Over the last year, video is slowly but surely stealing the cutting edge virtual tours held on the online listings market. Now more than ever, video is prepped and ready to roll out - more internet users are utilizing higher bandwidth connections like cable and DSL making streaming video quicker to load and watch, video production costs are dropping drastically with an explosion of production companies entering the scene, and well... video is what the next gen wants and expects. Bernice Ross wrote an excellent piece on Inman news entitled "Tap into Gen X, Gen Y goldmine" explaining this generation switch.

But really, what is the appeal?

To examine this is to recognize the differences between a virtual tour and video. A virtual tour is a series of still photos set in a flash presentation or similar, oftentimes to music. Sure, some of the photos appear to "move", but really that is just fancy software panning across a still photo or zooming in or out - hardly animation.

Virtual tours, although a FAR better presentation technique than a series of photos on a website, still make it difficult to completely capture the essence of a space in a property. Even stitched photos, a great way to see 360 degree views within a home, aren't perfect.

Video, on the other hand, is undeniable. Yes, video can be edited and modified just like photos, but it's probably the closest thing one can get to physically experiencing a property first hand online. However, as much as video production costs have dropped, virtual tours still hold the market based on simple economics and companies like RealBiz360 produce excellent quality virtual tours - a great bang for your buck.

So I ask - has video arrived or are virtual tours still the tried and true? Which do you use?

Recently Inman News posted an article, Craigslist HTML limits could doom flashy listings, explaining that the online classified service, craigslist.com, is deciding whether to limit HTML content posted to classified listings. Many RE Professionals utilize craigslist.com as an additional method to reach consumers to post their own listings and advertise their brokerage companies since craigslist.com offers free postings, and maintains separate domains to reach users within specific locales.These individual listings easily fall within the realm of Single-Property Websites, as they are individual web-pages advertising a single property. Currently, there are no limits on HTML, which makes craigslist.com ideal candidates for cut-and-paste of HTML generated code from single-property syndication sites such as VFlyer.com and AgencyLogic.com. Limiting HTML tags, depending on which HTML tags are restricted, could make direct cut-and-paste from these sites nearly impossible without significant insight on how HTML works and modifications to the code prior to creating a posting. Craigslist.com sites problems with malicious ads unwittingly taking users to commercial sites, as well as unnecessary clutter within search results as reasons for the potential limitations.

Today, I would like to hear back from you, our readers, on your thoughts on this potential decision.

Should craigslist.com limit HTML tags, or is there another way?

At the completion of course materials for the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification, candidates adhere to (initial) the REW Commitment Document.  As REW Certificants, one must implement a real estate technology within their first year to remain in good standing with their certification status.

Technologies implemented by REW Certificants

Within their first year, REW certificants commit to implementing or administering at least 1 web-centric, real estate technology - whether for themselves (agents, brokers) or for their clients (assistants).  Certificants provide proof of implementing or adminstering a technology via the Technology Proof Form.

So what technologies have REW Certificants implemented...let's have a look!

• Gary Crutcher, REW™ - Gary implemented an agent website of http://www.garycrutcher.com/; sleek design and homepage graphic that captures the essence and culture of west El Paso.
   
• Kathy Goldman, REW™  -  Kathy implemented http://www.7225riverfrontdrive.com/, a single-property website on behalf of her agent, Lucy Bottorff in Nashville Tennessee.
   
• Sandra Sims, REW™ - Sandra, a virtual assistant, implemented a Point2 agent website as a hands-on, optional activity, showcased at http://sandrasims4.point2agent.com/.  In crafting a Point2 agent website from the ground-up, Sandra can now provide longterm administrative support for real estate professionals who use Point2!
   
• Tim Fisher, REW™  - Tim, with ResortQuestDE.com, has been busy implementing technology since completing the REW Certification. As Marketing Director, he supports technologies used by member agents in his firm. He created a Single-Property Website at http://www.1322oceanparkway.com/ and Corporate Blog to support ocean-side luxury rentals and homesales at  http://www.seamoresays.com/, in addition to many of the virtual tours found alongside listings at ResortQuestDE.com.
   
• Darlene Wills, REW™ - Darlene, REALTOR® and broker co-owner of Harris-Wills Realty, LLC, has implemented http://www.real-estate-southwest.com/ to service northern Arizona, specifically the Sedona - Verde Valley region.  This broker-owner site was established using Point2 technologies, Webographers.com newest technology partner/sponsor of the REW Certification. 

We had the pleasure of interviewing Kim Noel, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant. Kim has worked in many different fields providing her assistant services, but has become a valuable member of our Technology Partner, Team Double-Click.

We took a few moments to ask her a few simple interview questions on her thoughts of the program.

1) What is your background?

I have many years of experience as an Administrative Assistant in a Bricks and Mortar setting.  I have worked within Real Estate, Car Manufacturing and Modular Home Manufacturing as an Assistant.  Mixed with my fascination with computers and technology, the evolutionary step was to work virtually at doing something I love to do.  I have to thank Team Double-Click for that opportunity.  They are a wonderful Virtual Staffing Agency for Independent Contractors to work with and you couldn't ask for a better support system.

2) Why did you undertake the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certification?

I took the Certification to increase my knowledge base so that I may in turn help my clients and future clients have a solid web presence for their businesses.  With this knowledge I can improve their presence on the web at a fraction of the cost and increase their sales; all from the comfort of my home office.

3) Which course (or courses) did you find the most value in?

All the courses were packed with useful and very interesting information, but I have to say the Online Transaction Management (Relay) and Agent Websites (RapidListings / Point2) courses were the highlight for me.  All the modules were easy to understand and very thorough.

4) In what ways will you utilize the technologies you learned in the REW™ certification to enhance your career or business?

With my new REW Certification I can now offer my clients a whole new area to help them increase their web presence and get them on the path to marketing and lead generation the web-savvy way!

5) How long did it take you to complete the certification and what are your impressions of the online experience?

It took me a week to complete the certification.  I went head on and worked at it daily.  I had a hard time putting my mouse down so to speak.  The program was excellent!  It was easy to understand and each module prepared you fully for the Learning Lab case-studies as well as the test questions.  I would certainly recommend this course to any VA who is interested in being an RE Assistant.

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Thanks Kim and all the Best!

Today, the National Institute of Webographers, provider of the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW) certification announced Homeminders® as the premier "Closing Gift" technology within REW™. To see the full press release, please click here.

"We are excited to showcase Homeminders® to candidates of the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification (REW™). As the industry’s leading provider in home-maintenance, closing gifts, Homeminders® is perfect for real estate professionals looking to continue their relationship with clients well after closing,” said Marc Grayson, president of the National Institute of Webographers. Grayson continues, “Gifting a Homeminders subscription to your clients provides them with an online tool to manage their homes, store and access valuable information, and receive monthly email reminders that help maintain that important asset, their home.”

The Homeminders system simplifies home management by creating a web-based detailed home maintenance plan that covers every facet of a home’s upkeep. It also acts as a centralized storage solution for owner’s manuals, warranty documents, receipts and photo records. Its personalized upkeep schedules and monthly email reminders help homeowners make important decisions about their homes quickly and easily, and manage their contractor/handyman relationships more efficiently.

Homeminders joins the host of Technology Sponsors providing their technology solutions as case study examples to reinforce the technology courses within REW; providing live demonstrations to look underneath-the-hood of today's foremost technologies.

This is the first of 3 articles focusing on what REW can do for the Real Estate professional and how he or she can and will benefit from the addition of these three letters to their name "R-E-W". This week, we will focus on real estate agents, the ones at the forefront of our market.

What REW is not

REW is not a case study in the latest fads, trends and buzz technologies. How do you know what's a fad? Easy, check out your favorite blog or RE news site. There will be a host of articles on the most trendy technologies. I'm not saying the latest trends are ineffective, I simply believe they are not time-proven. That is what separates the successful, and PROFITABLE web-technologies found in the REW certification from the rest.

So what can REW do for Agents? In two words - EARN REVENUE. How you might ask?

1. GENERATE LEADS - Obviously before you can make connections, wow your clients, and close sales, you need to find them. REW answers two questions every individual has about marketing on the Internet: (1) Where do I start? (2) How will people find me? It starts with the basics of a web-storefront and advertising (Agent Websites and Single-Property Websites), and moves on to gaining exposure (and therefore web-traffic) to your site (Lead Generation and Blogs).

2. EARN TRUST and CREDIBILITY - Everyone knows to be successful in sales, you need to earn your client's trust, which ultimately lends you credibility. Clients these days are web-savvy - it's just a fact. They expect salespeople, ESPECIALLY RE Agents - facilitators of probably the most important purchase in their life - to be as knowledgeable if not more.

Picture this - a client finds your Agent Website and surfs your Single-Property Website listings.

a.) Credibility #1 - Without even having to contact you, they can make a decision if you are offering what they are looking for. This may appear negative - trust me, it's not. You will definitely be more successful with clients that reach out to you. Assume they decide to send a request to your email. You respond promptly via your phone or other mobile device because you utilize Mobile Technologies.

b.) Credibility #2- Your client is impressed with your prompt reply. Eventually they engage your services to close a purchase or sales transaction. You handle all paperwork via digital documents online via your PDA or laptop while enjoying coffee with them in the local coffee shop.

c.) Credibiilty #3 - Efficiency, consistency, and ease of the entire transaction. Your client completes the transaction without hardly breaking a sweat and you earn revenue.

d.) Credibility #4 - But it does not stop there. Your client is so satisfied with your service, they refer YOU to additional friends and family. Instant leads are created, and the process repeats itself.

3. IMPRESS YOUR CLIENTS - At one time or another, we have all had to work with a salesperson - whether it be purchasing a new car, or even a coffee maker. Whatever that item is, you have questions and you need answers to make the best informed decision. I'm sure you can remember the salespeople that were truly helpful and in important purchases, you probably would refer them to a friend or relative. Possessing the technology and web-savvy skills to impress and satisfy your clients is what will keep them AND their contacts coming back - whether it is next week or in a few years.

REW is not just another cert you complete and add to your letterhead. It is a lasting reference, providing you with the tools to help yourself. But like any reference, it needs to be utilized. If used properly, there is no limit to the benefits you can attain.

With REW, you work smarter, not harder.

In 2005, the search for the perfect neighborhood took a backseat to simply finding a home.  In terms of new developments and new builds, "waiting lists" and "lottery systems" were common phrases.  For resales, same-day offers (sometimes in the double digits) was common-place.  In many cases, homes were selling so rapidly there wasn't even time to list them online (or even a need to do so).

Given the recent rise in volume of homes, the search for the perfect neighborhood or community is not paramount, but a definite sought after luxury for today's buyer.

INFORMATION SOUGHT AFTER
-- Census Data (crime, demographics, schools, etc) - The typical information any buyer would want to know.
-- Maps - Overlay of Neighborhood Data with Maps - Both topographical, satelite, and traditional street name views are available.
-- Google Street View - Be a "fly on the wall" and get a first person view of the "street" and immediate neighborhood on which a target property resides.
-- Agents owning a neighborhood - showcase and sponsorship of neighborhoods and zip codes for increased impressions on consumer websites.

CONSUMER SITES
Each of the following sites allow for neighborhood search capabilities combined with advanced map and view technology.
--> eppraisal.com - Allows for both a map view with street, aerial, and hybrid views, as well as a 3-dimensional "bird's eye" views.  "City Snapshots" (also when searching by zip code) is a service that allows consumers to browse: recent sales, market insights, schools, lifestyles, employment and find a real estate professional.
--> Trulia.com - 2-D, 3-D maps and now street view is common-place; along with "Stats & Trends" for a target zip code or city (market trends, homes for sale, schools, community info, Trulia Voices "feed" w/ Q&A on target community, and text box to get advice or ask questions).
--> RealEstate.com - Provides Street View capabilities combined with aerial views.
--> Zillow.com - Provides aerial maps of the surrounding areas including 3-dimensional "bird's eye" views. Zindex, their home valuation index, is the median Zestimate valuation for a given geographic area on a given day.
--> CyberHomes.com - Offers all of the previous viewing options plus icons embedded in the view application for information including points of interest and various other noteworthy local information.

AGENTS' WEBSITES
--> NeighborhoodScout - Allows for searches for senior communities, best schools, luxury communities, etc.  Incorporates various views as well as a host of neighborhood statistical information such as housing value range, school quality, crime rates, and much more.

CONCLUSIONS
From the comfort of the consumer's home, Neighborhood search has expanded, serving equal importance (if not more), than the sea of listings on the market.  Given Neighborhood Data, Earth / Sattelite Images of Neighborhoods, and even street view to examine "upkeep" by residents in a neighborhood (or lack their of given Home Owners Associations commonly needing to step up...consumers are becoming more savvy in researching neighborhood data on their own time.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Sandra Sims, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant.

Sandra is a Virtual Assistant (VA) involved in the Real Estate Industry for 20+ years. She is REPA certified and pursued the REW program in order to be able to offer more services to her clients so that they may use their valuable time doing what they do best - bringing in new business. She found her answer in REW.

We took a few moments to ask some questions on her thoughts of the program.

1) What is your background?

I have been in the Real Estate Industry for over 20 years. I started out working for several Property Management companies handling leasing of properties, doing administrative duties along with becoming an Office Manager. I have become NAR REPA (Real Estate Professional Assistant) certified which is a National Association of Realtors designation along with having extensive experience with real estate operations specializing in property management. I enjoy what I do and it enables me to spend time with my family.

2) Why did you undertake the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certification?

Megan Barber of Barber Virtual Assisting Solutions suggested that I take this course since she had just completed it herself and said that it would help all of us Real Estate Professional Assistants. I am proud that I now have my REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHERS™ certification. I took this course to further my education and to be able to offer more services as a Real Estate Virtual Assistant. I own my own business and feel that continued education of technologies is of up most importance in keeping up with the constant changes.

3) Which course (or courses) did you find the most value in?

In the REW course I learned so many different programs and feel that all were very valuable to me and my business and I highly recommend this program to help keep pace with the changing technology of today!

4) In what ways will you utilize the technologies you learned in the REW™ certification to enhance your career or business?

The course has allowed me to be able to offer more services to Real Estate Professionals and there businesses along with offering more as a virtual assistant to small businesses too! This will give my clients the opportunity to hand off to me their day to day tasks which lets them have more time to increase their business and close more deals.

5) How long did it take you to complete the certification and what are your impressions of the online experience?

It took me several weeks to complete this course due to my not having time to complete it all at once. But I enjoyed being able to take it on my own time which allowed me to work it in between my not so busy times!

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Thanks Sandra and all the Best!

Avondale, AZ – April 23, 2008- The National Institute of Webographers, owner of the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™(REW) program, announced today that it has reached an agreement with InternetCrusade’s RealTown.comreal estate portal to offer RealTown’s 75,000 members access to Webographers 12 Real Estate Technology courses.

“We are extremely pleased with the opportunity to work with RealTown.com.  RealTown is a vibrant community of members sharing best practices across the digital divide.  Webographers.com looks to further compliment continuous and educational learning opportunities already made available RealTown members", says Marc Grayson, President of National Institute of Webographers.

“The REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ program is an excellent addition to our RealTown Approved Vendor program,” said Saul Klein, President and CEO of InternetCrusade. “REW curriculum is a benefit-rich, follow-up program for individuals wanting to enhance their real estate technology competency. As an advocate of technology-awareness training for real estate professionals, the National Institute of Webographers showcases exemplary products to best compliment curriculum rooted upon technology awareness and adoption by real estate professionals. 

To receive special discounts on the the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™program, simply go to the RealTown.com site and visit the "Education" tab or the "Store" tab OR look for the Webographers.com logos and banners.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Kathy Goldman, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant.

Kathy is a Virtual Assistant (VA) involved in the Real Estate Industry for over 14 years.  She currently owns and operates her own business, REVAonline.  REVA Online provides the admin and technology expertise Realtors® need to take their Real Estate business to the next level. They take over the behind-the-scenes administrative tasks to allow the RE professional to concentrate on what they do best — listing and selling properties!

We took a few moments to ask some questions on her thoughts of the program.

1) What is your background?

I have 4+ years as a virtual Real Estate Assistant and 10+ years of in-house real estate experience. I am familiar with many website hosts and their products as well as lead generation tools and website content and maintenance. I have a team of experts trained to support the various tools and services that help integrate and streamline my client’s businesses. We provide website support and maintenance, website content, single property websites, lead management, post card campaigns, Virtual Tours and more!

2) Why did you undertake the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certification?

I believe that you should never stop learning. Although most of the information covered in this course was review, there were many things that I was able to take from the course as well. I prefer to stay on top of the game by taking courses and vendor training when the opportunity arises.

3) Which course (or courses) did you find the most value in?

I though the whole course was a great “package” offering insight and training into many areas Realtors® may not have know about. This is just a great all-around insight into tools and services that agents can utilize to streamline their business.

4) In what ways will you utilize the technologies you learned in the REW certification to enhance your career or business?

I will apply these techniques daily in the support of my clients. My clients look to me to be on the cutting edge of technology and to find ways to make their businesses better and thereby enhancing their client relations and their marketing opportunities.

5) How long did it take you to complete the certification and what are your impressions of the online experience?

I may not be indicative of the average person taking the courses. I used all the days, but that was due to my own time limitations. The course is somewhat lengthy, but covered all the topics necessary. Once in with the online instructor, the time flew by quickly and the courses were easy to understand. This is definitely a series I would recommend to my clients!

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Thanks Kathy and all the Best!