Read about what is going on in the virtual tour world, and how Virtual Vista can help you with your listings.

Virtual Tour Blogs

2011-02-10T22:14:03.958-08:00
(12 months ago)

Douglassville Virtual Tour | Kathy Cicala | 4990 Pheasant Run Court PA

Enjoy A Virtual Tour Of 4990 Pheasant Run Court, Douglassville, PA 19518:

http://rtvpix.com/RE-9568-CBTDCA-01

Created By Virtual Vista:

http://www.VirtualVista.net

How Unique - Now Why didn't the Builder think of that? It's a New Jersey model with an OPEN FLOORPLAN plus all of the Goodies including a beautiful INGROUND POOL! Cul-de-Sac location. The kitchen is open and inviting and would make a serious chef happy. It features a GE Cafe Series Duel Fuel Five Burner Stove with Double Convection Oven and a Bosch Evolution 800 Series Dishwasher & Large center island. The kitchen is open to the dining rm, living rm & family rm. Sliding glass door in breakfast area leads to 16 x 18 Trex deck & Viking Fiberglass Inground pool with remote controlled fiber optic lighting. Pool is enhanced by a 10 x 50 ft Rhinox retaining wall plus there is still plenty of flat yard for a swing set or garden. The large master suite w/ sitting area features a lavish Bath with jacuzzi, ceramic tile, dbl sink & shower stall & Large Walk in closet. 3 additional bedrooms & convenient upstairs laundry complete the 2nd floor. Basement is ready to be finished - just needs drywall and carpet

2011-02-10T21:52:45.395-08:00
(12 months ago)

West Chester Virtual Tour | Paul Lott Real Estate Team | 206 Ridge Crest Drive PA

Enjoy A Virtual Tour Of 206 Ridge Crest Drive, West Chester, PA 19382:

http://rtvpix.com/RE-3706-57VF6I-01

Created By Virtual Vista:

http://www.VirtualVista.net

Fabulous location, incredible views, privacy woods, nearly 6,000 finished sf, 1.6 acres, 4.5 full baths, gorgeous colonial in prestigious Marshallton Chase, minutes from West Chester Boro. Unbelievable views, thoughtful landscaping, in-ground pool w/new tile-coping, hot tub, finished w/out basement w/full kitchen, bath, 2nd laundry, additional family room and play room. Welcoming foyer, private study, fabulous eat-in kitchen featuring granite counters, plenty of cabinet space, 42 inch cabinets and kitchen island. Spacious formal dining room and living room. Two story family room features a raised hearth brick fireplace and rear stairs to the 2nd floor. Large master suite, sitting room and luxurious master bath complete with a soaking tub and walk-in shower. Three additional bedrooms, jack and jill full bath, full hall bath. New carpets and paint throughout. Generous use of trim and moulding, ample windows, hardwoods, first floor laundry, and a side entry 3-car garage. West Chester Schools!

2011-02-10T15:12:47.902-08:00
(12 months ago)

Gradyville Virtual Tour | Saundra Shepard | 1661 Old Gradyville Road PA

Enjoy A Virtual Tour Of 1661 Old Gradyville Road, Gradyville, PA 19039:

http://rtvpix.com/RE-8454-Z7VE2W-01

Created By Virtual Vista:

http://www.VirtualVista.net

This custom designed English Tudor Country Estate has not changed hands since the current owners commissioned its design 26 years ago! Located on 8+ acres, this home was built for year round entertaining and boasts 2 kitchens, 2 family rooms, large inground pool and multiple amentities that buyers will love. Country living at its finest, yet conveniently located to I95, 476, shopping centers and transportation.

2011-02-10T14:43:08.660-08:00
(12 months ago)

West Chester Virtual Tour | Student Housing | West Chester University PA

Enjoy This Virtual Tour Of West Chester University New Student Housing (Brandywine and Allegheny Halls):

http://rtvpix.com/BU-7376-TYD1U9-01

Created By Virtual Vista:

http://www.VirtualVista.net

2011-02-02T21:59:12.507-08:00
(12 months ago)

Roxborough Virtual Tour | Taormina Luxury Homes | 245 Paoli Avenue PA

Enjoy A Virtual Tour Of 245 Paoli Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19128...

http://rtvpix.com/RE-2434-EDKHCS-01
Created By Virtual Vista:
http://www.VirtualVista.net

New Construction. PHASE 1 Sold Out. Phase 2 ONLY 2 left. Don't miss out on this Exclusive development. 8 Unique Style homes. 3 spacious bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. Gorgeous stone & stucco exterior. Enter into a large foyer with custom tile flooring, family room, 9ft ceiling, and recessed lighting, sliding glass doors to large scenic yard. Main floor enhanced by hardwood flooring, features great open rooms, perfect for entertaining. Exciting contemporary style kitchen, designer 42" cabinets, w/granite countertops, SS appliances and sliders to a large deck overlooking a landscaped yard with dramatic stone boulder walls. Upper Level Master Suite double doors, walk-in closets, bath w/dual sinks, spa shower with cool pebble tile flooring. 2 additional large bedrooms, custom tile hall bath, full laundry rm. 1 car garage, 3+ parking in the asphalt driveway. This prime location of Upper Roxborough is within walking distance to the R6 Train, close to Rt76, Rt476 & less than 9 miles to center city. ***10 Yr Tax Abatement

2012-02-02T18:00:21.083-05:00
(2 days ago)

Video Productions or Virtual Tours
Travel suppliers are constantly looking for better ways to effectively market themselves on the internet and inevitably I get asked the question: "Video or virtual tours?"

It is just not that black and white, just varying shade of gray. Imagine you're the new marketing manager of a resort hotel and the boss asks if you think they should create a promotional video or create virtual tours.

The first question you would ask yourself:

"How's the photography!?"

Great, still images should be your foundation - that's the starting point for prospects that may be motivated to see and learn more if they like the photos.

This is where videos and 360-degree virtual tours play a role.

The second question to ask the boss:

What's the budget?"

A respectable video will cost $10,000 and up! This is not a place to skimp on cost and look for the cheapest production you can find - even when they brag about creating videos in HD (High Definition).

Video options

My six year old can shoot 1080p HD video using my iPhone, but she lacks composition and lighting skills. Good video requires some thought. You should expect a two to three-man production crew with a respectable production package (camera, lens(es), tripod, light kit, etc.).

Additional funds should be considered for production toys like a jib arm, dolly, steadicam, etc - things that help create fluid movement (otherwise you're shooting postcards).

Other budgetary inflating elements to think about: scripting, voice over talent, music, aerials, on-camera talent (do you get paid models or wrangle hotel staff and guests), hair and make-up, wardrobe, art direction, graphics and special effects in post-production, etc.

You get the idea.

Video can get pricey, but an effective video generates higher conversions and increases the average daily rate because the consumer perceives greater value. A property with no video, or even worse a crappy video or a poorly created photo slide show, may devalue your offering.

Video should be a visual a teaser of the property highlights and your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). Video, especially a video viewed online, should be short - no longer than one to one and a half minutes.

The average viewer abandonment rate is 45% after the first minute (higher if the video lacks appeal). If you feel you can't showcase the entire property in a minute or less, try breaking it into sub videos - an overview video, and sub videos to focus on specific areas: meeting spaces, golf course, spa, dining, activities, accommodations, and local area (highlights nearby).

360-degree tours

Back to our dilemma - video can be sexy and pricy (done correctly), but virtual tours (also referred to as 360s, 360-degree virtual tours, panoramic images, and virtual reality to name a few) are more affordable, provide a slightly different function in the sales cycle and in may deliver greater value or return on investment (ROI).

The investment to create good looking 360-degree virtual tours ranges from $250 to $500 per image (location). The crew would consist of one photographer with a camera, wide angle lens and tripod (with rotating head).

The production process is much faster and less intrusive to the property's guests and staff. Like video costing, you can find VT photographers who produce "cheap" 360-degree virtual tours - but the old adage generally applies: you get what you pay for.

360-degree virtual tours have improved dramatically over the last decade - visuals that rival any high quality photo can now be displayed with full screen panoramic imaging that allow consumers to virtually look all around. It gives consumers an honest and accurate representation of the room, lobby, meeting space, restaurant, pool, etc.

Simply put, what you see is what you get.

Consumers interact with 360-degree virtual tours more with by clicking or selecting what they want to see and spend as much time as they want viewing them, whereas video is a linear presentation.Many of the newer 360 virtual tour players provide additional interactive elements such as detailed text descriptions, interactive property maps, supporting photos, and weather forecast.

Look at the booking cycle from the consumer's perspective, the first elemental component would be good photography. If your property comes up when a consumer is searching for you and they see appealing photos they will stop and look.

If they like what they see (and it's in their budget), they will go to rich media and reviews to vet and validate their selection. In the final stage of selecting a room type, a 360 image is a tremendous help.

Luxurious position

If the budget Gods have descended upon you and you can afford to do both, do it - they will both be used in the booking funnel and there's something for everyone.

Make sure your visuals are in as many touch points with the prospective consumers as possible.

Don't create a great content (video or VTs) and only show it on your website expecting prospects to flock - your job, as a marketer is to get your best visuals in front of as many prospects as you can within your budgetary constraints - distribute your content everywhere!

NB: This is a guest article by Henry Woodman, president of ICE Portal.

Thanks Henry! RTV Loves You Guys!

Yours Sincerely,

Team RTV

Virtual Tour Software

Order a virtual tour: 866-947-8687

2012-02-02T18:05:16.562-05:00
(2 days ago)

RealTour Fusion Update

Hello RTV virtual tour providers! We wanted to keep everyone updated with how things are progressing with the testing of our new RealTour Fusion virtual tour system. RTV was able to begin our internal beta process on Monday the16th of Jan. This was the first time we were able to create FSD accounts, Photographer (your photographers) accounts, agent accounts, broker, and owner accounts, and of course create Tour Track jobs in the new virtual tour system.

We've also been able to successfully create panoramic virtual tours, as well as HD still and video tours. We've been very busy experimenting with many of the new features included in the new system and over the last few weeks we've had the team in here testing as early as 6AM. While we're not gaining any extra points with the team, we have been able to get quite a bit accomplished.

We have submitted about 150 edits and change requests thus far and have the development team working overtime to get through them. While some of the changes are very minor, others are quite extensive and require more time to refine. We want to make sure that the transition from Tour Builder 4.0 to RealTour Fusion is as seamless and enjoyable as possible. Hands down, you're going to love it.

Change is typically never fun and getting used to the new virtual tour system will require some adjustments, attendance to many of our 2012 talk shows, video training sessions, and if you really want to get hands on training, you may even attend our RTV Convention here in May. The added features, time savings, added revenue generators, and features not found in any other virtual tour system to date will make the rollover worth it many times over. RealTour Fusion is going to take your virtual tour business to the next level.

We'll be keeping the RTV network posted via our blogs, phone calls, and emails as we make progress with our internal beta and transition into our focus group beta. This will be a beta testing process with a very small group of some of our top providers. We anticipate the focus group beta period will be short since we're spending extra time now with our internal process.

As soon as we have an exact launch date we'll be informing everyone and scheduling our first FORMULA and IMAGE episodes for the year. Please keep your eyes out for that inside of your TMS. Thanks for your continued support RTV!. We're very excited about how this will change your virtual tour business.

Yours sincerely,

Team RTV

Virtual Tour Software & Digital Marketing Training

http://www.RealTourVision.com

Order a Virtual Tour Today: 866-947-8687

2012-02-01T11:44:31.471-05:00
(3 days ago)

Building a Sales Pipeline Takes Time
We accomplish most of our virtual tour sales with "cold-calling". It has been said that things move slowly (like at a snail's pace) in the South. Being "Yankees" (not to be confused with Damn Yankees), we were accustomed to moving at high speed in every aspect of our lives. What have we learned after living 3 years in the South? Sales take time!

Our longest time from start to finish was over a year. Sometimes, however, you need to just "start" the virtual tour and build upon it later. That's what we can do for you at www.seeitsellstudios.com, your North East Mississippi Virtual Tour Provider

That was our experience at the gourmet restaurant "Park Heights" We are not yet finished with this virtual tour---it is a work in progress. To see what is now available go to:

http://rtvpix.com/RT-0266-ASI47D-01?h=500&w=700

First , we stopped in one day to drop off our card. Second, we sent an informal email with examples of our work as well as a narrative regarding the benefits a virtual tour offers a business. Third, we set up a meeting with the owner to demonstrate the 360 tour features. Finally, we began the virtual tour with some banquet room 360 scenes. We put in writing that we would be completing additional scenes as the areas of the restaurant were "staged".

We will be doing some additional patio 360 scenes as well as their roof-top dining. This is a fantastic restaurant. If you are ever in Tupelo, MS., perhaps visiting Elvis' birthplace, you simply must have a meal here.

Moral of this blog? Sales occur when you forge a relationship; they cannot be rushed.

NE Mississippi Virtual Tours

Hugh Jordan

16 Tadpole Lane

Corinth, MS. 38834

www.seeitsellstudios.com

Order a virtual tour today: 662-664-0965

2012-01-31T12:08:47.239-05:00
(4 days ago)

Consistent Approach to Property Marketing
How property marketing was presented just a few years ago

Today the world of Real Estate marketing is radically different from just a few years ago. Back then on-line 360 virtual tours with a small set of pictures on a limited size screen was a marketing plan that could sell houses with diligent follow up from your neighborhood Realtor.

Internet property exposure has changed the process radically

Today bandwidth considerations are much more permissive enabling technologies that absorb the viewer into a more complete visualization of the home. Virtual Tours use all types of marketing phrases for photography techniques, engaging technologies and delivery techniques. There are 360 degree panoramic images, Photoshop retouches, traffic reporting for your virtual tour, marketing plans, floor plans, video clips, HD and full screen delivery and HDR imaging just to name a few and 101 different other ways to present a home to home hunters on line. The Realtors role has changed to being an expert advisor in the process of buying a home and an expert in negotiating the financial aspects of a home purchase. Developing a compelling property marketing plan is a challenge to accomplish with all the other demands placed on a Realtor.

A lot of features but no real plan to build a complete property marketing plan

Many Realtors realize that virtual tours are a central piece to the marketing plan for a listing today but all too often virtual tours are just a set of images with modern bandwidth demanding features but no real delivery plan behind the images. A Realtor should have a marketing strategy that ties all of their tools in to a cohesive system. A marketing system that addresses the prospective buyer's questions during the internet search, at the point of interest and in casual meetings with interested prospective buyers or other Realtors is needed to create a consistent message about the listing that is easily identifiable no matter what Realtor is showing the property or what research is being done on the internet. With statistical data being the constant factor the variables are the Realtors property description and the photography images available on line and in the virtual tour. The message in these subjective elements of the plan need to be synchronized so complete marketing system can be a compelling orchestra of information.

A Complete Property Listing Marketing Plan

While we take care to discuss each element of a listing marketing plan below, the key fundamental of a successful system is cross-marketing. Cross-marketing of programs ties all the different programs together and validates interest by reinforcing one marketing source with another. People like to hear the same story from different sources, even if those sources originated from the same place!

During the Internet search

Just posting a virtual tour on the internet isn't enough anymore. Home hunters are looking at multiple sources of information that validate property credibility. Sometimes when an outstanding listing is available it gets cross-marketed by other Realtors that want to increase their chances of selling the favorable property to their clients. This is a good thing in some ways but can be confusing if the message about the property isn't consistent. The end result can be loss of potential buyer that couldn't sort out the selling message of the Realtor and the selling message of the property images made available by the selling Realtor.

The best option is to launch a desk top internet marketing program that includes posting at the top internet home hunting sites. Exposure Elements offers a comprehensive Exposure Engine to solve this challenge through controlled distribution. The reasonable cost saves your nights and weekends from the drudgery of listing posting hell as well. We post to 80+ sites for you and include cross marketing for all the marketing services you choose at the time you book the virtual tour.

At the point of interest

While while the best virtual tours can drive flocks of interested potential buyers to your property it is impractical or just plain impossible to meet every interested party.   Most Realtors use the "property flyer" to solve this challenge. A printed sheet that varies from a 50 cent/sheet budget color copy to productions that can cost as much as $3.00 or more per flyer. The added challenge is that the fliers can drain out of the flier box at a rate of 30-50 per week or more without leaving any clue to who was interested or taking the fliers. There is no measurable return on this investment and no way to engage with an interested party.

At Exposure Elements we recommend that Realtors consider using an SMS mobile marketing tool that we offer to provide an accountable and a measurable alternative to the flier. Our TxT2Look single property mobile website delivers images, a detailed property description, a realtor background and even a link to a mobile virtual tour or YouTube video. This tool was developed to replace the old single property website that is still being used today by uninformed realtors. Single property mobile websites get your listing on a home hunters phone providing that valuable second look that can engage a buyer well after they have made the visit to the home and neighborhood. It provides information to interested parties 24 hours a day and NEVER runs out. It presents the information in a data format so it can be easily forwarded. The service uses SMS text messaging to deliver initial data and to simplify access to the mobile internet. SMS text messaging is found on 98 percent of the mobile phones in the US today and virtually every cell phone sold today supports SMS text messaging. An included reporting feature can give you the validation and valuable insight to visitor interest and as a silver lining, it will capture their mobile phone number for follow up.   If this home isn't the right home for the mobile inquirer you may be able to help them find another home that will work for them.

In situations where Information on Demand is required

Anywhere and everywhere the listing Realtor goes they encounter potential home buyers that could be the buyer for their listing. Usually the common response is to send the interested person home to view the property on the internet. The problem here is twofold. In today's world of information access at your mobile phone anytime, people want information now and are becoming accustomed to getting it. Being without an engaging tool to share your listing at the moment can potentially lose a buyer and most assuredly can cause you to lose the opportunity to get that interested persons ongoing communication.

Sending people home to see a property on the internet is a lost cause today as they likely forget and move on to another listing. Sending them to a desk top website on their mobile phone is another lost cause that will only frustrate your potential home buyers. The Exposure Elements Single Property Mobile Website solves these challenges and does it in an elegant and engaging way using SMS text messaging to access the mobile internet.

Validation of marketing efforts is imperative to a successful marketing plan

Quality images, single property mobile websites, a cohesive distribution strategy, virtual tours, these are all elements of a marketing strategy that when put together correctly can drive home hunters to your listing BUT they are not worth much if you can't prove that they are working! Reporting mechanisms need to be in place to monitor the success of the strategy and understand what parts of the plan are driving the interest. As I mentioned above, the single property mobile website has some very good reporting tools included in the service delivery but that isn't enough. Exposure Elements also offers a virtual tour reporting tool that provided weekly reports showing the number of visitors by day, which tour images are the most popular and how those people are getting pointed to the virtual tour.   With the ample amount of data proving that home shoppers want to see virtual tours it becomes a no brainer to point all your marketing efforts towards the virtual tour ultimately providing the validation or rejection of marketing sources and your property listing strategy.

Tying all the services together to create one cohesive and consistent marketing service

In review, the three components for a successful marketing plan are internet property marketing at real estate portal sites, internet property marketing at the point of interest and an internet property marketing tool that is easily accessible to a Realtor in his/her daily public activities. Creating a unified approach using cross-marketing techniques that tie the images, the property description and the property statistics into one consistent message focusing on the same value points eliminates home hunter confusion and ultimately builds buyer confidence in the property.   Adding validation reporting that can be delivered to the seller increases seller confidence and validates the value of the marketing system by proving the marketing plans effectiveness.

Exposure Elements is a growing Silicon Valley Virtual Tour and SMS Mobile Marketing company wrapping these services together to create the first complete property exposure marketing company in Northern California. We are committed to creating a better, more efficient method of marketing property that adds value to everyone in the selling process. To order an Exposure Elements listing marketing program in the San Francisco Bay Area call us at 408-440-2278 or 408-431-0461.

Stan Davis

Silicon Valley Virtual Tours

www.exposureelements.com

Order a virtual tour: 408-431-0461

text Stan to 43766 for contact info and text business card

2012-01-27T16:24:05.059-05:00
(8 days ago)

Tallahassee Testimonial
I have been a virtual tour provider for several years. RTV is hands down the best virtual tour software company in the industry. RTV provides lighting fast support, online seminars that are fun and informative on various topics like marketing, photography techniques, business strategies, and the product the product is fantastic to boot.

The major draw for me is that they offer a system for businesses like myself that streamlines the entire tour process from shoot to production to hosting. They even send my customers weekly stats. As a provider with RTV they often send me leads and direct jobs through their 32 national partnerships they have under contract.

My company produces nearly a thousand virtual tours annually, and I could not do it as efficiently any other way. There are other virtual tour building software companies, hosting companies, panoramic stitching software companies, equipment companies, and it is possible to spend a lot of time and money putting together your own system that works.

But you won't find a single system that works for you like RTV does. You won't find a system built from the ground up specifically for Real Estate photography and business virtual tours. You really can't do any better if your in the business and depend on quality AND quantity with a fast turnaround for your customers. Is there room for improvement in their system? Yes. They aren't a huge corporation with an unlimited budget. But they listen to the needs of their customers, prioritize their upgrades, and always surprise me with new and improved services. I can't wait until the new RealTour Fusion system comes out any day now!!

MylesBW

Tally Tours Inc

Tallahassee Virtual Tours

www.TallyTours.com

Order a Virtual Tour (850) 491-3909

Myles produces all of the final products and virtual tours for Tally Tours. He turns Aaron's photos into virtual tours, photo tours, and digitally enhanced still photos.

Myles started Tally Tours in 2005. He is a professional photographer with a degree in Digital Media Production from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, NJ.

Myles worked in television and film production from 2002 - 2004. His credits include working with Good Morning America, VH1, various national television commercials, and many large TV & film productions such as MTV's Making the Band, The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, and M. Night Shyamalan's The Village.

Myles began producing Virtual Tours and photography for real estate in Philadelphia before moving to Tallahassee with his girlfriend who has since completed her graduate degree in Classical Archeology from FSU.

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