Real Estate Porn – Leave the Photos and Video to the Professionals

Comments Off on Real Estate Porn – Leave the Photos and Video to the Professionals
28 Aug, 2007
Helpful Tips, News, Photography

The Globe and Mail published an article on the weekend titled, “HOUSE PORN: IT SELLS – For the real money shot, hire a pro“. The article focused on the ever-growing importance of great photography as Internet-savvy buyers become increasingly picture- rather than word-oriented. Potential buyers are becoming much more sophisticated, spending more time searching for properties on the Internet, wanting to view high-quality photos and video. Great real estate photography can get people through the front door, attracting buyers even if the house doesn’t have “curb-appeal”. Having professional photos shot is no longer just a tool for multi-million dollar properties, it’s becoming a necessity to market all listings.

Proper photos will be bright, colourful and spacious. Let us compare our photos with Realtor photos from the same property.

Their Photo:
Living Room
Our Photo:
Living Room

Their Photo:
Dining Room
Our Photo:
Dining Room

Their Photo:
Living Room
Our Photo:
Living Room

Great photos will generate more interest in your listings. Sellers are demanding more from their Realtor in this increasingly competitive market. At Video Openhouse, we provide professional and affordable real estate photography and Video Openhouse Tours that will allow agents to take their marketing to the next level.

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/136/real-estate-porn-leave-the-photos-and-video-to-the-professionals/

Video Real Estate referrers, the honorable mentions

Comments Off on Video Real Estate referrers, the honorable mentions
26 Aug, 2007
News

I was looking at our site statistics recently, along with the ususal suspects (Large real estate websites, realtor sites, hotmail etc…) some interesting entries caught my eye in the referrers section.
*For those of you that don’t know, a referrer is the page that someone clicks on to get to your site.

Here are 3 of the Entries that caught my eye

  • www.familjeliv.se A Swedish message board, I found a posting that talked about a home that a couple had purchased in Burnaby, she was posting the video for her friends to see (I can’t speak swedish, but I am told that is the general gist of it).
  • Facebook & Myspace: Once again the viral nature of video means that a home buyer, or seller will send links to the videos to their friends. This is a huge benefit to the agent.
    **the clickthroughs from Facebook were from the Facebook email message system which I don’t send links through, so they were not my friends clicking on my profile

Which is more important? The Swedish message board or Facebook & MySpace? I don’t know, but I like both. Video attracts attention!

If your page is branded to prominently display your name and contact information the video will showcase your marketing ability. You will get some “internet face time” with a group of people you would have never had any other contact with. We also have a the ability to put translations on our website, so that people from other cultures that don’t speak English can easily understand your marketing!

Video is great advertising because of its viral nature people are willing to post links to videos in both mainstream and obscure websites putting your name and face out there.

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/135/video-real-estate-referrers-the-honorable-mentions/

“I’ll have what she’s having”

Comments Off on “I’ll have what she’s having”
23 Aug, 2007
Helpful Tips, Photography, Real-Estate, Testimonials

The first voice mail message of the day yesterday came from Jean Gibson of Macdonald Realty. She had received a piece of Email Marketing from one of our newest clients, Ursula Simpson, of Sutton Group Westcoast Realty.

From that marketing piece, she had seen the photos and video for the property that Ursula was hosting an Agent’s Open House at yesterday. She called Ursula, saying “the photos and video you’ve done for this property are just amazing! Where did you get them, I want that too!”

Jean promptly booked us to shoot a tour the next morning. She told our photographer, “each photo was like a mini work of art”.
I followed up with Ursula yesterday after her open house. She reported that it was a very well attended Open and that she had had several compliments on how well the property was shown in her marketing materials.

That’s great news for us! We had provided branded floorplans, printed colour feature sheets, not to mention those photos and that video that were so well received!

Will you have what she’s having? Call us!

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/134/ill-have-what-shes-having/

Branding Your Video… Ian Watt did

Comments Off on Branding Your Video… Ian Watt did
21 Aug, 2007
Helpful Tips, Real-Estate, Technology

Ian Watt, of Century 21 In Town Realty, recently visited our office regarding a special video we are producing for him (stay tuned, it’s not finished just yet).

While there, we started talking about his listing presentation and how his use of Professional Photography and Virtual Tours has gained him many listings. Always wanting to give Realtors more tools for their presentations, we suggested that he get branded video cases to show a tangible product during his presentation, not just relying on his clients seeing the product on their computers.

Now, not only does he get a souvenir DVD with the DVD and case branded just like the rest of the marketing that Ian does, but his videos look just like his website!

Branded:

ian video branded

Unbranded:

ian-video-unbraded.jpg

Which would you choose? It’s a one-time fee and you get branded video, DVD and case… let us know if you want yours!

Don’t have branding? Ask about our Graphics Design services… available for all ranges of need and budget.

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/133/branding-your-video-ian-watt-did/

Community Video Sells the Home

Comments Off on Community Video Sells the Home
Aug, 2007
Real-Estate, Testimonials

Geordie Moski, of Prudential Sterling Realty, recently sold a home in the Knight area of East Vancouver to a couple who fell in love with the neighbourhood, based on our video.

This home, in need of much TLC, is one of the few places where our clients asked us not to bother taking photos or video inside the home. Instead, we were asked to show off parks, schools and amenities in the area. It did the trick! The happy homebuyers were reported to have made their appointment to see this otherwise relatively undesirable property based on the video montage of the area.

We love these success stories! Send us yours!

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/130/community-video-sells-a-tear-down-home/

Please, let us take your photos

Comments Off on Please, let us take your photos
Aug, 2007
Helpful Tips, Home Staging, Photography, Real-Estate

It happens more often than I’d like – I come across a photo of a property, taken by a Realtor, that just… well… could be soooo much better.

If I had more time, maybe I’d start a collection of photos that shouldn’t have been used.

Here are my two examples of the day. The heading of the first photo made me laugh: “Spacious Dining Area”.

Spacious Dining Area

I hope the spacious dining area wasn’t too offended at my laugh – but it’s a photo of a window, and shows no spaciousness whatsoever!

This next one was used as the main listing photo:
Main Listing Photo

It looks like a picture of a doorway, doesn’t it? Could this really be the front of the property?

I’m sure that these Realtors are excellent at their job. However, they aren’t photographers. I certainly wouldn’t want to buy or sell a property without a Realtor – why should a Realtor market their photos without hiring a professional?

We have a very competitive Introductory Special that should encourage all Realtors to try our services… unless they are afraid of getting a taste of something they’ll want to eat a lot of. Was it Pringles that advertised “you can’t eat just one”? I definitely stayed away from Pringles after that, knowing that they were probably right.

However… getting to my point. We’ve got the best Real Estate Photography and Video in Vancouver. Try it out.

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/129/please-let-us-take-your-photos/

Seller-driven new business

Comments Off on Seller-driven new business
Aug, 2007
Testimonials

I’ve often heard from Realtors that “__% of my business is repeat and referral clients”. I’ve always felt that a referral from a happy client is one of the best compliements you can receive – so if a Realtor’s business is based almost entirely on those contacts, then he/she must be doing something right.

Similarly, I’ve realised that about 2/3 our new clients arrive because of referrals from other Realtors who have been happy with our service and products… and the other 1/3 is actually driven by Realtors whose sellers have specifically requested that they use our services!

I can’t think of any more of a ringing endorsement than to have Joe Public see our Photos and Video, and think, “this is the tool I want to use to sell my property”!

This morning, we received the following email from new client, Paula Baverstock, of Prudential United Realty. Her client, selling his condo, contacted us for more information about a week before he listed the property. He insisted that Paula use our services to market his condo. Her email was brief, but high-impact: “The photos and video are great – we have got a heck of a lot of good feedback.”

More success stories to come… Want to see your name in print? Send us your feedback on a tour that we’ve done for you or an experience you’ve had!

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/126/seller-driven-new-business/

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