Making A House Smile For The Camera

80% of buyers begin looking for a home on the internet and 80% of those buyers will not look at a listing if it does not have a virtual tour. Most buyers will bypass a listing that only has one or two photos or pictures that make the home appear unattractive. In today's market, you do yourself and your seller a disservice if you do not post their listing with a virtual tour (or at the very least several pictures).  

Today's sophisticated internet savvy buyers are really easy to please when it comes to virtual tours.  All they really want is see is quality photographs presented in an eye-appealing format. You do not have to present a 360 degree style tour; a slide show will work just as well and sometimes better if it is presented properly. Buyers just want to preview the home so they can decide if they want to make an appointment to see the home in person. 

A home that is poorly presented in photographs may not receive the same amount of showings as one that is well presented on the internet. So, here are a few tips:  

1. Use the right equipment; don't use your cell phone camera. A good point-and-shoot digital camera will work. A camera with a wide angle feature is best. Use a tripod for clearer shots and always set your resolution to its highest settings.
2. The time of day is very important when taking exterior shots.   Mid-day is usually best.
3. When taking interior shots, turn on all the lights and use your flash.  This technique will eliminate most shadows and the room will appear much brighter.
4. Be objective.  Look at the room through the camera's eye.  If the beautiful plant looks like a weed, move it. Realtors advise clients on how to stage their homes for market.  Take your own advice and stage the room for the best photograph. Be just as careful outside. Remove the car from the driveway and the garden hose from the yard. Be careful not to get pictures of the garbage cans or telephone poles.
5. Take lots and lots of photos. With LCD display, you have an idea of how the picture will come out but this is not a guarantee.
6. Take pictures of all the rooms as well as pictures of the front and back yard. Be sure to get focused shots of any of the homes outstanding features (inside and out).
7. Take a distance shot of the front of the house from across the street. Watch the tilt of the camera. You don't want more street or sky than house. If the property is part of an HOA, be sure to get pictures of the common areas and amenities.
8. Enhance and edit your pictures. Use a photo editing software to crop photos and adjust the brightness or contrast.
9. Put them all together and begin posting them on your website and in your MLS. Better yet, create a slide show.
10. Hire a virtual assistant to edit your pictures, create a slide show and post it for you. Oh, by the way, if you are a poor photographer, admit it and hire someone else to take the pictures.

Exposure, Exposure, Exposure

In real estate, a popular refrain is "Location, Location, Location". When it comes to marketing, the refrain should be "Exposure, Exposure, Exposure".  

What can you do after you have placed a For Sale sign, an MLS listing, and scheduled the property for an ad campaign in the local newspaper?  In most areas, you can also list the property in a Real Estate magazine;  an expensive form of advertising. Now, you have done everything you and your competition normally do.

Real estate is competitive; you want to stand out from the crowd. What else can you do?  

List more! Not more properties (although that is a great way to increase your earnings). I am talking about listing the property in an Online Multiple Listing Service.  There are several sites offering free or low-rate listing services. Some sites offer classified ads that feature the property on its own mini-website. The listing services and the single property websites also submit the property to all the major search engines and various sites for further exposure at no extra cost.  

No time to manage another listing service, upload photos and/or virtual tours? Consider using your friendly Virtual Assistant. A Virtual Assistant can input the initial data and manage the listing for you.  

Second Self Virtual Assistance is a full service company. We know the multiple listing sites and the classified ad services that will meet your needs and budget. Second Self Virtual Assistance specializes in offering customized services to our clients. Call for a free consultation.

Big Brother Is Watching...

In the case of the real estate agent, Big Brother is your friendly Search Engine; the most popular of which is good ole Google.  

When writing articles and community information for your website, be sure that your content is fresh and unique. The large search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and MSN filter your pages when looking to rate your site. These filters look for content that appears to be duplicated from other website pages. If the search engine finds content which they determine to be duplicated, your site will receive a "duplicate content penalty" lowering your website ranking. The search engines, as yet, cannot determine which site has the original content.  Search engines can only determine that more than one website has several sentences, paragraphs or entire content that appears to be the same.  

So, a word of caution when you are writing pages to be posted on your site: be sure all content is distinctive and unique.  

Most real estate professionals prefer spending their time doing what they do best; meeting with potential clients and customers, assisting them to a successful close of escrow (and collecting their pay for doing a job "well done") rather than writing website content with the added task of making sure that the wording they have used does not appear somewhere else on the web.  

Once again I suggest using a Virtual Assistant to do the job for you. A good Virtual Assistant will write relevant and informative articles for you and make sure that the content is unique to your website.  

If you are considering the advantages of a Virtual Assistant, feel free to contact me for a personal consultation. The services at Second Self Virtual Assistance are customized to meet the needs and desires of each individual agent we serve.

Ghostwriters in the Sky

I sometimes think of the virtual world as being out there in the great beyond; for me that brings to mind images of the sky. A new image in that sky is one of a ghostwriter.  

One of the newest services being offered by freelance writers and virtual assistants is that of a blog ghostwriter.  Blogging has become an important part of the internet and real estate agents in-the-know are taking advantage of it to meet other professionals, those in their community and potential clients. To be effective, blogging takes a commitment of time to make it a successful endeavor. Blogging must be done consistently and often.  

Real estate agents are joining celebrities and CEOs, among other professionals, who are using this service. Due to their busy lifestyles they find that blogs are beneficial.   Unfortunately, they just do not have the time to write and maintain them, much less to do it consistently and often.  

Since virtual assistants know their clients, they are able to write blogs in a style and tone that is reflective of that particular client. Real estate virtual assistants are able to blog in a knowledgeable manner because they spend many hours per week doing extensive research in regards to the marketplace and the industry itself to provide their clients with quality service in website maintenance, marketing, and now blogs.  

A virtual assistant is an excellent option for those who dislike writing or feel that their writing skills are not their best asset.  A real estate virtual assistant is able to create quality relevant blog content and can aid you in a variety of ways.  For the low-key, "I-don't-know-and-don't-wanna-know" types, the virtual assistant can do it all.  

The best blogs are those where the agent and the assistant work together. You can give the virtual assistant a list of blog ideas that they can use to create your blog. You can submit a rough draft of your blog and your virtual assistant will polish it up and then post it.  

There will be times when you just won't feel like writing or you will experience writer's block or you may just need a little time off. For those times you can call on your virtual assistant to temporarily help you out. Virtual assistants can create a blog from a list of ideas, personal information or stories which you have supplied and are kept on file.  The virtual assistant can also create a blog from instructions that are given by phone or email. Get an idea, jot it down, then fax or email it and viola you have a blog.  

The virtual assistant can do it all and they are able to write excellent content for you.  However, the best person to respond to the comments and inquiries you receive is you. Sometimes agents will spend large amounts of money and time on a marketing campaign but do not take the time to do the follow-up needed to make that campaign a success. Don't make that mistake with your blog. Get assistance from a virtual assistant blogger so that you will have the time to keep up with  (the reason for the blog in the first place) your readers and potential clients  

Another great aspect of using the services of a virtual assistant to create or help you create articles for your blog is their reasonable pricing.  

For those of you, who feel that ghostwriting just isn't quite fair, remember top producers know "the art of delegating".  No one discounts the services of a transaction coordinator, marketing assistant or a secretary. The use of a virtual assistant in this area is really no different.  

If you would like to know more about how a virtual assistant can help you with your personal blog or other businesses needs, you can contact me for a personal and a free consultation.

Ghostwriters in the Sky

I sometimes think of the virtual world as being out there in the great beyond; for me that brings to mind images of the sky. A new image in that sky is one of a ghostwriter.  

One of the newest services being offered by freelance writers and virtual assistants is that of a blog ghostwriter.  Blogging has become an important part of the internet and real estate agents in-the-know are taking advantage of it to meet other professionals, those in their community and potential clients. To be effective, blogging takes a commitment of time to make it a successful endeavor. Blogging must be done consistently and often.  

Real estate agents are joining celebrities and CEOs, among other professionals, who are using this service. Due to their busy lifestyles they find that blogs are beneficial.   Unfortunately, they just do not have the time to write and maintain them, much less to do it consistently and often.  

Since virtual assistants know their clients, they are able to write blogs in a style and tone that is reflective of that particular client. Real estate virtual assistants are able to blog in a knowledgeable manner because they spend many hours per week doing extensive research in regards to the marketplace and the industry itself to provide their clients with quality service in website maintenance, marketing, and now blogs.  

A virtual assistant is an excellent option for those who dislike writing or feel that their writing skills are not their best asset.  A real estate virtual assistant is able to create quality relevant blog content and can aid you in a variety of ways.  For the low-key, "I-don't-know-and-don't-wanna-know" types, the virtual assistant can do it all.  

The best blogs are those where the agent and the assistant work together. You can give the virtual assistant a list of blog ideas that they can use to create your blog. You can submit a rough draft of your blog and your virtual assistant will polish it up and then post it.  

There will be times when you just won't feel like writing or you will experience writer's block or you may just need a little time off. For those times you can call on your virtual assistant to temporarily help you out. Virtual assistants can create a blog from a list of ideas, personal information or stories which you have supplied and are kept on file.  The virtual assistant can also create a blog from instructions that are given by phone or email. Get an idea, jot it down, then fax or email it and viola you have a blog.  

The virtual assistant can do it all and they are able to write excellent content for you.  However, the best person to respond to the comments and inquiries you receive is you. Sometimes agents will spend large amounts of money and time on a marketing campaign but do not take the time to do the follow-up needed to make that campaign a success. Don't make that mistake with your blog. Get assistance from a virtual assistant blogger so that you will have the time to keep up with  (the reason for the blog in the first place) your readers and potential clients  

Another great aspect of using the services of a virtual assistant to create or help you create articles for your blog is their reasonable pricing.  

For those of you, who feel that ghostwriting just isn't quite fair, remember top producers know "the art of delegating".  No one discounts the services of a transaction coordinator, marketing assistant or a secretary. The use of a virtual assistant in this area is really no different.  

If you would like to know more about how a virtual assistant can help you with your personal blog or other businesses needs, you can contact me for a personal and a free consultation.

Should I - Shouldn't I.....Why Blog

If you are reading this, you are obviously aware of blogging; but you may not have your own blog because you're not quite sure what to blog about or have the time to blog.  

Let's discuss why you would want to blog in the first place.  

First, there is the advantage of Search Engine Optimization. For this reason alone many realtors have started blogging or are considering doing so.  

Secondly, there is the advantage of target marketing. You are in the business of real estate and as in any business you need clients and customers. Blogging allows you to talk to people who are interested in real estate. People who read real estate blogs are currently in the market to buy or sell or are thinking of about it.  

Thirdly, the internet is becoming more of an influence in people's daily lives; especially in those of the young professional types. 80% of buyers and sellers are using the internet to gather information about real estate in general, the marketplace in their area and finding their prospective agent.

More than search engine optimization the world of blogging allows you to speak to a whole world of people about your area of expertise. This should be your focus when blogging. Blogging allows people to see you, as someone who is knowledgeable, professional and real. By blogging you are not just a website, you are a real person giving information about their community and profession.  

When blogging you can talk about anything. Blog about what you know: you and your community. Write about one of your funny real estate experiences, people love humor. Write about your community from local leadership to your favorite restaurant. Write about you so that your reader will feel like they know you as a real person. Write about real estate from a featured listing to real estate advice and tips.  

Now, let's discuss why you wouldn't want to blog  

First, there is the time element. Blogs should be written on no less than a weekly basis. Consistency is important if you want a loyal readership. You already have a long list of things to do and adding another is probably not very enticing. Blogging can be time consuming.   You must research to find a subject, then thinks of ways to express it, now write the blog, post it and respond to comments. Another 3 or 4 hours added to your schedule!  

Secondly, writing skills. You may not feel your writing skills are your best asset.    

Consider a real estate virtual assistant to assist you with your blog. Virtual Assistants, because of their expertise in the field of real estate and their skills in content writing, do not spend 3 or 4 hours per blog but can do it in less than half the time. All you have to do is reap the advantages.

Don't Miss The Boat!

Awhile back, I scheduled a relaxing three day cruise. I left 24 hours in advance for the trip so I could spend the night at a hotel and avoid a tiring long drive to the docks. As I leisurely drove across the desert, I received a phone call from the couple my husband and I were meeting asking me where we were. Much to my surprise, we were late! The ship was leaving that day, not the next!

Well, so much for leisurely drives and hotel stays. My husband pushed on the gas and turned our car into a jet plane (all within legal speed limits of course).

So what has this got to do with you and your business? If you are not answering your emails promptly, you may miss the boat.

Since you are using the internet to promote your business, I am going to assume you know that over 80% of Internet buyers begin their home buying search on the internet. Did you also know that most of these buyers also chose their agent via the internet? A recent survey reports that 92% of Internet buyers found their agent through a website and 63% by using a search engine. 0% found their agent via traditional marketing such as yard signs or mailers.

A deciding factor for many when choosing their agent was how that agent responded to their emails. Promptness and relevant content are a must if you are not going to miss the boat. The time gap between when an Internet buyer begins their search and the time they are ready to buy is longer; but once they make the decision to buy, the time gap between actively viewing homes on the market and writing a contract is shorter.

Internet presence, Contact Management, Emails - a must for today's real estate professional and just a click away is a virtual assistant waiting to help you with all of them.

Spring Is In The Air...Eggs Are On The Lawn

Spring is in the air, the sun is shining. Easter is early this year and the eggs are on the lawn, the chocolate bunnies are in the frig. My spring cleaning is done. Life is beautiful!

   UGH! Computer crash! 

Horrible words for a virtual assistant or for anyone who uses computers for their business, which is almost everyone these days.

The mother-board is dead! I want to hit something! No, wait!  Help is on the way. Actually, in this case it was good forward thinking. I  had my laptop on hand which had been synchronized to my desktop,  my  backups were current, my virtual assistants were there to lend a helping hand! So while things were not great, everything was handled  and my clients never knew there was a problem!

So, while doing your spring cleaning and spring planning for the busy days ahead, add a computer checkup to your list and put your backup systems in place so that your clients will never know there was a problem.

To end on a  light note, here are some fun Easter Facts:

>Over 90 million chocolate bunnies will be consumed
>95% of chocolate bunnies are eaten ears first, the remainder are eaten feet first
>16 billion jelly beans will be eaten on Easter
>700 million Peeps bunnies and chicks will be consumed this Easter

I Can't Find You - Are You Out There?

A few weeks back I had a real estate agent call me about enhancing their website.

To consult someone on the enhancement of a website, I need to be able to look at it. In order to look at the site, I need to be able to find it. I tried to bring up the site using various search criteria. I put in the city, the agent's name, and even the company name to no avail. Obviously this site needed a lot of enhancement.

The only people who were able to find the website were the people the agent had given her website address to.  Giving out your website address to your clients and those you meet along the way is great; but what about those you have never met. It is more important now than ever to have a strong internet presence.

70 - 75% of sellers are now using the internet when considering selling their home. 80 - 85% of buyers begin looking for homes using the internet. It is no longer enough to impress someone by putting a website address on your business card. If you do not have a site that is easy to find and that gives valuable information, you are going to lose business!

A real estate professional I know of, would close one or two transactions and add several strong prospects (buyers and sellers) to her database every of couple months. Now, that may not sound like much but six - nine transactions a year does add up to a nice chunk of change. Every one of those transactions and additional prospects were a direct result of a quality website. The website contained community information and more importantly to the buyer and seller quality information; including photos on property in her area. However, none of this would have mattered if the search engines had not been able to find her website in the first place.

Most real estate agents do not have the time or the knowledge to maximize their websites.  This is usually a job they prefer to delegate. Many agents use their teen-agers or someone they know that they feel is a "guru". This usually means the person chosen just knows computers a little bit better than the agent and nothing about real estate marketing or search engine optimization.

Let me suggest delegating this task to a professional that knows both real estate and search engine optimization, a Virtual Assistant.

For a private consultation and evaluation of your website, contact me. I will be glad to help.

I Am Not Your Competition

The real estate agent lives in a highly competitive world and more competition is not something you need.  

You've worked hard weighing the options of possibly hiring someone you know and risking a relationship or hiring a stranger and risking the unknown. You've probably had days of frustration training someone who had no idea how the real estate world really works. You've made room for them in your office. You've bought another computer, office furniture, and more supplies.  

Another all-too-real scenerio - the office is running smoothly when your assistant tells you they are leaving. Another agent has made them an offer or they have gotten their license and will now be your competitor. To add insult to injury, they are using the knowledge that you gave them! Now you are back to square one.  

Here is a solution for you:

• Consider the advantages of hiring someone who is already trained in the real estate industry and can assist you with administrative, marketing, website, search engine optimization and special projects.  Consider a virtual assistant.
• Consider hiring someone who is not socializing on your dime and only pay for the exact hours and services rendered. Consider a virtual assistant.
• Consider someone who will never become your competition. Consider a virtual assistant.  

A virtual assistant is a self-employed individual who has found their niche in giving administrative assistance to those in need of their services and doing it well.  

While your are doing all that "considering", consider Second Self Virtual Assistance, your Certified Real Estate Support Specialist.