Browsing the blog archives for December, 2006

Vancouver Condos Recently Completed, Under Construction or Proposed

News

Since my arrival, nearly a year ago, I have been amazed at the number of new buildings, especially condominiums being built around the city. A few months ago, while on a shoot in Downtown Vancouver, I started counting the number of cranes that could be seen from my vantage point. The grand total was over 20. That day, I started compiling a comprehensive list of all the new construction/development that was occuring around the city. I thought that this may be beneficial to anyone in the real estate industry, especially with all the interest in assignments. I am sure that I have overlooked more than a few significant developments/buildings/condos and included others erroneously. Please feel free to send us an email with any updates to this list.

1 Harbour Green – 1169 W Cordova Street
(www.harbourgreenplace.com)

2 Harbour Green – 1139 W Cordova Street
(www.harbourgreenplace.com)

3 Harbour Green – 1109 W Cordova Street
(www.harbourgreenplace.com)

819 Seymour – 819 Seymour Street

893 Seymour – 893 Seymour Street

990 Beatty Georgia/Beatty Above Costco – 990 Beatty Street

1133 W Georgia – 1133/1153 W Georgia Street

1321 Richards – 1321 Richards Street

1730 W Georgia – 1730 W Georgia Street

Aqua at the Park – 550 Pacific Street
(www.concordpacific.com/aqua)

Abbott Tower – Abbott Street
(www.woodwardsdistrict.com)

Avedon – 1468 West 14th Avenue
(www.polygon-homes.com/avedon/avedon.htm)

Bayshore Gardens – 1616 Bayshore Drive
(www.bayshoregarden.com)

BlackSwan Apartments – 2936 West Fourth Ave
(www.intersoft.ca/crmclients/gw/blackswan/register.asp)

Camera – 1675 W 8th Avenue
(www.cameraliving.com)

Cielo – 1205 W Hastings Street
(www.cielosoon.com/cieloFlash.html)

Circa – Collingwood Village
(www.circavancouver.com)

La Columba – 1030 W Broadway
(www.lacolumba.com)

Coopers Quay (Coopers Lookout) – 33 Smithe Street
(www.cooperslookout.com/cooperslookout_content.html)

Coopers Quay (Coopers Pointe) – 980 Cooperage Way
(www.cooperspointe.com)

Cooper Quay (Flagship) – 8 Smithe Mews
(http://www.concordpacific.com/flagship)

Creekside – 125 Milross Avenue
(www.creeksidefalsecreek.com/main.asp)

Crossroads – 522 W 8th Avenue
(www.crossroadsvancouver.com)

Donovan – 1055 Richards Street
(www.donovanlife.com/)

DUKE on Dunbar – 3364 – 3398 Dunbar Street
(www.dukeondunbar.com)

DWELL – Broadway and Quebec
(www.dwellhere.ca)

Elan – 1295 Seymour Street
(www.elanliving.ca/)

Ellison – 1233 Hamilton Street
(www.ellisonyaletown.com)

The Erickson – 1500 Homer Street
(www.concordpacific.com/erickson)

Espana A – 600 Abbott Street
(www.espanaliving.com)

Espana B – 600 Abbott Street
(www.espanaliving.com)

The Evergreen – 1235 W Pender Street

Fairmont Pacific Rim – 299 Burrard Street
(www.fairmontpacificrim.com)

Finale – Euclid Avenue & Aberdeen Street
(www.finalehomes.com)

Firenze I – 58 Keefer Place
(www.firenzeliving.com)

Firenze II – 688 Abbott Street
(www.firenzeliving.com)

FIRST – First Avenue & Burrard Street
(www.firstonfirst.com)

Flatiron – 1277 Melville Street
(www.flatironliving.com)

Freesia – 1082 Seymour Street
(www.freesialiving.com)

Grace Residences – 499 Drake Street
(www.graceresidences.com)

H+H Homer + Helmcken Yaletown – 1133 Homer Street
(www.hhyaletown.com)

L’Hermimtage en Ville – 788 Richards Street
(www.lhvancouver.com)

The Hudson – 610 Granville Street
(www.hudson610.com)

Icon I – 638 Beach Avenue
(www.iconliving.ca)

Icon II – 633 Kinghorne Mews
(www.iconliving.ca)

Jameson House (Jameson Tower) – 800 W Hastings Street
(www.jamesonfoster.com)

King Edward Tower – 1402 Kingsway
(www.kingedwardvillage.com)

Koret Lofts – 55 East Cordova Street
(www.koretlofts.com)

Laguna Parkside – 1901 Alberni Street
(www.lagunaparkside.com)

Living Shangri La – 1120 W Georgia Street
(www.livingshangri-la.com)

Mariner 1 – Cooperage Mews
(www.concordpacific.com/mariner)

Mariner 2 – Cooperage Mews
(www.concordpacific.com/mariner)

The Melville – 1189 Melville Street
(www.themelville.ca)

Metro Living – 999 Seymour Street 
(www.metroliving.ca)

Mira on the Park – 683 West Victoria Park Ave
(www.cannewhomes.com)

MoDe – 900 Richards Street
(www.livingmode.ca)

Orpheum Condominiums – 833 Seymour Street

Pomaria – 1455 Howe Street
(www.pomaria.com/)

The Portofino – 1383 Howe Street

PURE – 1252 Hornby Street
(www.livingpure.ca)

Qube – 1383 W Georgia Street
(www.qubeliving.com)

Quintessential Vancouver Living – Homer Street/Smithe Street
(www.amacon.com)

R & R on Robson – 488 Robson Street

Raffles on Robson – 811 Cambie
(www.rafflesonrobson.com)

The Ritz – 1211 Melville Street
(www.liveattheritz.com)

The RISE – 485 W 8th Avenue
(www.therisevancouver.com)

Sakura – 1300 Blk W. 11th Ave
(www.polygon-homes.com)

The Sapphire – 1188 W Pender Street
(www.liveatthesapphire.com)

Silver Sea – 628 Kinghorne Mews

The Skyline on Broadway – 2483 Spruce Street
(www.skylinecondos.ca)

Spectrum A – 111 W Georgia Street
(www.myspectrum.ca)

Spectrum B – 668 Citadel Parade
(www.myspectrum.ca)

Spectrum C – 602 Citadel Parade
(www.myspectrum.ca)

Spectrum D – 131 Regiment Square
(www.myspectrum.ca)

Stella – Kingsway & E 12th Ave
(www.liveatstella.com)

Tapestry – 715 West 16th Avenue
(www.discovertapestry.com)

The Terraces – 1598 West 7th Avenue
(www.terraceson7th.com)

Touchstone – 1603 MacKay Avenue
(www.ledmac.com/new/touchstone.html)

Tribeca Lofts – 988 Richards Street
(www.tribecaloftsyaletown.com/tribecaFlash.html)

TV Towers East – 700 Hamilton Street
(www.tvtowers.ca)

TV Towers West – 700 Hamilton Street
(www.tvtowers.ca)

Uno – 328 E 11th Avenue
(www.unoliving.com)

The VINE – 2268 West Broadway
(www.the-vine.ca)

Vita at Symphony Place – 565 Smithe Street
(www.thesweetlife.ca)

W (Woodward’s) – 101 W Hastings
(www.woodwardsdistrict.com)

Yaletown Park 1 – 928 Homer Street
(www.yaletownpark.com/flashSite.html)

Yaletown Park 2 – 909 Mainland Street
(www.yaletownpark.com/flashSite.html)

Yaletown Park 3 – 977 Mainland Street
(www.yaletownpark.com/flashSite.html)

YMCA Tower – 955 Burrard Street

The ZONE – 1080 West Broadway
(www.thezoneliving.com)

 

How Many Photos Are Needed For A Real Estate Listing?

News

I am always amazed at the number of listings on the mls and realtylink websites that don’t maximize the number of pictures for their property. The restrictive 10 photo limit that has been imposed by the mls is severely inadequate to accurately capture the essence of any home. For example, any 3 bedroom house would require photos of the exterior front, living room, dining room, 3 bedrooms, family room/den, 2 bathrooms, patio, backyard and rear exterior. Being able to post just 8 pictures does not benefit the seller, prospective buyer or the agent.

I just finished reading a great article by the Technology Evangelist (www.technologyevangelist.com) titled, “Real Estate Agents Should Take More Photos of Real Estate Properties“. The article compares 3 scenarios to determine who is the more qualified prospective home buyer. Each scenario has a potential buyer visiting the agents website and finding an affordable home matching their requirements. The examples are differentiated by the number of pictures that were available online, 0, 1 or 12. Essentially, the author of the article argues that pictures are used as a screening process that ultimately saves the agent from wasting their valuable time.

The article also touches upon the agents’ argument that they are unable to take more than 1 or 2 good photos of some properties. Having photographed over 300 properties in the Vancouver area, I realize that some homes are more challenging than others. But with the right equipment, good lighting, proper composition and a little hard work, it is always possible to get more than 15 shots that anyone would be proud to have on a website. We are often asked how many photos we provide for each listing. We have never provided less than 15 and on many occasions have given our clients over 35 editted photos of their property.

How many photos are needed for a real estate listing? I would argue that the more photos you display, the better. Unlike the mls and realtylink websites, realtor websites do not have the same restrictions on the number of pictures that can be displayed for each listing. Make the online real estate world a better place and include more pictures!

Technology Gives Real Estate Agents and Buyers New Tools

News, Real-Estate, Technology

About a month ago, I read an article on the boston.com website. The news-story basically outlined how technology is being used in the process of buying and selling homes in the US. I would like to highlight some of the key points from the article:

  1. A recent National Association of Realtors survey showed that 80 percent of home buyers used the Internet to search for a home in 2006
  2. Web sites are replacing paper listings
  3. Making transactions smoother and quicker is important in a slow real estate market
  4. The majority of clients come from the Internet

The article also gave an example of a home buyer who found his condominium on the Internet, financed the sale over the phone and spent only three hours on the walkthrough, inspection and closing. The new home owner never even met the listing agent or the mortgage broker. Essentially, the article highlights how the real estate industry is undergoing a radical change. The traditional methods of prospecting for new clients are changing as well. Technology is offering an opportunity to generate more business for those with an understanding of how to capitalize on these trends.

Modern Condos in Vancouver

News

Over the holidays, I watched EVP starring Michael Keaton and Deborah Unger.  The movie was shot here in Vancouver and I immediately recognized one of the buildings.  The Waterfall Building, 1540 West 2nd Avenue, located just south of Granville Island is one of Vancouver’s modern architectural masterpieces.  Michael Keaton’s character in the film is an architect and the building was the setting for his home.  It’s unique design and distinct appearance made it a great choice.  The building got its name from the Arthur Erickson-designed waterfall of recirculated water that plunges down in the middle of the main street-level entrance. This embodied his stated belief that as well as fulfilling function, architecture should offer visitors and passers-by a rewarding experience. 

The building itself reminded me of another condo that we shot for Jim Noonan a few months ago.  ROAR-one, 4387 West 10th Avenue, located in Point Grey is another modern masterpiece.  There were many similar design elements; the concrete contsruction, its use of glass, rooftop patios and high ceilings.  ROAR_one consists of ten residential units and two retail/commercial units.  The project creates a new model for residential living in Vancouver. The design incorporates mezzanine spaces and uniquely; deep, inset courtyard balconies that provide a rare ability for indoor/outdoor living in combination.  Please check out the video and pictures that we took of this incredibly unique and modern property.

ROAR_one, 4387 West 10th Avenue videophotos

 

Own Rental Property? Advertise With A Video Tour

Helpful Tips, News

Do you own rental property in the Vancouver area? If you do, consider having a video produced. The video only needs to be shot once and could be used every time the house/apartment is available to rent. By harnessing the demand for video, you will ensure that you receive top dollar for your rental. It’s also a great way to screen interested applicants before they come knocking on your door.

If your property is being marketed as an executive or corporate suite, this will allow the potential customer to view the residence from any location in the world. If your clients are from out of the city or overseas, ensure that they can take a tour of the property, without being in Vancouver! Kurt Sigouin of Azure Properties manages numerous luxury properties in the downtown core and is having us produce videos for all his listings as they become available. Here are his first 4 videos and picture galleries:

Seawalk North (1625 Hornby Street) — videopics

West One (1408 Strathmore Mews) — videopics

AZURA 1 (1438 Richards Street) – videopics

Shaw Tower (1077 West Cordova Street) — videopics

Words With Impact – Writing An Effective Real Estate Description

Helpful Tips, News

Having read over thousands of real estate ads, it is obvious that some realtors make a greater effort at writing descriptions for their listings. I often wondered how important a well-written description is to the potential buyer, especially with the rise of high-resolution images and video and virtual tours. Do I need to be told that the kitchen has stainless steel appliances when I can see it in the pictures or video? Well someone has just released a study on just this topic. I read this on the CBC website this morning:

Nothing deters a house-hunter like the terms “must-see” or “motivated seller,” suggests a new Canadian study on language and real estate.

Paul Anglin, an economy professor at the University of Guelph, analyzed home sales in Windsor, Ont., over a four-year period.

“There is a basic question about how house prices are determined,” Anglin said. “I was building on earlier research that was looking into that question.”

Anglin found that when realtors described houses as “beautiful” or “gorgeous” they sold 15 per cent faster and for as much as five per cent more than a comparable house. A house that was described as in “move-in condition” sold in 12 per cent less time, on average.

“I guess it makes sense that every house is beautiful to somebody,” Anglin said. “I’m surprised that that just attaching the label would make a difference.”

Toronto realtor Ian Shaw said it’s important to accentuate the positive aspects of a house but said the adjectives must be accurate.

“If you say it the wrong way, you can actually turn people right off,” he said. “I think language is quite important.”

Anglin found that when houses used descriptors including “as is” or “must see” or promised a “motivated seller,” the houses took longer to sell and often sold for less.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2006/12/22/real-estate.html

It seems that the description may be a cue or trigger to motivate the potential buyer to look for more information. This leads to the question, if you already have had a video produced and it is linked to the mls website, how can you increase its number of views? The mls website does not allow for any differentiation between “Virtual Tours”. According to the mls, a virtual tour can be a gallery of images, a 360/panoramic tour or a video. It becomes very difficult to harness the demand for video when there is no way of determining the type of “Multimedia” that resides on the other side of the VIEW MULTIMEDIA link. We always suggest to our clients that they write “VIDEO TOUR” in all descriptions. I will also make it a point to suggest that a well written description with words that entice the Internet audience, will drive even more views of their video as well!

Video Tours For Our New North Shore Clients

News

We have been getting increased interest in both West and North Vancouver for our services.  I would like to welcome all our new clients from the North Shore.  We wish you continued success in the New Year!

Robin Cameron, Sutton West Coast Realty
3430 Anne Macdonald Way > videophotos

Mark and Eric Rassmussen, Sutton Group West Coast Realty
990 Beaumont Drive > videophotos

Richard Lee, Amex Broadway West Realty
2566 Chairlift Road > videophotos

Rae Armour, RE/Max Crest Realty
737 East 13th Avenue > videophotos

Michael Nex, Sutton Group West Coast Realty
4507 Summerside Lane > videophotos

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