Important Internet Statistics

The latest National Association of Realtors (NAR) report on home buyers and sellers shows the ever increasing role that the internet plays in searching for a home.  The study included persons who purchased a home in the 12 months ending in Sept. 2009 and here are the results that NAR found:
In the 'just starting to look' phase:  33% went to the internet first.
In the 'seriously looking for a home' phase:  87% began with the internet.
32% of buyers ultimately found the home they purchased on the internet.
Overall, 99% of the buyers found the internet  "somewhat useful" in their search and 81% said it was "very useful".  The study further shows that listings with virtual tours, enjoyed up to 87% more traffic compared to listings with static images.
As the internet has become increasingly more important, I continually strive to keep my virtual tours as technically up-to-date and user friendly as possible.  Both my website and our virtual tours, syndicate with nearly 90 different websites including Zillow, Trulia, Craigslist, Yahoo, Youtube, Google and many other popular sites.  Our sellers can be confident that they will have the ultimate in internet exposure and buyers who visit my site have access to a variety of helpful information.  Thank you for visiting and if I can be of any further assistance to you, please don't hesitate to contact me!  (203) 885-0207
Connecticut Virtual Tours - Dave Stegmeir

A Fast Start

Today is officially my fourth day in business and I made my first virtual tour sale!  I intended to get off to a fast start and still,  I am a bit surprised by how fast everything is progressing.
Like others who begin this endeavor, I was a bit taken aback by the sheer volume of information to digest.  I knew the best course was to just read, study and practice to get enough information to get started.  I think I could study this material for weeks and weeks and still feel a bit apprehensive about getting out there and promoting my business.
I have learned over the years, that sometimes it is just better to "get your feet wet".  I know I will make mistakes along the way, and I also know that I will learn and grow from those mistakes.  So I just decided that I had enough information to get started.  I don't think we need to learn every aspect of this business to get started.  What we need to do, is to get out there and talk with people.  A mentor once told me that "people do not do business with companies, rather people do business with people."  Do you want to be another face in the crowd, or do you want to stand out and be recognised?
RTV  has provided all the training,software and support to get started.  It is ultamately up to us as dealers to "get out there" and get our feet wet.  We don't need to "reinvent the wheel," we just need to go for it.
I am very confidant that this first sale is an indication that Connecticut Virtual Tours will be well received in my community, and that we can make a difference for so many agents struggling in this historic down turn.

Come on in, the water is fine!

Dave Stegmeir
Connecticut Virtual Tours

The Birth of Connecticut Virtual Tours

When I bought my first DSLR camera four years ago, it did not take long for a hobby to grow into a real passion.  I knew in an instant that this medium would lead me to a new and exciting career.  As I studied and learned all I could about the "Art" of photography as well as the technical aspects of it, I realized that I would need to look for a niche` market for my photography.  The business of photography is one of the most competitive industries I know of.
One day I found myself looking for a new house and, like most people these days, I began my search online.  What I saw both surprised and excited me.  I discovered that the vast majority of homes I looked at, both for sale and for rent, were being marketed with photographs which did not give me a good sense of what the home really looked like.  I noticed that a very few homes were being marketed with virtual tours and high resolution slide shows.  The differences were stark and I could immediately see what a difference it made in the way the viewer saw the home.
I recognised at this point that I could actually provide a much needed and valued service by making this the niche` I had been looking for.  I spent the next year researching everything I needed to know about real estate photography and marketing.  I looked into which lens was best, how the images were made and edited, and most importantly, how these virtual tours were created and marketed.  My research eventually led me to "Real Tour Vision".  RTV is one of many virtual tour providers I looked at and by a wide margin, RTV shone above the rest in what they had to offer.  Their state of the art cutting edge proprietary software and approach to marketing convinced me that I wanted to partner with them.
I contacted Jason LaVanture, Vice President of RTV, and discussed with him what my goals are, and soon afterward I partnered with RTV to be my provider of virtual tour software.  Judging by the vast network of RTV dealers and the fantastic support and contuing education they provide, I am certain that this is the beginning of a long a very prosperous relationship with RTV.
Dave Stegmeir
Connecticut virtual Tours