How Photos Help Sell Homes

Here is a recent news article we got from Realtor.org about how more photos sells houses.

While we completely agree with this, we also think the addition of a floorplan makes even more sense and gets you more opportunities for double ended transactions, and more efficiency along the way. Plus, at close to $4 a gallon for gas, think of the gas savings with our "Fuel Efficient Virtual Tour" that shows everything a buyer needs online!!!

Best regards,
Kris Cone, CEO
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How Photos Help Sell Homes

Photographs that accompany home listings on the Web or in brochures, newspaper advertisements, flyers, magazine articles, and other marketing materials play a significant role in attracting buyers.

These images serve as the first impression, and buyers often decide whether or not to see a home in person based on their quality and presentation.

Research reveals that the more photos a listing has, the quicker it sells. A property with a single photo spent 70 days on the market (DOM) on average, while DOM fell to 40 with six photos, 36 with 16 to 19 photos, and 32 with 20 photos. Additionally, listings with one photo sold for 91.2 percent of the original price, while homes with six or more sold for 95 percent of the original price.

The photos to be used in an agent's marketing materials should be taken by a professional, with experts noting that sellers will recoup the costs of professional photos if their homes sell faster and at a higher price.

Source: RISMedia, Gar Benedick (04/01/08)

Corporate & Sub Account Support

Did you know that you can easily create a corporate account and add unlimited sub-accounts to the corporate account, all for FREE? This feature is great for:

• Companies with an adminstrator that does order input, MLS management and linking on behalf of agents
• Companies that want to pay for all tours and have consistent branding
• Agents that work with a partner and you want to have individual accounts and a co-listing account
• Builders & Sub Divisions where you want different branding for the tour for each builder or sub division. For example, if you work with builders, we can make your account a corporate account and create sub accounts for each builder or sub division you represent. Each can have different logos and contact info!

This account feature allows you to login to the corporate account and place orders and manage tours for all tours in the family tree. To place an order for a sub account, just select the drop down at the top of the Property Detail page and select the right account.

Each sub account also gets its own Featured Listing Page....so again, great for builders or sub divisions - just link the FloorPlanOnline Featured Listing Page on other websites for a FloorPlan Gallery!

If you already have an existing account, you can send an email to orders@floorplanonline.com and we can change your account type. Once your account is a corporate account, you can add sub accounts by clicking on the Manage Sub Account link on the lower right from the Main Menu.

If you do not have an account, you can create a corporate account first, and then add sub accounts.

Good luck and Happy FloorPlanning!

Kris Cone

FloorPlans Sell Houses! New Testimonies...

Hi All.

Online Real Estate is all about content. And with FloorPlanOnline and an Interactive FloorPlan Tour, you have the MOST robust content for any potential buyer to make that next step...by either calling you for a site visit or making a sale without a physical visit. The proof is in what our customers have to say. Below are a few great testimonies we received this week.

Testimony 1
My listing, which had a website made by FloorPlanOnline, sold to an out-of-town couple. The husband saw the property, but his wife couldn't make the trip. Because she could really "see" the house through the photos and floor plan, they bought the property. It was the only property, out of the 20 they saw, which had a floor plan, and the wife said it was the key feature in her decision-making.
Very best,
Louise Johnston
Prudential Fox and Roach
Philadelphia, PA

Testimony 2
I am on my 6th floor plan/virtual tour, and I have gotten 2 offers w/out the husband seeing the properties, but from seeing my floorplan tour. It is a great tool. I cannot say enough about it. Thank you for your service.
Sincerely,
Allison Capone
Century 21 Crown Homes
West Islip, NY

Testimony 3
If you ever need a testimonial, I would be happy to give one! I used your product and I'm not that computer literate. (of course I did it with your help) We sold our ranch in Texas with an ad in Texas Monthly that lead the reader to our web site produced through Floorplanonline. We are convinced that one picture in the magazine would not have been nearly as appealing or would not have resulted in such a quick sale had it not been for your product.
Ken & Joyce Wiesman
Homeowner
Fredericksburg, TX

Testimony 4
I can’t tell you how grateful I am that I found FloorPlanOnline. My clients are thrilled with your product. Until I found your company, I had given up on a professional tour. In the past, I have paid for a tour, and took it off the internet due to it showing my listing in a way that did not reflect the home in any way.

Whenever I have called FloorPlanOnline’s customer service with a question, the representative completed what I could have changed myself before I had finished my questions. Your customer service representatives should all be highly commended for their excellent and the highest quality customer service that they give so cheerfully.

I am so grateful that I have found a company that not only delivers an awesome display of my listings with so many options for me as a REALTOR. But, also includes an outstanding staff of customer service representatives.
Warmest regards,
Belinda Trimarchi, REALTOR
Downing-Frye Realty, Inc.
Naples, FL

Testimony 5
I have saved my tour on my PC with the short cut. This is great to use in my presentations. My listing sold to a local and I am sure that the FloorplanOnline helped to convince this couple that they had made the right decision. She kept the MLS tour that I sent to her to show all of her friends since they will not be moving in until April, 2008.
Again thanks so very much for your help! I will continue to use FloorplanOnline.
Sincerely,
Dot Jones
Keller Williams Realty South Park
Charlotte, NC

Testimony 6
I use floorplanonline for all of my listings. I can honestly say that it is the single best marketing tool I've ever used.
Jesse KayeKeller
Williams Premier Properties
Summit, NJ


Bonus Testimony on our Customer Care (P.S. Many more like this one...)
I am a new user of FloorPlanOnline and felt like I had to take a minute to tell you of my first experience with your company. My first communication was an email and I received a prompt response. My second communication was prompt and helpful. But as I was implementing my first tour, I was stunned by the kindness and helpful attitide of Tammy in your help department. I don't know her last name, but her extension is #3. I am not great with the computer, but she helped me patiently every step of the way. So many times the words "customer service" mean nothing, but with Tammy it means perfection. Bravo for a company with such a teriffic employee! I will use your product again and I hope I have the opportunity to work with Tammy again.
Pat Harsh
McGraw Realtors
Tulsa, OK
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We provide a lot of great tools for you to sell listings and get more of them. My suggestion....Get a laptop and save a tour to your computer (to do so, go to Manage Orders, then click view under Marketing Materials for a way to save the tour) and showcase the tour in real-time at the potential clients house. The offline tour still allows you to see the tour, the video and flyer without the need for Internet access! You will be surprised on how many listings you get!

Best regards,
Kris Cone
CEO, FloorPlanOnline

New Sample Tours

We have created a sample tour page where we showcase some of the unique and interesting tours. Click here to see samples!

Create Area Tours

Did you know you can easily create an area tour and add it to your tours? Just go to http://www.weatherbylake.info for an example.

With Area Tours, you can show your customers and prospective clients that you are the local expert. Easily create a virtual tour of any area you want! The tour can be a Photo Tour or upgade to use a map, plat map or illustrated graphic that would show in the spot of the floor plan with clickable photos. We can even buy a vanity domain for you to further customize the tour.

Here is how to get started - Just follow these steps:

1. Login at http://www.FloorPlanOnline.com and select Place Order, then select:

• Interactive FloorPlan option if you would like to place an aerial photo, text map or plat map in the floor plan area on the right side of the tour. We will use an aerial photo as is, and redraw certain maps, as requested (please be aware of any copyright issues). These items will show in the floorplan area with photo spots to highlight points of interest. You can have multiple views: aerial, plat map, golf course map, 4 season views, etc. Just tell us on the Comments/Special Request section your specific requests. Flat rate cost of $59 for 12 months and can be renewed for $29/year.
• Interactive Photo Tour option if you just want photos for the Area Tour. Cost is $29 for 12 months and can be renewed for $29 each year thereafter.

2. For the service option, select Basic. At this time, we do not have full service available for Area Tours.

3. Complete the order form. In the Listing# field, type in the text you want to call this tour. For Example, SeattleTour. Complete the information as applicable (you do not need to complete all fields). The address of the property should be the city hall address or some other central address for the area – this will be the map spot.

4. Upload files. Once you confirm the order, you can upload photos, maps, plat maps, etc. We will redraw the plat maps and hand drawn sketches, etc. Please provide instructions on what you want done in the comments section on the upload files page. Save time by uploading all files at once – just click the help button on the file upload page to see how. Once we have all of your materials, we will produce your tour, typically within 1 business day.

5. Linking the Area Tour to each property tour. Each tour comes with its own custom website address using a domain we own called seetheproperty.com – so your Area Tour website address will be www.seetheproperty.com/xxxx where xxxx is the order id. See Manage Orders for your order IDs for each tour. To link an Area Tour to a property virtual tour, input the Area Tour website address (updated for your order ID) in the More Info URL section at the bottom of the order form.

If you have more than one Area Tour, you just need to type in the correct Area Tour link (e.g. seetheproperty.com/xxxx) on an order by order basis. If you have a “vanity” domain name, just type that in the More Info field. You can edit existing orders by going to Manage Orders, then clicking on the edit link under the Order Form column. When someone clicks on More Info, it will open up the Area Tour.

6. Change More Info button to Area Tour button. Upon request, we can change the More Info button to an Area Tour button. The Area Tour button looks like the image for this article.

Please note - this change will be effective for the entire account. If you have virtual tours that will not have an Area Tour, we will need to create a sub account (free) of your main account and move the tours with Area Tours to the sub account (or move tours that will not have an Area Tour to the sub account…which ever is less work). Alternatively, you can create as many Area Tours as needed so all of your virtual tours could have an Area Tour! To request the Area Tour button, just send an email to orders@floorplanonline.com with your customer ID (on right hand side when you are logged in) or one of your order IDs that is an Area Tour. We will make the change in the system for you.

7. Vanity Domain Name. We can create a vanity domain name for your Area Tour as well, like the www.weatherbylake.info example. Just go to Manage Orders, then select the link under Tour Upgrades for your Area Tour and select the Order button for Vanity Domains. Now you can be the expert for your area by adding these area tours to your website to show people how you are the local expert! Note you can request this for property tours too!

Please Note. We are working on an official product for Area Tours that will have more functionality…but we wanted to show you how you can do it today. Stay Tuned!

realPING Added to Tour!

realPING and FloorPlanOnline® have joined forces to help bring you Leads Where They Happen...While they are viewing your tour and their interest is at it's peak.

FloorPlanOnline® has just added the realPING call back feature option to your profile and the virtual tour - so now, people can contact you by phone with just CLICK and they will be connected directly to the phone number of your choice. The call is FREE to them and included in your monthly realPING service fee. We love this product! click here for a sample - see the contact area or the Contact Us button.

Here are some of the features:

• A Prominent "Call Me Now" button on your virtual tour.
• The ability to send web pages and files directly to the consumer's computer using your cell phone.
• Set your hours of business by turning your "Call Me Now" button off allowing people to still email and text you so you always know who is trying to contact you.
• Caller details texted and emailed after a completed call.
• Unlimited use of the realPING service anywhere you market online including your email!

If you're already a realPING subscriber, just add your id number to your profile on your FloorPlanOnline account at no additional cost. To do so: Login, select Change Profile on the lower right, then add your realPING ID and hit save at the bottom. It’s that simple!Not a Subscriber Yet?.....Through our special negotiated price, realPING is offering a discounted rate to get you started on you new realPING account.

Click Order Now and get started on this amazing technology plus save some money - $10 off the $49 set up fee and $9 off your quarterly fee.Remember, you can use it ANYWHERE you are promoting yourself online including your emails, personal and Broker websites, property pages and now....Your FloorPlanOnline tours. realPING isn't just a Real Estate related product, although it does suit our industry quite well, it can be used on any online marketing tool. Think about other businesses you or your friends and family may have. Having the ability for people to call you by just clicking a button is exactly what your business needs.

Don't know what realPING is? Click Here and find out how this tool can help you make more money!!!