Browsing the blog archives for December, 2006

Selling in the Spring? Take Your Pictures and Video at Christmas

19 Dec, 2006
Home Staging, News

Planning on selling your home in the Spring? If you are, this is a great time to have Video Openhouse in to your home to shoot video and take photos. It seems illogical at first, Christmas being the busiest time of year for most of us. But if you have taken the time to decorate, there may not be a better opportunity to have pictures taken.

Professional staging companies try to create an atmosphere where potential buyers can imgine themselves living in the spaces they create. Christmas trees with glass ornaments, stockings hung on a fireplace, twinkling lights and candy canes all create a warm, family atmosphere. It is these emotions that create a sense of attachment, that make potential buyers want to purchase a house. Selling your Home? Prepare for the New Year by taking advantage of the opportunity that the holiday season presents!

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/78/selling-in-the-spring-take-your-pictures-and-video-at-christmas/

Video Tours Get Listings

17 Dec, 2006
News

Honouring our commitment to customer service, we shot a condo for Stephen Burke of Sutton West Coast Realty on a Sunday afternoon a few weekends ago.  He had a special request for us.  Stephen needed the video to be linked to the mls website by Monday morning.  As the story goes, his clients had a conditional offer on another property, the condition being, selling their condo … within 7 days!

We submitted the link to the REBGV on Friday so that it would show up for the listing on Monday.  We spent Sunday night editting Stephens video and preparing pictures.  As promised, the video and photos were posted on Sunday night and ready for the mls on Monday morning.

Last week, we were shooting another listing for Stephen Burke.  He told us that his clients were extremely happy that everything had worked out in their favour.  They were able to sell their condo within the 7 day window.  He also eleborated on how he originally got the listing.  Stephen was the last realtor to give a listing presentation of 6 real estate agents that were being interviewed.  It seems that the clients had already made their decision before Stephen had an opportunity to make his pitch.  Stephen encouraged the owners to check out his website to see how he markets properties using video.  The owners must have seen something they liked because Stephen got the listing … and made the sale!

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/77/video-tours-get-listings/

How Effective Are Real Estate Print Ads? Get Feedback

15 Dec, 2006
News

My previous blog on website logs and statistics has generated some interesting discussion at our office.  It seems that I may have inadvertently overlooked some methods to generate feedback to assist in the determination of the effectiveness of real estate print advertising. 

These suggestions may seem simplistic but they do offer the advertisee a chance to determine where a phone call, email or website visit originated from.  I am assuming that a real estate advertisement is placed in hopes that the ad will inspire the reader to place a phone call, send an email or visit a website.  My first suggestion >> Use unique phone numbers, email addresses and websites for each publication that is advertised in. 

For example, if you have an ad in Westender Magazine, set up an email address that identifies the origin.  By using wemag@realtorwebsite.ca in the contact info specifically for WE Magazine ads only, this will allow you to “count” the number of emails that were generated by ads in that particular magazine.  The same method can be applied to phone numbers and websites.  Getting an additional phone number is as simple as signing up for another cell phone or setting up a distinct ring for a second phone number on any land line.  At first, this may seem like an unreasonable solution but the reality is that the costs of these services should amount to less than $20 per month, a small price to pay to determine the effectiveness of your advertising dollars. 

Many realtors also have more than 1 domain name.  Though they may have a specific website that is the focus of their marketing efforts, any additional website addresses could be used for advertising on specific publications.  Again, the costs of aquiring additional domain names are minimal in comparison to the price of advertising.  By using unique contact information for each publication, it becomes possible to determine the origin of each contact.

A second approach is to offer an incentive or special offer to determine which publication they may have been exposed to.  For example, by mentioning this ad, you will receive a free home evaluation or $1000 when I sell your house.  The challenge using this scenario is to determine the effectiveness of the ad in comparison to the strength of the incentive. 

Unlike web stats, the accuracy of the results are somewhat suspect due to the simplistic approach to this unique problem.  The irony of trying to measure the effectiveness of print ads is that the collection of those results actually employ the technology that is making print-based advertising obsolete. 

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/76/how-effective-are-real-estate-print-ads-get-feedback/

Evaluating Online Advertising – Website Stats and Log Files

13 Dec, 2006
News

One of the challenges we face at Video Openhouse is getting agents to re-distribute their marketing and advertising dollars away from traditional mediums such as newspapers and magazines.  Despite all of the information that clearly shows increasing numbers of home-buyers are searching and finding homes online, realtors, through their continued use of print-based advertising, demonstrate that old habits die hard.  Agents are reluctant to stop using print-based advertising despite the diminishing returns.

One of the advantages of web-based marketing and advertising has over the print medium is the feedback that is revealed in web statistics and log files.  Most realtor websites allow the owner/administrator to access a series of tools that statistically analyse web traffic.  Essentially, the statistics will reveal to you how your visitors found you and how they interact with your website.  For example, the number of visitors, referring web address, country of origin, search engine phrases are all documented in nearly every website statistics package. 

For our clients, we can provide the number of times times a specific video or gallery has been viewed.  Interested in knowing how many viewers of a video came from the mls, realtylink or your website?  We can provide that information too.  I would argue that our Video Openhouse tours and professional photography services offer a more effective return on the advertising dollar … and we have the stats that prove it!

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/75/evaluating-online-advertising-website-stats-and-log-files/

Video & Virtual Tours – Privacy and Security

8 Dec, 2006
Helpful Tips, Home Staging

We attended the Vancouver Real Estate Tech Meetup held by Ubertor founders, Michael Stephenson and Stephen Jagger earlier this week. The Meetup is a chance to learn about the changing Real Estate market and technologies that are currently available. Stephen’s brother, Michael Jagger of Provident Security, spoke briefly about how blogging has impacted his business and about residential security issues.  Thanks to Dara Sklar of Realty Support, who suggested that we write about security issues surrounding the use of video or virtual tours.

Our Video Openhouse tours are essentially an online open house. In our marketing material, we state that “our tours captivate the Internet audience by featuring the best features of a home.” In our photography and videography, we try to focus on the elements that are a physical part of the home such as fireplaces, custom work such as floors and mouldings, bathrooms, kitchens. Although it is not always possible, we specifically try to exclude any stereo equipment, televisions and other valuables from our shots.

Most home owners have already discreetly hidden or removed their items that they do not want publicly displayed, in anticipation that there will be showings of their home. Recently, during a shoot, I was asked not to show a specific painting in any of the video or photos. With some co-operation and communication with the owners/residents, it is conceivable that all these security and privacy concerns can be addressed.

When filming amenities in the many condos scattered across the city, inevitably, there will be people working out in the gym, swimming in the pool or using the rooftop patio. Again, privacy concerns dictate that we try our best to avoid having people featured in our photos and videos.

I consider our Video Openhouse tour a great replacement for the traditional open house and a far safer alternative. I have often heard from realtors that most open houses attract more curious neighbors than interested buyers. Concerned strata councils often request agents meet all open house attendees at the front door of their condo to avoid allowing access to random strangers. Graham Kirby has a listing at 1861 Beach Avenue that illustrates how our video tour is being used as an alternative to the open house approach. His clients were very specific in their desire not to have people wandering through their exclusive condo. Interested buyers are being referred to the video first, essentially being pre-screened before they enter the property itself. If the video is edited with these issues in mind, I believe the security concerns are far greater with a house full of strangers at a traditional open house, than there are with any video or virtual tour.

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/74/video-virtual-tours-privacy-and-security-concerns/

Novus Network Service Area

4 Dec, 2006
News, Real Estate Channel

Since the launch of the Real Estate Channel, I have had numerous enquiries from our clients regarding the service area of the Novus Network. Currently, they provide digital cable television and Internet services to most residential high-rise buildings in downtown Vancouver. The list of buildings include:

Paris Place II – 555 Abbot Street
The Carlyle -1060 Alberni Street
Palisades East – 1200 Alberni Street
Palisades West -1288 Alberni Street
The Lions – 1331 Alberni Street
The Lions – 1367 Alberni Street
Yaletown Mews – 201 Alvin Narod Mews
Pacific Plaza III – 238 Alvin Narod Mews
Marinaside Resort – 193 Aquarius Mews
Aquarius II – 198 Aquarius Mews
1680 Bayshore Drive
1710 Bayshore Drive
1717 Bayshore Drive
1777 Bayshore Drive
1790 Bayshore Drive
Kings Landing II – 428 Beach Avenue
Kings Landing III – 426 Beach Avenue
Parkwest I – 455 Beach Avenue
Parkwest II – 583 Beach Crescent
Icon I – 638 Beach Crescent
888 Beach – 888 Beach Avenue
Beach Cluster – 1000 Beach Avenue
Max I – 928 Beatty Street
The Nova – 989 Beatty Street
Harbourside Park I – 588 Broughton Street
Vancouver Tower – 909 Burrard Street
The Wall Center – 1050 Burrard Street
The Altadena – 1238 Burrard Street
Landmark I – 930 Cambie Street
Landmark II – 950 Cambie Street
Waterworks – 1008 Cambie Street
Yaletown Ltd. – 1018 Cambie Street
Pacifica Main Gate – 3055 Cambie Street
Avila – 560 Cardero Street
Coal Harbour Co-op 588 Cardero Street
Lore Krill Co-op – 65 Cordova Street West
The Carina – 1233 Cordova Street West
The Callisto – 1281 Cordova Street West
C-Side – 1288 Cordova Street West
Aquarius III – 189 Davie Street
Parkview Gardens – 212 Davie Street
Bridgeview – 238 Davie Street
Pacific Plaza I – 283 Davie Street
Concordia II – 139 Drake Street
Concordia I – 199 Drake Street
Sydney Manor – 183 Drake Street
Parkview Tower – 289 Drake Street
Governor’s Tower – 388 Drake Street
Century Tower – 789 Drake Street
Max II – 939 Expo Boulevard
Landmark 33 – 1009 Expo Boulevard
239 Georgia Street East
Georgia Residences – 1200 Georgia Street West
Georgia Residences – 1288 Georgia Street West
Venus – 1239 Georgia Street West
The Pointe – 1331 Georgia Street West
The Qube – 1333 Georgia Street West
The 819 – 819 Hamilton Street
Jardines Lookout – 867 Hamilton Street
The Rosedale – 888 Hamilton Street
Coal Harbour Co-op – 1515 Hastings Street West
Robinson Tower – 488 Helmcken Street
Imperial Tower – 811 Helmcken Street
The Galileo – 822 Homer Street
Pinnacle – 939 Homer Street
The Bentley – 1001 Homer Street
The Domus – 1055 Homer Street
City Crest – 1155 Homer Street
Governor’s Villa I – 1318 Homer Street
Governor’s Villa II – 1328 Homer Street
Governor’s Villa III – 1338 Homer Street
Governor’s Villa IV – 1388 Homer Street
Governor’s Villa V – 1398 Homer Street
Pacific Point – 1331 Homer Street
The Waterford – 1483 Homer Street
Kings Landing I – 1515 Homer Street
Electric Avenue – 933 Hornby Street
The Canadian – 1068 Hornby Street
London Place – 1177 Hornby Street
Beach Tower – 1500 Hornby Street
Infinity – 828 Howe Street
1188 Howe Street
The Genesis – 1189 Howe Street
Ocean Tower – 1501 Howe Street
Harbourside Park II – 555 Jervis Street
Europa – 63 Keefer Place
Paris Place I – 183 Keefer Place
Icon II – 633 Kinghorn Mews
City Gate II – 1159 Main Street
Quaywest – 1033 Marinaside Crescent
Quaywest II – 1067 Marinaside Crescent
Marinaside Resort – 1077 Marinaside Crescent
Marinaside Resort – 1099 Marinaside Crescent
Aquarius – 1111 Marinaside Crescent
Aquarius I – 1199 Marinaside Crescent
The Peninsula – 1201 Marinaside Crescent
Crestmark II – 1228 Marinaside Crescent
Roundhouse – 1267 Marinaside Crescent
Crestmark I – 1288 Marinaside Crescent
The Concord – 1328 Marinaside Crescent
Columbus – 1383 Marinaside Crescent
Orca Place – 1166 Melville Street
Pointe Claire – 1238 Melville Street
188 Millross Avenue
The Brighton – 120 Milross Avenue
The Sussex – 189 National Street
The Electra – 989 Nelson Street
Bauhinia – 535 Nicola Street
The 501 – 501 Pacific Street
The Aqua – 550 Pacific Street
Pacific Promenade – 888 Pacific Street
Quayside Place – 1010 Pacific Boulevard
Pacific Plaza II – 1177 Pacific Boulevard
The Classico – 1328 Pender Street West
Harbour Cove I – 1450 Pennyfarthing Drive
Harbour Cove II – 1470 Pennyfarthing Drive
Harbour Cove III – 1490 Pennyfarthing Drive
The Viceroy – 1088 Quebec Street
The National – 1128 Quebec Street
City Gate – 1188 Quebec Street
The Savoy – 928 Richards Street
Mondrian 1 – 969 Richards Street
Mondrian 2 – 989 Richards Street
The Miro – 1001 Richards Street
The Gallery – 1010 Richards Street
Park Plaza – 1188 Richards Street
The Eden – 1225 Richards Street
The Metropolis – 1238 Richards Street
The Oscar – 1295 Richards Street
The Azura – 1438 Richards Street
The Azura II – 1495 Richards Street
Conference Plaza – 438 Seymour Street
The L’Aria – 822 Seymour Street
Metropolitan Towers – 930 Seymour Street
The Spot – 933 Seymour Street
Metropolitan Towers – 980 Seymour Street
Brava North – 1155 Seymour Street
Brava South – 1199 Seymour Street
The Space – 1238 Seymour Street
Electric Avenue – 938 Smithe
The Sterling – 1050 Smithe
West One – 1408 Strathmore Mews
The Taylor – 550 Taylor Street
Pacifica North Gate – 518 14th Street West
Pacifica South Gate – 503 16th Street West
Harbour Cove IV – 1515 1st Avenue West

The Novus Network is expanding their fibre optic network, with plans to offer their services to an increasing customer base in the Lower Mainland as their service area continues to grow.

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/73/novus-network-service-area/

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