March 1st, 2010
This month’s photo tip is about White Balance. If you have ever taken a picture that turned out orange or blue or some other strange color, then you have experienced the effects of white balance.
White balance compensates for the different colors emitted by different types of light sources and adjusting your white balance accordingly will make your pictures into powerful marketing tools.
White balance controls should be easily accessed from you camera’s menu. If you are unsure how to get to it, consult your manual. Here is what you need to know. White balance controls include settings for sun, shade, overcast, incandescent light, fluorescent light, and flash. Some cameras will include others as well, but these are the most important for real estate photography.
Chose the setting that most closely matches your light source. If you are shooting on a sunny day, choose the sun setting; if you are shooting on an overcast day, chose overcast; etc. Now, here’s the super secret tip: if you are shooting inside with mixed light (lamps and window light) choose the overcast setting. This will give your images a warm and inviting look.
That’s it! Have photo questions? Email your pictures or questions to Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours. You may even see your tips turn up here!
Tags: Bossier City, Photography, real estate, real estate photography, shreveport
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February 24th, 2010
Virtual Staging has arrived in the Shreveport / Bossier City area! New from Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours! In today’s real estate market with more and more homes being vacant due to foreclosures virtual staging is now more in demand than ever.
Before
Are you a Real Estate Agent? Are you looking for additional property marketing services to make you and your listing stand out from the crowd? If you answered yes to both of these questions then look no further. A powerful property marketing tool packing a dramatic eye-catching punch is here!
After
Everyone is aware of the cost of home staging. But now, Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours in conjunction with RTV is able to offer real estate agents and FSBOs this new virtual home staging product at an extremely low price. As low as $50.00 per room, you can turn that empty, hard to sell home into eye-catching marketing. Contact us today to learn more about virtual staging and virtual tour options for your home!
Tags: Bossier City, home staging, internet marketing, Photography, property marketing, real estate, real estate photography, shreveport, virtual staging, virtual tours
Posted in Internet Syndication, Online Property Marketing, Product News, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
February 1st, 2010
When photographing still images for MLS, shoot on small size. Today’s modern point and shoot cameras can shoot in excess of 10 megapixels. This giant megapixel digital image on your camera is a poster sized photo. Bigger is not always better. If you ever wonder why it takes 5 minutes to upload a single picture to your listing, it is because the server has to reduce the size of your picture to a smaller use-for-web size. This process can cause a loss of image quality resulting in a blurry image.
If you must shoot large images, consider resizing the image width to 512 pixels in your favorite photo editing software. You will get some blurring if you do this. To correct this after reducing an image’s size, we recommend a “Smart Sharpen” (in Photoshop) around 40%, and then “Save for Web” at “High” quality.
Now you have a clear High Definition photo that loads very fast thanks to its small size!
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Tags: marketing, online, Photography, photos, real estate, Tips
Posted in Online Property Marketing, Tips and Tricks | No Comments »
January 6th, 2010
With a major cold blast bearing down on the Shreveport/Bossier City area, I thought this may be a good time to share some tips on how to care for your camera in the cold weather. Cameras lenses, sensors (in digital cameras) and other parts are very sensitive and sudden temperature changes, not to mention condensation, can harm or destroy a camera. So, if you will be out photographing in the cold, check out the article below by Peter Carey form Digital Photography School’s forum for some tips on cold weather camera care.
Tags: Bossier City, Photography, shreveport
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December 17th, 2009
Why bother with a single property website? To get noticed. To have and hold the buyers undivided attention. To stand out in the crowd. To show the listing fully and completely to the interested buyer without distraction. To advertise the Realtor’s marketing savvy and client service. To generate leads for the listing as well as the agent.
Does it really work? Take a look…
Below are hit statistics for a listing which used a single property website. Listed are the number of hits on the virtual tour and which websites they came from. The single property website was www.220Roma.com.
Hit Statistics
You will notice that the single property website is leading the pack for views at 285 followed by Realtor.com at a distant 36 and realestatebook.com behind that. That is 285 interested home buyers whose undivided attention was focused on this property.
Want to take a look at a single property website? Just click the image or visit www.220Roma.com. You can also visit www.TheVirtualTourPeople.com to learn more about single property websites.
Posted in Online Property Marketing, Product News | No Comments »
November 6th, 2009
Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours had the pleasure of photographing this incredible New Orleans style townhome located in South Shreveport’s new Provenance subdivision. This home is just awesome! It features a courtyard entrance, pine hardwood floors, remote master downstairs and a loft and 2 additional bedrooms up, and a beautifully landscaped rear courtyard.
This unique townhome has windows in every room of the home, many overlooking the courtyards. Take a look at the single property website below to learn more about it!
Welcome to the 1920 Woodberry Property Website.
Tags: internet marketing, marketing, property, shreveport, virtual tours, website
Posted in Online Property Marketing, Virtual Tour Happenings | No Comments »
September 23rd, 2009
They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and this holds especially true with real estate photos. They show the viewer a glimpse inside the home allowing them to determine if it interests them. The viewer can see everything from layout of the home to features such as counter top types, wall color, flooring type, dishes in the sink, clothes on the floor and well kept lawns. Photos and virtual tours are a driving marketing force in the sale of a home and it is important that these photos help not hinder the sale. Below are 7 tips for great real estate photos.
Tip 1: Tidy up. Your photos are an open house 24/7. As you prepare, go through each room tidying up. Items on counter tops such as the basket of mail in the kitchen or the toiletries on the bathroom counter should be removed. Tables and counters will show best with just a few tastefully selected items. Pick up and put away children’s toys, clothes, dishes, items on the floors and furniture. All this can appear to be clutter in the camera. Don’t forget to check for burnt out light bulbs which can really stand out in a photograph.
Tip 2: Please do not have other workers such as housekeeping, lawn crews, or repairmen at the home during photographing. If you desire to have housekeeping or lawn work done ahead of time, your virtual tour company will be glad to work with you on the best possible time to photograph your home.
Tip 3: Some pets love to pose for the camera! But others are uncomfortable with equipment or strangers. Please plan ahead for your pets by placing them in a kennel or at a day care.
Tip 4: What’s on your fridge? The family photos and artwork on the refrigerator are fun to look at, however, it can often appear as clutter to the camera. Please plan to remove these items before your virtual tour. A clean front on the refrigerator always shows best in photographs.
Tip 5: If you have begun packing, remove the boxes to an area which will not be photographed. Items stacked in the corner or tucked under the bed can show in the photos and this will keep your home from looking its best.
Tip 6: Outside move summertime items such as bikes, skates and pool toys to a storage area. Plan to have the lawn mowed and edged. If summer heat has caused the grass to turn brown, try to water a couple of days in advance to give it a fresh look. Trim hedges and sweep walks and driveways to give a manicured and inviting appearance. Add a few flowering plants for extra curb appeal!
Tip 7: Don’t forget the pool. A sparkling, clear pool can inspire thoughts of summer fun and relaxation, even in the “off” season. However, green murky water can leave an impression too. Make sure your pool is an inviting asset to your home.
Visit Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours website to learn more.
Tags: internet marketing, online marketing, photos, property marketing, real estate, real estate photography, virtual tour
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September 13th, 2009
Are you feeling the crunch on your marketing budget? Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours can help with low cost, flat fee virtual tours. Designed to keep your marketing competitive and professional looking without putting a strain on your budget, our flat fee virtual tours are ideal for any size home.
For as low as $75, this virtual tour option consists of a 6 scene high res. tour which can still accommodate all the add-on features you have come to rely on such as audio, single-property website, mls stills and realtor.com submission.
While we still offer our custom tours based on square footage, the flat fee tour is the same cost for any size home. Call or visit our website today for more information.
Kitchen
Tags: internet marketing, online, property, real estate photography, virtual tour, virtual tour company
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April 18th, 2009
E Angora
This home is perfect for anyone wanting to retire to sunny and warm Arizona. This is an immaculate stucco home with a tile roof. This property is located in the retirement community of “Oakwood”. This is quiet residential living at its finest in a beautiful gated community. Oakwood has its own golf course nestled among serene lakes. The Clubhouse is second to none. This community offers swimming pools, fitness center, tennis courts, walking paths and more. This special oasis is only about 20 miles from Sky Harbor International Airport. Chandler Fashion Center Mall and Chandler Regional Hospital are minutes away. Sun Lakes is a Robson Resort Community. Take a look at this amazing home by visiting its website for more photos, a 360 virtual tour and more info…
www.25043EAngora.com
Tags: arizona, home for sale, real estate, real estate photography, virtual tours
Posted in Virtual Tour Happenings | No Comments »
March 22nd, 2009
Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours is pleased to announce that our realtors’ virtual tour galleries have now been SEO optimized, making it possible to reach a bigger internet market!
Your Virtual Tour Gallery
A link to your tour gallery is located at the top right of all your virtual tours. The gallery includes all of your active
tours. This link can be utilized on your website and in your emails to allow viewers to see all your listings right from their own computer.
SEO Optimized
What is SEO optimized? This simply means that you have now gained more online marketing power to boost you and your property to the top of the internet search results - a process which is key to getting noticed on the web.
So, don’t hesitate to take advantae of your new marketing power boost and increase your online exposure. Contact Ark-La-Tex Virtual Tours today! Whether you need a virtual tour, still pictures, or added internet exposure for your Shreveport/Bossier City area property, we are here to help you get noticed on the internet.
Tags: internet marketing, marketing, online, property, shreveport, virtual tour company, virtual tours
Posted in Internet Syndication, Online Property Marketing, Product News | No Comments »
