you are thinking of starting or maintaining a blog or forum, I would suggest getting advice from someone who can help you maximize the benefits. Dara Sklar of Realty Support can assist you with all of your website needs & questions.