During one of my last photo shoots, I realized how incredibly blessed I am.  It was almost exactly one year ago that I moved to Florida and started my virtual tour business.  I came from  20 years in the corporate world of 70+ hour weeks spending most of my time buried behind a pc or locked in conference rooms.  When I came to the Jacksonville/St Augustine area, I was determined to make a change.  Hence, I formed Ad Vantage Virtual Tours to take advantage of one of my passions, photography.  Since then, I've never looked back, but the other week gave me reason to pause.

I arrived about 15 minutes early to shoot a virtual tour for a house down in St Augustine.  The realtor wasn't there yet so I drove to the end of the street to wait for a few minutes.  To my surprise, the end of the street was actually a sand dune.  I decided that, of course, a tour of the house would not be complete without showcasing the proximity to the beach so I wandered up the path - heels sinking in the sand as I made my way up path to the sand dune.  I got my shot, took a few minutes to enjoy the view myself and then headed back to my car to wait and meet the agent.  As I shook the sand out and got back in my car, I had to reflect on how lucky and grateful I was - no longer sitting in a stuffy conference room waiting for a meeting to start - but standing at the edge of the water getting to photograph unique beach homes and beautiful neighborhood homes throughout the area ever day.   

Now, I just need to remember to always keep a pair of flip flops in my trunk !

I am curious to know how many others in the real estate industry first started with careers in the corporate world vs. always knowing real estate was the place for them.

A while back, I posted a picture of a wonderful sunset from a local St Augustine restaurant.  From the comments I received on that post, I know that there are quite a few other sunset admirers out there.  I just got back from a vacation week in Key West where we were treated to spectacular sunsets every night -- thought I would share just a few...  ENJOY!!

Trish

Ad Vantage Virtual Tours - Jacksonville and St Augustine Virtual Tour Provider

If you haven't noticed yet, there is a new look to some of the AR blogs out there.  But if you're like many of us, you may not think you have the time to tackle this.  No problem!!  Thanks to Brad Carroll, there is now a fantastically easy tool to customize your blog.   Now you can add personalization to your AR blog to align with your marketing or just have some fun!

All you need to do is create an account then select a few options.   The customizer allows you to simply change background and menu colors or, if you wish, you can add a graphic banner and background picture.   Once you've made your selections, save your settings and the Customizer builds code that you copy/paste into the blog settings within your 'My Settings'.   Should you run into any problems, there is also Support/FAQs.

That's all there is to it -- your blog has a new, custom look!!  Try it out  and let me know what you think.

Trish Edmonds

Ad Vantage Virtual Tours - Your Jacksonville and St Augustine Virtual Tour Provider

I have found the following Prep Tips very useful for homeowners when preparing for a virtual tour.  When they do follow them closely, the result is something like the St Augustine tour I recently did for a home in the South Hampton Community.  As we all know the trick is to get homeowners to understand the value of following tips such as these.

Here is my list of prep tips that I share with agents.   As I continuously look to improve, I'd love to hear if anyone has other suggested tips that they find helpful. 

•1)       Clean and De-clutter

•         Clean, spacious rooms will photograph best.   If there are specific rooms that are not to be shot, this is a good place to store stuff temporarily.  Don't forget to clean up outside too if outdoors will be photographed

•         Kitchens photograph best with fewer appliances on counter, refrigerators free from pictures, etc.

•         Straighten cushions, bedding etc.

•         Ensure all windows, mirrors and shiny surfaces are cleaned

•         Fold decorative hanging towels in baths, ensure toilet seats down, shower curtains open

•         Empty trash.  Conceal trash cans when possible.

•         Make sure electrical cords are tucked away

•         Close all dresser drawers and closet doors; open doors between rooms for spacious feeling and  easy ‘flow' of tour

•         Conceal pet food bowls, litter boxes, pet toys

•         For security reasons, hide any valuables you wish not to be included in photographs

•2)       Lighting

•         Ensure bulbs are working in all light fixtures.  Lights will typically be turned on during shoot

•         Open window blind/shades to reveal the view (unless advised otherwise by your real estate agent)

•3)       Exterior

•        Cut grass  sweep sidewalks and entryways

•        Clean up pool area.  Conceal cleaning equipment, pool toys, towels etc.

•         Remove cars from driveway/front of house

Scheduling of tour considerations:

•1)       Holidays - generally, it is preferable to remove seasonal décor if the tour may be used year round.  It helps both to remove clutter as well as to not draw attention to how long house has been on market (if applicable).

•2)       Time of Day/Day of Week

•·         Don't  schedule on trash pickup day if exterior of house to be shot (especially if street/neighborhood panorama is desired)

When scheduling time of day for shoot, try to avoid any times where exterior of house (esp. front or pool, if applicable)  is strongly shaded. 

 Trish Edmonds

Ad Vantage Virtual Tours

I was working with one of my best clients who was looking for ways to get great greater exposure for her listings and came across an interesting finding.

According to our local Realtor's Association, there are several free options available to agents to increase listing exposure via MLS (e.g. sending to Homes.com) but that many agents don't take advantage of them.    These options do require additional effort to either register with sites or complete additional forms which, of course, takes time away from clients.  I realize the additional exposure options vary by organization around the country but am curious if this is an anomaly or a typical scenario and, if typical, why?  As I explore this further, your thoughts and input can help me shape a service to help my clients increase their tour/listing exposure.

Trish Edmonds

Ad Vantage Virtual Tours

www.advantagevt.com

Jacksonville's housing market continues to fair better than most areas of the country!!!  This blog cites information from recent Florida Times Union article.

According to Forbes.com, Jacksonville is # 8 on Forbes'  national list of Real Estate Bargain cities.  Jacksonville's ranking is largely based on the fact that our market "didn't go through an obscene speculation boom, making its recovery cycle far less daunting than other spots."   Also, a relatively low foreclosure rate  (compared with other Florida cities) is likely to reduce inventory.   Very exciting news as the recent market had definitely been a departure from the past. 

We all know what a wonderful place the Jacksonville/St Augustine area is to live and raise a family.  Hopefully, with the pricing adjustments of the past, the attractive mortgage rates available, and more sound lending practices in place, buyers will be ready to make a great deal and begin enjoying our wonderful city. 

Great news for all of us in the Real Estate and related services industry!!!

Trish Edmonds

Jacksonville Virtual Tour/St Augustine Virtual Tour Provider

As a virtual tour provider in the Jacksonville/St Augustine area, I make it a practice to send agents a Prep Tip checklist prior to the shoot so that they may coach the resepective home seller on how to prepare for their tour.   But all homeowners do not respond equally to their agent's coaching.  Preparing for a virtual tour  is  just like preparing for a showing or an open house.   However, for whatever reason, many  sellers frequently do not quite ‘get it' and choose not to take their agent's advice.  They leave countertops cluttered, photos and artwork prominently displayed on fridge, etc.    All this leads to the question...How badly do they really want to sell the house?   And, for me, as a RTV virtual tour provider -  Just how much time and effort to expend ‘photoshoping out' these items to make the tour most presentable?

What a pleasant surprise I had earlier this week, when, almost without exception, a homeowner had staged/prepped their home perfectly for their St Augustine virtual tour shoot!!!  My job  was so much easier.    THANK YOU SO MUCH  HOMEOWNER!!!  I am sure that potential buyers thank you also!  When they view the tour, it will be so much easier for them to imagine THEMSELVES living here in this beautiful home, enticing them to come visit in person.  In the end, attracting more traffic and likely leading to a quicker sale.  Isn't that what its all about anyway?!

Trish Edmonds
Ad Vantage Virtual Tours, LLC
Your Jacksonville Virtual Tour Provider

 My husband surprised me with a last minute decision to go out to eat and we were treated to a fantastic sunset.  Ended up at a restaurant on the water with a small beach.  The fallen tree framed the sunset perfectly. 

Such a beautiful night, I wanted to share.  So glad I always keep my camera in the car!!

Trish Edmonds

Ad Vantage Virtual Tours, LLC

Passing along some good news for the Jacksonville Housing Market. According to a recent news release from the Florida Assoc. of Realtors, the Northeast Florida/Jacksonville market is fairing better than most through this depressed real estate period. 

Based on a comparison of 2007 to 2006 home sales, the Jacksonville area shows a 26% drop in sales but a 2% increase in median sales prices.  In fact, Jacksonville was the only major Florida metropolitan area cited showing an increase in sales price from a year ago.  While far from optimal, we are in a much better situation in northeast florida than the overall state averages which show a 38% decrease in sales and a 9% decrease in price for the same period. 

Across the board, the outlook is more favorable as credit is expected to become more widely available.  That will be very important as, according to NAR Senior Economist Lawrence Yun, 1 out of every 16 households will buy a home this year.

Trish Edmonds

Ad Vantage Virtual Tours

Your Jacksonville Virtual Tour Provider