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Virtual Open House On Trulia
Fred Light and I stopped by Trulia's open house today. An agent streamed video live from her open house as a test. A test that our own Fred Light did over a year ago, which he self-admits was a flop. Today I was in shock as I sat in the chat room and heard (read) social media gurus go on and on and on about how amazing it was, when all it was....was boring. As Fred points out, nothing replaces a good video on demand at any time.
One thing as agents we need to be very aware of is realizing that not all technological ideas make good real estate applications. I'm all for pushing the button and trying something new, but calling something amazing and groundbreaking that I would equate with looking at my grandma's Niagra Falls photos is sad...just sad. Stick with great video!!!
WellcomeMat's very own, Christian Sterner, wrote a blog post about live open houses back in February. While seemingly a good idea, one has to wonder how many people would show up to these things if they knew they could just check it out on the web. If the answer is that most would watch online, then we must ask, "how lame would the actual event be to watch online?" In other words, if everyone is looking in from the outside, who is there in person?
I think there's a lot of things we try to do to impress each other and to say "I was the first," when in essence we need to be more embarrassed over a bad idea.
Wait...I have one! Why don't I take photos of the house and place those photos on the back side of blind folds. Then we'll put the blind folds on the open house guests and them imagine what the house is like. We'll call it Blind Fold Open Houses. It will be the hot thing!
Just because you can don't mean you should (thanks mom!).
It was interesting, that's for sure. I'm still not convinced. Just because you CAN do something, doesn't always mean you should. I did it last July and never really pursued it again (although I DID get a great domain... InteractiveOpenHouse.com!) I really just don't see it being viable, as much as I would LIKE to see it work. If it doesn't attract BUYERS, it doesn't work. Nobody wants to watch 'real' buyers walking through an open house making their comments - that just makes no sense. I think a good video tour that's available 24/7 at the BUYER'S convenience makes so much more sense than asking a potential buyer to 'make a virtual appointment" at a specific time to watch it 'live'. And the reality is... most buyers don't particularly WANT to interact with a salesperson as they're doing their initial investigations - so throwing the agent into the equation online isn't really giving buyers what they WANT... it's giving them want the agent wants.
I don't know... I think it's back to the drawing board.
Oh dear lord! That's ridiculous. Good catch Fred!
But most importantly, that is a REAL, ACTIVE listing.
It's hysterically funny, but so pathetic. I'm actually hiring my models from the "Uncle Fester School of Modeling" for my next video....
I like the idea of live stream casting, but like Copeland states, "just because you can doesn't mean you should."
You need to set an intention before you start using these different types of technology. Who is your audience? How will they want/need to interact with you? Am I using this technology in the best way and for an appropriate application?
Turning a live camera on inside an open home does not make for informative, worthwhile viewing. However, creating a virtual window for out of area buyers to interact in real time with an agent does, in my opinion. If anything, it increases the reach of the agent and creates a truly "open home" without logistical constraints.
How do you pull that off? How do you set up a great shot, or several shots for that matter. Perhaps you could arrange a number of different high end web cams throughout the home, or integrate previously edited footage into the live cast? You could also advertise on the property website that you'll be broadcasting 30 minute live casts at each scheduled open home for all interested buyers who can't make it in person.
Someone will get this right...
I think that's definitely the angle. I've always thought you could incorporate dimdim some way to make it sleak and interactive. Again, I have to say...I believe professionals care more about the "first" or "cool" factor than the public cares about the entire notion.
Yes, but we can't forget that we must take shots at things that we believe in, otherwise nothing would ever be accomplished. Being first is many times expensive: and here is a little history to back that up.
When Sterner went to trademark the name "WellcomeMat," his findings were quite humbling, as his "new" idea was only more possible than in the past (not exactly new). As it turned out, there was an expired trademark for a company called "WelcomeMat," and guess what they did?
WelcomeMat was a video company that was focused on creating real, video walk throughs of homes. Their distribution was entirely different (off-line); but the lesson remains the same: timing is everything and nothing will occur without those willing to take shots.
But, talk about a coincidence! WellcomeMat.com was in full swing, and it was only when we decided that we had to get a trademark that we uncovered this insane bit of recent past.
Yes, that's a good point, but come-on...you know what we're talking about here. Taking educated, smart "shots" is the key to success. WellcomeMat was smart. Obviously, WeLcomemat was not.
Actually, Made Green,, that's exactly what I did last July. We had two pre-produced tours (no funky live stuff) - one of the home itself, and one of the immediate neighborhood. The agent was online live, on video, and people could view the tour, chat with the agent, ask questions, etc. If they wanted to see a particular room again or ask a question, he could quickly pull up individual shots on the fly... we had floor plans... the works.
What we didn't have were BUYERS. It was advertised extensively in the paper. We did it at 4 different times during the week. We did have national coverage as it was the first time anything like this had been done, so what we DID have was about 50-70 AGENTS from all over the country, press, etc. asking questions about 'the product'. They wanted to buy it! There was not one buyer who showed up. (this was NOT a live open house too like the one that was done today).
So for me, if BUYERS don't respond, it's not a viable product as it serves no purpose.
I think the reality was that they could watch the video tour at THEIR convenience (not ours). And they honestly didn't want to talk to a salesman! So what exactly were we offering that they couldn't already get? Not much, I'm afraid.
My thinking was that buyers would like it because they could interact with an agent ANONYMOUSLY, which is what most buyers want. They don't want the pressure that comes from going to an open house and being hounded by a hungry agent. They don't want to commit to an agent. They don't want pressure from an agent. This would have been an opportunity to get the answers anonymously. AND it would have given the agent a chance to interact with potential buyers showing off their warm and fuzzy personality so buyers would fall in love with them and want to do business with them.. blah blah blah.
Didn't happen. I haven't revisited the idea again! Maybe someday.
Fred, Have you read Seth Godin's "Free Prize Inside?" All I can think about in this situation is this book!
Fred, Have you read Seth Godin's "Free Prize Inside?" All I can think about in this situation is this book!
Oh...My...God Fred!! You slay me!! That's halarious! I'm still laughing while I type this! Haahaha... Fester....Ooooooohhhh man. Paaaa-theee-tic
I think it might be a big hit in Asia. The craziest stuff seems to fly there. Could even get Pepsi or Levi's to sponsor it!
Me? I know if I saw fester walking around in the house I wanted to buy it might turn me off, especially LIVE!
Same philosiphy as having people take most personal items out of a house when they decide to sell it. This way the potential buyer can imagine their own items in place of them. I don't care to see all these people walking around my "lounge next to the front door entrance". Hahaha the text alone of that one slide show cracks me up!
I also don't care to imagine the ghost of Uncle Fester every time I walk into my new laundry room.