Marty Hall

While reading "Taking home tours without ever visiting the house" posted February 20th, 2009 by Jeffrey Wolf at http://www.9news.com, Wolf states "Home owners are perhaps catching wind of this. More of them are producing their own virtual tours and posting them on Web sites like YouTube.com. Some of them resemble homemade movies with shaky video and less than professional production value, but if it helps get the house sold, production value may be irrelevant." Is production value irrelevant? Will a home have equal chances of selling whether it has a professionally produced video tour, a Realtor/home owner made video tour, or no video tour at all? Unfortunately at the time there is no conclusive data to prove one way or the other however, we can apply principles that work in other industries and expect to see certain results.

At Theater of Homes we feel that video is persuasive and an effective medium. We also believe that a professional looking video tour retains viewers and tells viewers that the representing Realtor takes professionalism seriously. We strive to make YOU look good. Theater of Homes strives to create cinema quality video tours. We feel quality does matter. We believe viewers would prefer to watch quality tours. We believe a polished video portrays a polished individual.

Thoughts and comments welcomed.

You can read the full article @:
http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=110296&catid=188

Posted by Paul Reynolds - Theater of Homes

I found this article from the StarTribune out of Minneapolis - St. Paul, Minnesota titled "Increasing Numbers of Metro Realtors turn to Youtube" authored by Andrew Newman, published February 20th, 2009.

I found Jimmy Jensen's comments of the Jensen Team out of Rogers, MN refreshing. He was quoted saying "Pictures only show so much." Jensen creates is own video tours. His videos are no longer that 3 minutes. He performs his own narration in which he describes the home's amenities and features. Interesting enough, he even composes his own background music. He posts his videos to distribution services such as Youtube and WellcomeMat and was quoted in saying "I think all Realtors should be doing it." Being a professional video tour production company we have to agree with Jensen that every Realtor should be doing this however, we would prefer that Realtors choose Theater of Homes to produce their video tours... wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

Another point I thought was interesting that shouldn't be overlooked is that Jensen stated that no one bought a home after only seeing the video but, his video's online lead to sales indirectly. One of Theater of Homes arguments is simply this. Video tours create web traffic. That traffic leads to you which results in greater recognition and increased business.

This was reinforced later in the article when Greg Sax, communications manager for the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors said "It's less to promote properties and more to promote yourself as an industry expert."

Thereafter the author said "Many agents see YouTube as a means to promote themselves just as much as the houses they sell."

At Theater of Homes we understand these new media marketing principles. We can create a complete marketing package not only for property listings but, for Realtors too.

Theater of Homes basic tours start at $275 and MEET-THE-AGENT videos only cost $375. We are always open for consultation on how using videos can promote your property and also promote yourself.

Read full article @:
http://www.startribune.com/39885457.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aU7DYaGEP7vDEh7P:DiUs

Posted by Paul Reynolds - Theater of Homes

"Sell Your Home with Virtual Video Tours" was the title of ABC's Good Morning America news program. A video and written report was released this morning on abcnews.go.com depicting video tours has the new "state of the art" technology for online home tour viewing leaving photo stitched 360 tours in the dust. One statistic I found interesting and important if accurate was reported by Elisabeth Leamy who said "studies show visitors stay at websites that offer video 78 percent longer." As we all know in the web community retaining visitors translates into conversions or in other words a new potential customer.

I honestly couldn't have written this report any better and if this sort of thing tickles your fancy as it does mine I invite you to watch the video report at:

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6907472&page=1

Posted by: Paul Reynolds

Theater of Homes feels that a MEET-THE-AGENT video is just as important as a business card.

A Theater of Homes^® MEET-THE-AGENT video is a high-definition (HD) video introducing you as an agent. The video is typically about four minutes long and beautifully presents you as you want your present and future clients to see you. We can integrate still images you may have which capture "magic moments" about you. Your MEET-THE-AGENT video allows you to sell yourself and your services in a personal, comprehensive and extremely cost-effective way.

Then we prepare your MEET-THE-AGENT video for widespread internet distribution with iTunes, YouTube, Google Video, Yahoo Video, MySpace, and WellcomeMat. The key is your having our professionally produced video. We will provide you with a link you may paste into email messages to your present and future clients, and instantly they will be seeing your MEET-THE-AGENT video and most importantly, getting to know you; building that so very important relationship of trust.

Please watch the above MEET-THE-AGENT video featuring Brita Arcuri with Windermere Real Estate of Lane County, Oregon.

Learn more about how you can get your own MEET-THE AGNET video at http://www.theaterofhomes.com

Below is their email to Theater of Homes and then my reply. I just thought it was interesting. I'd like to hear your (ActiveRain) comments on this. It wasn't necessarily addressed in Blip.tv's email but are property video tours starting to trash video distribution video services such as Blip.tv? I have my own concerns with this. I myself want one centralized place to go to find every property listing in the world. Something like Google Maps or Google Earth for real estate. You cruse over the planet like a spy satellite and all these pins pop up of available property listings. Then I can zoom in and click on any pin for more info and off course a video tour. I drag what pins or properties I like in to a cue that generates a driving map that I can go and check out first hand all the properties I liked the most. Thoughts?

*****
Hi,

Our terms of service prohibit content that has promotion of a product or service as its primary purpose. From our review of your content, it appeared that it was primarily promotional in nature, and was therefore removed.

<http://blip.tv/tos>

--

Blip.tv Support
support@blip.tv

*****

Greetings Blip Support,

Theater of Homes(R) is a legitimate video production company based out of Eugene Oregon that specializes in creating video property tours for our clients. The primary purpose of the video tour is to make available to as many eyes as possible the availability and features of a particular property whether it is a property for sale or a tour of a bed & breakfast inn. The video is intended to drive interested viewers to the appropriate provider of additional information. We do not post or create these videos with the intention of advertising our own services; this is not their primary purpose. We also take pride in our work and to the staff of Theater of Homes(R) we regard our work as creative pieces. These particular videos may seem commercial to most but, to us in the architectural / travel / recreational video business we feel we raise the bar. We have won several awards for our work. We chose to post our videos to Blip.tv because of your apparent motions to strive for better.

Theater of Homes(R) desires to continue to post our videos to share with the Blip.tv community.

Please acknowledge and thank you for your support and services,

Sincerely,

Paul Reynolds

Theater of Homes(R)

www.theaterofhomes.com

*****

I'm sorry, but we've removed your account from blip.tv because it looked to us like you were posting videos to our service that had as a primary purpose the advertisement of a particular product or service. Blip is a site for original Web shows and our Terms of Service <http://blip.tv/tos/> prohibit content that's primarily advertisement.

We're wrong about this sometimes. If you believe that your content truly has value to the blip.tv community (other than in getting them to buy something from you) please reply to this e-mail and tell us why. A real human being will review your e-mail and we'll figure out from there.

Here's the applicable section of our TOS for your reference:
"Our goal is to promote the free-flowing exchange of expression relating to members interests, activities and hobbies while maintaining high standards of respect and decency. In order to attain this goal, and in addition to the other content and/or action restrictions set forth in these Terms of Use and elsewhere on the Blip.tv website, the following content is prohibited on Blip.tv:
* Content that has as its sole or primary purpose to advertise a particular product or service that, in the sole judgment of Blip.tv, does not otherwise have redeeming value to the community.

Thank you,
blip.tv Support