Video Overtakes Virtual Tours?

Posted at 3:10 PM, Feb. 8, 2007

It seems that every day there's a new technology tool for real estate. How long ago did we start putting listings on our web sites, then adding photos so buyers could see the home's features? Then virtual tours were the new thing, and with them our clients got an even better sense of the home. 

Now it's video tours like this one, complete with background music, professional voice-over, and a sense of walking through the house. Are the new videos an improvement? I believe so.

·        Virtual tours string together a selection of static photos, sometimes zoomed in or out, but each image is a single perspective.

·        Video tours add movement so that viewers feel as if they are actually walking through the house, moving from room to room. The camera sweeps around a room just as a person would look from side to side.

·        While virtual tours can include background music and printed captions, video tours include a human voice pointing out the features of a home, inside and out. Through choice of words, tone, and inflection, the voice adds an emotional component that is missing in the virtual tour. By coordinating the voice tone and speed with the background music and the style of the home, you can convey a more complete image.

Professional Realtors® have to be students of human nature and communication. We know that some people remember best what they see, others remember what they hear. Video home tours are memorable because they combine both senses.

Will video replace virtual tours? Not right away. We haven't stopped putting photos on our web sites or printing brochures, either. But video is certainly going to be a part of marketing in the future, and something that I think our clients will appreciate.

So here's the question:  Are you using – or do you plan to use – video house tours for your listings?

Is Your Realtor® Tech Savvy?

Posted at 6:20 AM, Dec. 12, 2006

What's the first thing a lot of people do today? Go online, of course. Buyers can browse through hundreds of homes for sale on their Realtor's® web site, see photos and even video tours of home interiors, all without leaving the comfort of their own homes. Sellers can show their homes to more prospective buyers than they ever could have reached by the Sunday paper alone.

Top Realtors® know that using technology in many forms is key to giving customized, personal service in today's high-speed world. A good web site is a must, of course, where potential buyers can see what's available, and potential sellers can learn about the Realtor's® services. But the true value of using technology shows throughout the process. Want to see a home that's just come on the market? Your Realto®r can phone no matter where he is thanks to cell technology. Is your spouse away and you want to share a home you just saw?  Take a photo with that palm-sized digital camera, download the photo, and email your find anywhere in the world. Do you need to exchange paperwork? The offer, contract, inspection report, and many others can be emailed or faxed for next-minute delivery. 

The increasing use of technology in real estate is improving the speed and accuracy of many aspects of the business. But there remains one characteristic of a great Realtor® that technology will not change – the commitment to personal service. Computers and cell phones can simplify our lives and speed up transactions. So, yes, it's important for your Realtor® to be tech savvy. But it's even more important to always put extraordinary service first, because the human connection is still the most important part of any successful real estate experience.

Searching for a Home in Los Angeles - as featured in my-local-real-estate.com

Posted at 9:58 AM, Nov. 20, 2006

Los Angeles is a highly diverse community - diverse in culture, languages, ethnicity, neighborhoods, and in architecture.  In many Los Angeles communities, one will hear 15-20 languages spoken and in some areas, English is not spoken at all.

The temperate climate and vast cultural and recreational opportunities make Los Angeles an idea place to live (well, except for the traffic!).  Within a two hour drive, one can surf at the beach in the morning and then head to a seasonal resort for an afternoon of skiing.  In between, one may stop at a Laker’s or a Clipper’s game, a USC or UCLA game, or a Dodger's or an Angel's game. From Los Angeles, one can also head south two hours to sunny San Diego or north eight hours to reach infamous San Francisco.

One of the first decisions for someone looking to purchase a home in the Los Angeles area is finding a Realtor who is knowledgeable about the local market and then finding the right neighborhood and the compatible/desirous amenities that one is seeking. Commute time to work or school is also a priority.  Mass transit exists in Los Angeles, but it is not always fluid or easy.  As a result, most people commute to work, school, events, etc., instead of using mass transit.

Within Los Angeles, there are a multitude of "areas" or "specific neighborhoods", each with their own unique characteristics.  Prices tend to rise the further from the downtown "core" and from the Westside one goes. South of Mulholland Highway is the "City" and north of Mulholland Highway is the "Valley". The Valley is the suburbs and the City side is more of the "traditional" city.  Prices in the Los Angeles market, have, for the most part, remained relatively stable even in a slowing market; Los Angeles is still a great draw and an exciting place to be.

Properties can be searched on www.MichaelTrustRealty.com under "Property Search" for a great selection of what is available on the market now. This search feature is updated daily and shows all currently available properties listed in the Multiple Listing Service.  In addition, there is a wealth of community information about Los Angeles and the surrounding areas available on this site. At Michael Trust Realty, we are committed to total client satisfaction and we treat each client as our only client. We would be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

Thanks for reading.

About the author: MICHAEL TRUST, REALTOR, AND BROKER/OWNER, Michael Trust Realty, MichaelTrust@MichaelTrustRealty.com or (818) 342-3470 or Toll Free (877) 755-7755 x709.

© my-local-real-estate.com copyright 2006. All rights reserved.

Thought for the Day - Working With a Realtor® is Needed Even More

Posted at 9:00 AM, Oct. 19, 2006

Let's Take a Minute Today To Reflect and Remember...

Posted at 10:55 PM, Sep. 10, 2006

Even though 9/11/2006 has passed, let us forget about business for one minute out of our day and remember our fallen fellow citizens, and our men and women in uniform here at home and around the world.

No matter what your political views are or what's occurred since, this day is a day of remembrance; a day of patriotism; a day to be thankful for all that our great nation has to offer. So, I propose that we all take just a minute out of our busy day and remember and reflect. Hopefully, we as a nation will never forget the events of 9/11/01 and the lessons learned.

God Bless America.