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The Switch from Open Houses to Virtual Tours

Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to touch on a trend that has been happening and yet people haven't realized the real impact of it yet. It's the fact that in our society most trends like the cell phone, email, and netflix, are all a result of our fast paced lives that cause us to seek better and more efficient ways to do things. How does this affect Real Estate?

Open Houses to Virtual Tours The ability to predict trends and watch their impact on the world is very powerful. In Real Estate I remember when virtual tours first came out. They were a novelty for a small group of agents, now they are the norm. The fact is people don't have the time to get loaded up with the kids and waste time and gas to look at only a few properties only to find out that it smells like cat urine, the carpets are damaged, the rooms are too small, or the roof is falling apart.

People can go online and view homes along with information right from their home computer sipping on a latte. The days of wasting time are over. This is better for the Realtors and for the Home shoppers because by the time they want to go see a home, they know more about it and will view less homes but homes they are more likely to buy.

This is where good Home Shopping Tools come in and websites with rich data and virtual tours. Home Buyers are demanding it and if you don't offer it you will be left driving around looking for clients instead of showing homes. We use a Home Search Suite that lets our clients get all the information and pictures, maps, payment calculators, and a password to log in so they aren't bothered by a bunch of agents trying to solicit them. It's called the Home Scouting site. Click the link below to see a demo or visit our Spokane Real Estate Website for more info.

Rick Callaham Spokane Real Estate Expert Team Quintana Real Estate Spokane, WA	Mobile: 509-220-9118 rick@teamquintana.com www.TeamQuintana.com
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Posted by Spokane Realtor - Rick Callaham on 02/14/2008 03:57 PM

Comments (11)

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11 Comments on The Switch from Open Houses to Virtual Tours

FEB

2008

Good information. I use Virtual Tours a lot. My sellers and buyers all seem to really like it

FEB

2008

Rick, good post. I, too, use virtual tours (or, to be specific, Real Estate Shows) on every single, dingle listing I have. Now, about all of those little icons? I see where I need to add some to my blog. ;-) I haven't figured out how yet, but I will!

Hey Rick, the virtual tour is something that if not available on a website is like the kiss of death....the buyer will be gone! Nice post.

FEB

2008

I personally think that if you have enough pictures on the web, that virtual tours are unnecessary. I have both and I get more clicks on the pictures than the virtual tours, some people are still on dial up, takes long time for them to upload. I hope greats things happen for you on the internet. Lu

Rick,

As a producer of 1000's of "Video" tours online I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see Realtors adapting the internet like never before.

When I started my company in 1997 I was an "Early Adapter" and was met with a great deal of resistance.I'm happy to say there is now an online solution for every realtor and at every price point. From "Ford" to "Ferrari"

The next step is for Realtors to start adapting this new web 2.0 technology in their own Branding and communications. This is something that is a natural process and already in the works....Especially at Active Rain- Linked In Facebook, Ryze and Other portals.

After all....We we are all just a click away from each other now!

FEB

2008

I also use virtual tours and home buyers scouting report, but I can tell you people still like to touch, feel and see homes. You wouldn't buy a car without getting in to it and most people won't buy a home that way either! I still love open houses and get a lot of my good buyers from them and they are in my farm area on top of it!

FEB

2008

Great post. thanks for the information and insight. Hope you have a great week.

MAY

2008

Yeah I have seen this. Yet there are some goods to open houses, the fact is how efficient are they. The internet is a controlled environment that works on your schedule. Tought to beat.

MAY

2008

I Rick, I agree with you most of the way... but my $.02 worth... we are still a touchy feely society, so some percentage of buyers are still going to hang onto the old way. So some of us better put some more gas in our cars today, it will probably cost more tomorrow. I absolutely agree with latest technology, rich website, etc.

MAY

2008

Your Real Estate Expert Good thought Rick, I believe also that we need to be well rounded in the webmospher along with the old fashoin showings. Thanks for the info.

JUN

2008

Yes change is coming and you can be ahead of it or behind it. Virtual tours make sense.

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