Locked and loaded - but the quality lets them down ...
Folks,
It is plain to see that the majority of those who have joined this organisation are professionals, or those who would like to advance their skills and knowledge of 'virtual visits' etc.
Having an association designed for industry professionals is all well and good, but what concerns me is the output I have seen on real estate sites in France. OK, the French haven't taken to 360s the way the American housing market has. Across the pond, it's almost as important to advertise a virtual visit as it is to advertise the price of the property.
But what about the French housing market? There are, indeed, a few US agencies who advertise apartments for rent or for sale in the French capital but, quite honestly, their 'panos' leave a lot to be believed. Only this morning I have seen images badly off-centre, misaligned images and straight lines bent out of proportion. Where's the quality gone? Are people happy to pay for these amateur images? Apparently they are ... isn't it a shame that pros get passed over as 'a friend of a friend knows someone who dabbles in virtual visits'.
I believe that our charges over here are almost in line with the USA but, somewhere, quality and a pride in our work is passed over simply to get something online quickly - whether the images match or not.
Stuart
Re: Locked and loaded - but the quality lets them down ...
Denis,
Further to my last, I am concerned that people are advertising '360 degree', yet the pano is blocked at 90 degrees or 180 degrees on the horizontal ...
Herewith the first: http://www.parisapartmenttours.com/
The page opens with a self-starter which, if you look carefully, has a few misaligned images and 'bowed' straight lines.
Stuart
Re: Locked and loaded - but the quality lets them down ...
Hi Stuart,
WOW...that is awful...looks like a single shot from a wide angle lens stuffed into a bad viewer.
I have a similar concern with the Random Use of the term "Virtual Tour" by real estate agents in my area - They consider a slide show of stills a "Virtual Tour" Recently Coldwell Banker (An NRT company) Launched thier "Virtual Tour" ...I had a presentation scheduled in a local office and the manager cancelled because thier tour "Was the same as mine" . Thier offering is a simple flash slideshow with text and music...like a watered down Visual Tour. Mine are full 360 x 360 or 360 x 180 Hi Def Panos.
Thier Tour
http://ctmls.mlxchange.com/Pub/EmailView.asp?r=726289650&s=HFD&t=HFD
My Tour
http://www.dmcdigitalmedia.com/hostvt/423haddam/index.htm
I guess we just need to educate the public as we go ! Saw your site....nice work
Dennis M. Carbo
The term "virtual tour"
The first use of the term virtual tours was for stills, not 360 images. Today it's used for almost any set of images or movies or whatever.
I use the term only if I see the person I'm talking to seems to be having trouble understanding 360 images. "you know you can look all around and up and down. On a large screen it's as if you are standing there." Sometimes the term virtual tour can help then. Personally I prefer to call 360's VR's or simply 360 by 180 degree views. The real estate industry invented the term virtual tour and I do not want to be associated with it in any way. To me the term takes on a derogatory inference of poor quality.
If your trying to sell someone on your services, always first push quality after you've checked their web site, and if you are better :)
And hey, why bad real estate photo's in France should be a surprise to anyone is a surprise to me; 90+ percent of all real estate photo's and "virtual tours" the world over are crap. This includes the US.
Regards,
Robert
Re: The term "virtual tour"
Hey Robert,
My bad...didnt realize the term virtual tour was first meant for stills...oooppss
Hehe...I agree 90% of the real estate stuff is junk - (I wont mention a certain "defunct/sort of defunct" company....LOL)
Dennis M. Carbo
Re: Locked and loaded - but the quality lets them down ...
Sadly, it would appear that although those (here) are fiercely proud of their work, the technology and the end results, the general public are not in the loop. It is possible for someone not connected with panoramas/virtual tours/QTVRs/360 VRs, to fail to see flaws and errors etc. This is also true of photography in general.
It is amazing what people in the retail world will accept, especially for payment. Maybe we, in this branch of photography, are too picky when it comes to paid facilities and services - only giving the customer the best quality.
I have launched a small advertising campaign (a test) which pushes quality of service and results - samples are readily available. It has become perfectly obvious that on this side of the pond, the locals are sceptical of new technology and have yet to embrace something which:
a) will allow them to pass the production price onto their customers
b) increase their turnover simply by engaging their client-base in internet technology
c) give a slick and modern feel to their sites and their businesses in general
I have also written to several US/Franco agencies, suggesting that they might like to consider adopting the same style of visual aid when pushing their listed properties to future American clients. Most of these agencies are run by bi-lingual French who, for the time being, sit on any reply and fail to ignore the benefits. I shall, however, continue to send them monthly emails which may well grind them down to at least pick up the phone.
I'll let you know ...
Stuart
Re: Locked and loaded - but the quality lets them down ...
Hi Stuart,
How about a link to some of the tours you described. A good part of my business is Real Estate Tours and my Market is full of cheap poorly done panoramas that cost about 1/3 of what I charge.....The thing is to SELL the Realtor on the value a good photo provides.
Its not so much that the Pros get passed over, more that they are not interested in working for what most realtors are willing to pay.
My tours start at 119.99 and are usually more in the 150-175 range
Dennis M. Carbo