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Virtual Tours and advertising online today

By
Real Estate Agent with Sterling Homes Inc.

I don't understand why an agent would use the newspaper for anything but sending people to their website...It is a dated way of advertising and only good for the sellers belief that that is where people will find their home. Unfortunately they really don't understand that print media is on the way out, yes even the phone book is a lot smaller today.  Advertising methods are changing fast and those not changing are going to be left behind, or at the very least left with a lighter wallet.  My proof? look at any newspaper today and what do you see on the front page? Yes they now have a website! logically what does that mean? They are trying to hang on to a dying media! people are visually driven for photos or videos and the internet can provide so much more of that type of information quickly and with relative ease....and yes it is environmentally friendly too.. It saves on windshield time for realtors and buyers helping weed out the undesireable, un acceptable or down right nasty homes that seem to good to be true when described in text media or with only a few pics....we have all been there wasting time with what appeared to be a great value and it turned out to be a "clunker"

If the agent does not use virtual tours or at least good pictures maybe the property should be avoided?

Drick Ward Property Management / Broker Assoc
NEPTUNE REALTY - Virginia Beach, VA
"RealtorDrick" - Experienced Representation

Tom, Although I agree print media is headed out, I think there may be some markets where it's still viable.  In my area, for instance, NOBODY but NOBODY has dial up access to the internet.  Hampton Roads has been almost 100% high speed to 100% of the homes and offices for well over a decade. I was shocked recently to learn that there are people in some parts of the country on dial-up.  That said, if someone is in a market that has newspaper ads as a viable option, you are dead on target that they should be pointing traffic to their website.  At worst, it would cost them an extra line of print, but a valuable line that allows them to change the content (the ad is useful even if if's discovered a year later than it ran.)  Good post, thanks for sharing.

Jan 29, 2010 01:02 PM
Nick Exarhos
National Realty Centers - Livonia, MI

Print ads were always were low impact even before the internet. Now , you are right, why would any agent use print ads to market a house?

Jan 29, 2010 01:22 PM
Clark Hitchcock
Re/Max Nyda Realty Inc - Chilliwack, BC
Realtor - Fraser Valley

In our community the 2 weekly real estate papers are the most read part of the paper. Of course we all put our web addresses in as well. Was doing a home show today and the first lady about 40 something was wondering if I had the latest paper which was out today. She wanted a copy so in our area both are needed.

Jan 29, 2010 03:22 PM
Tom Garrett
Sterling Homes Inc. - Saratoga Springs, NY

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=102760496420982&ref=nf here is an example of the site i sit at and the virtual tour i do for the builder, i recently got familar with facebook and this is the first video upload i have done for facebook the new media!

Feb 19, 2010 11:47 PM