Special offer

It's all about me, right?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Led Zeppelin

Hello everyone and welcome to my first post in my first blog in my first social-networking encounter!

Let's just make it easy and start by introducing myself and paste in my profile. Enjoy - or not :)

Ken.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am currently the owner of Quinte Technical Services, a computer service, training, support and consulting firm in Belleville, Ontario.

My background, including over 31 years in technology design, leadership and consulting has enabled me to take on many new and interesting projects and challenges. Tech industry downturn (restructuring I was told - there are a lot of nice and not-so-nice terms for it!) led me moving to Belleville about 4 years ago to what I thought might be semi-retirement. Wrong!

Starting my own business was the most intelligent and mind-freeing decision I have ever made. OK, so it takes a few years to get into the black but it is growing steadily yet still giving me time to plan ahead for new business opportunities.

This bring us to virtual tours. I have been experimenting quite a bit with panoramic photography over the last five years, and have gone so far as to have a custom pano-bracket machined for me and lashed together an indexer. Taking the photos was the easy part.  Adjusting lens correction parameters for proper stitching and struggling with various pieces of free software to put together a web presentation almost made me give up - several times. I actually published a virtual tour for a real-estate agent who was a customer of mine, but there was definitely no money to be made there considering all the time I spent.

All that is about to change since signing up as a full-service dealer with RealTourVision. I did a lot of research before even contacting them, so I was extremely confident in their product, support, market position and technology. Jason LaVanture, Vice President of RealTourVision and partner in BlueLaVaMedia responded in early March with enthusiasm. Remember what I mentioned about not being in the black yet? The RealTourVision technology & partnering choice was a no-brainer, the investment decision was difficult so I had to take the time (8 months ;-) to figure out it was the only choice. I have thank Jason for being persistant.

What is the current status? Well I am waiting for my package from RealTourVision to arrive in the mail, absorbing thousands of pages of documentation and marketing material, and planning my virtual tour website. I'll keep you posted on the blog in the upcoming weeks.

Comments (10)

Marcy Fedalei
Keller Williams Realty - Spartanburg, SC

Great start on ActiveRain! Welcome and thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas.

Nov 08, 2008 10:32 PM
Nance Burdette
Keller Williams Realty Partners - Spartanburg, SC

Welcome and congrats on signing as a member of ActiveRain. Being a new member myself for only a couple months, I truly see the awesome advantage that blogging can be, (and it's fun). I am pleased to see the quantity of abundant professionals sharing their knowledge and ideas. Everyone has been so very kind. And so much to read!!! I hope to continue "reading" your blogs in the future.   Best of Luck,  Nance

Nov 09, 2008 11:33 AM
Kirk Westervelt
Van West Realty - Greenville, SC Realtor -Short Sale Expert! - Greenville, SC
Kirk Westervelt, Broker In Charge, Van West Realty - CDPE - Short Sale Agent - Home for Sale - Greenville, Simpsonvil...

Hello and welcome to Active Rain! I encourage you to learn from others, share your knowledge and experiences with all of us, enjoy yourself, and try to log in and join us in the Active Rain community as frequently as possible. I look forward to your future blogs and comments! Take care, --Kirk.

Nov 09, 2008 12:34 PM
Sandra Gibson
powerplaymmp - Allen, MI

Hello Ken,

Welcome.  You couldn't have chosen a better group.  You are in for a rewarding experience with RTV.

I look forward to see what you ave to share.

Sandra Gibson
Power Play Multi Media Productions
http://www.powerplaymmp.com
South Central Michigan RTV Virtual Tour Provider
517-869-2707

Nov 09, 2008 09:44 PM
Rick Schmitt
Look Charlotte Media Solutions - Charlotte, NC

Ken,

Welcome to RTV and Active Rain. As a RTV Dealer in Charlotte, NC I can tell you that you have made an excellent choice. The level of support you will receive is uparalleled. You will be impressed.

Rick
Look Charlotte Media Solutions

Nov 12, 2008 12:34 AM
Bob Foster
Century 21 Lanthorn R. E. Ltd. Belleville, Ontario - Belleville, ON

Hi Ken,

Welcome to Active Rain. It will be good to have your expertise here and in Quinte.

Bob Foster

YourHomeinQuinte.com

Nov 15, 2008 12:47 PM
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin - Belleville, ON

Thanks to everyone who has responded with such enthusiasm. It makes me feel completely welcome and at home here, and I hope as time goes on I will be able to contribute regularly and in a positive way.

In followup to my first post, I now am completely set up as a RealTourVision Full Service Dealer, and finshing up the new website and some other business details before I make a general announcement to my local real-estate community.

I am looking forward to interacting with and seeking the advice of real-estate professionals in activerain communities as well as providing the best virtual tour services and working with the professionals in my area.

Stay tuned,

Ken

Nov 15, 2008 02:28 PM
Frees Frame
Frees Frame - Hudsonville, MI
Your One Stop Property Marketing Source!

Hi Ken,

Welcome to Blogging and to RTV. I have been a Full-Service Dealer for RTV for a year now and at the time I got started I also bought a photography franchise, thinking RTV would be used as a filler for slow times in the franchise. In just one year I've come to the realization that RTV is where I want to focus my future and have gotten rid of the franchise... which by the way, cost me a whole lot more than getting started as a full-service dealer. I am on the right track now and looking forward to a virtual tour future.

Dawn Frees

Nov 20, 2008 05:36 AM
Mike O'Neill
Knoxtours.net - Knoxville, TN

Ken - As pretty much everyone has said in some fashion, Welcome aboard!  With RTV and Active Rain your setting yourself up for a big win!  And like how you titled your 1st blog - It is all about you!  Ultimately, this will be Your Show, your the one who's got to do it - and you've got yourself off to a great start - So, just do it!!  Good luck, we'll be following your progress.

Mike

Dec 09, 2008 02:12 PM
Amanda Koehler
Charm City Virtual Tours - Ellicott City, MD
Owner

Welcome, Ken!  I recently started with RTV as well.  There's alot to learn, but you couldn't ask for a better group of people to work with than RTV!

Jan 16, 2009 04:50 PM