Browsing the blog archives for September, 2007

Joel Burslem, Inman News & the future of real estate marketing

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10 Sep, 2007
News

We recently attended a meeting where Joel Burslem of Inman News spoke about the current state and future of real estate marketing. Joel spoke of the changes in the United States market and how, in his view, real estate marketing had to change to stay relevant. He suggested that real estate marketing needed to grow to encompass new technologies. He stressed that change is good and natural, and that real estate agents should embrace the new technologies. For example, the social media sites facebook, LinkedIn etc…

Then he came to the part I liked… Video! He showed a video from a property in New York that featured the agent walking through the property. The price tag? to his recollection it was about $1500.

I guess that says something for our $129 introductory special!

Want to be in your own video? Just let us know! Don’t like the recorded sound of your voice? Ask us about voice overs.

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/142/joel-burslem-inman-news-the-future-of-real-estate-marketing/

Penny Naldrett on Bowen Island

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6 Sep, 2007
News

We have been shooting quite a number of properties on Bowen Island recently. It’s such a great place and the houses are all so unique. On our last trip out to the Island, we shot a Video Tour and some photos for 1296 Scarborough Road. We received this email from Penny Naldrett (www.bccoastalliving.com) of Prudential Sussex Realty who is based on the Island. “These are GREAT! It reminds me once again why I hire a professional to take the photographs.” Thanks Penny! Keep an eye out for her upcoming blog. Here is her latest video for 1296 Scarborough Road.

Bowen Island

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/141/penny-naldrett-on-bowen-island/

Vancouver – Great City, Great People

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3 Sep, 2007
News

It’s great being a real estate photographer in Vancouver. We get invited to photograph and produce real estate video tours of the best homes in the most beautiful city in the world. We also get to meet the most interesting people as well. Recently, while shooting a townhome at 1233 West Cordova for uber-realtor, Ian Watt, I had the opportunity to meet Kay Zigmont, a sculptor who produces Namaste Sculptures (www.namastesculptures.com). She was helping to stage the home by bringing a couple pieces of her work and displaying them on the rooftop patio set against the setting sun in Coal Harbour. If you get a chance, check out her work. It really is beautiful.

Namaste Sculpture

Namaste Sculpture

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/139/vancouver-great-city-great-people/

Neighbourhood highlights – before or after?

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2 Sep, 2007
Helpful Tips, Real-Estate, Vancouver

An ongoing debate (or discussion, to put it nicely) at our office is whether community highlights should appear before or after the video of the property being shown off.

One of our newest clients, Winnie Lam, has specifically asked to have neighbourhood footage before showing the property. Perhaps I am just so enamoured with Vancouver that I love the footage of this city, but I think the videos turn out exceptionally well.
Click here to view one of my favourites from her tours.

The other option is presenting the property first and neighbourhood highlights afterward. The idea is to wow the video viewers with the best of the product right off the bat.
Click here to view a recent tour done for Jill Pennefather.

What do you think? Neighbourhood highlights before or after…? Do you have a preference? Just let us know!

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/140/neighbourhood-highlights-before-or-after/

Vancouver Is On The List(s)

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1 Sep, 2007
News, Real-Estate, Vancouver

The City of Vancouver made a couple of lists recently. The list that we are most familiar with is the Worldwide Quality of Living Survey. Vancouver consistently places in the top 3 with a third place finish again as determined by Mercer Consulting in their survey published in April 2007. Each city’s score is determined by “quality-of-life” criteria. Education, the environment, personal safety, the political and social environment, access to health care and public transportation are all factors considered in the evaluation. Not surprisingly, Baghdad ranks lowest on the list.

The list that we may not be so familiar with is the World’s Most Overpriced Real Estate, published by Forbes Magazine. The list is compiled using a modified version of the price to earnings ratio. Where did Vancouver rank? Our fair city finished in sixth spot behind Monaco, Rome, Paris Madrid and Los Angeles. I guess there is a price to pay to live in one of the best cities in the world.

http://www.vopenhouse.ca/blog/138/vancouver-is-on-the-list/