As a videographer I obviously believe in the benefits of having a Virtual Tour be part of your listing description, whether it's on the MLS, Realtor.com or your own web site. However, all Virtual Tours are not the same and neither are their usefulness.
A Virtual Tour that I've seen is a slide show arrangement of photos where a program is used to zoom in or pan sideways on a photo and then music is added. Think about it - what does this add for your potential buyer when they view it. It's the same photos they just looked at in the listing!
Another type of Virtual Tour is the "360 degree" view of each room/exterior that is included. The ones I've viewed warp in and out as you go "around" the room - this is because 4 photos are taken from the center of the room and then spliced together. I don't know about you, but I have NEVER stood in the center of a room and spun around like a top to see what the room looks like! It's quite an unnatural way to view a room.
A Virtual Tour that is a real video movie pan taken from the viewpoint of entering a room is the most natural and helpful type of tour. Editing the movies of each room and the outside views together to form a coherent progression gives a feel of going through the home. A Video is especially helpful as an addition to your listing description when there are large rooms, or unusual layouts. The layout in large Master Bedrooms with nooks and attached sitting areas are hard to convey with photos, but a sweeping pan can show the flow of the space in that room. A Video is great for eliminating confusion as to how an area is laid out, such as in a kitchen with multiple work areas, or a large backyard. Rooms with a "dogleg" or very open floor plans can be hard to get across with still photos but a video can show the context of the space.
The most important thing to think about when you decide to add a Virtual Tour is its usefulness. Have it ADD to your description rather than duplicate what you already have there.
Feel free to look at some samples on my web page to see what I'm talking about. There's a big difference between a real Video Tour and a slide show!
Amy Hunter
Hearth & Home Residential Videos http://www.rezivd.com
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