March 7, 2011 by the EDOBA Team.

Submit your design challenge and we’ll pick one each month to develop a free design recommendation.

To enter, send us photos of your problem area, with a brief description of the project and any issues we need to consider. If we choose yours, we’ll contact you for any additional information we require and email you your design VPD.

The VPD is yours to do with as you want. You agree to let us publish your project on our website, including the use of your name and company, and to use it in any promotional activities, including press releases for print and online purposes. If you need us to make changes, or create plans for your contractors, we can discuss the charges.

Just send your photos and description to “Monthly Design Challenge” at designchallenge@edobavirtual.com. We will review all the submissions around the 15th of each month, and develop the design VPD by month’s end.

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For more information on VPDs and our Design Challenge of the Month, please visit www.edobavirtual.com

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March 3, 2011 by the EDOBA Team.

When you have a project that requires in depth attention from a professional design team, but have budget and timing restraints that get in the way, this is the best solution.

A VPD Intensive is a one-day interactive workshop between you and our design team to create a design concept for your property. Web conferences allow you to be in any location and see the designer’s computer screen where you can interact in real time, deciding issues such as the size and shape of the building, finishes, colors, etc.

We immerse ourselves in your project, working with you throughout the day in a series of collaborative sessions to thoroughly understand all your issues, to consider the appropriate options, and to develop the solution that works best for you.

The bottom line is you get a custom design solution to difficult or demanding projects at a significant reduction in the bottom line.  For more information on VPD Intensives, please visit www.edobavirtual.com or call us at 1-877-378-7359

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February 10, 2011 by the EDOBA Team.

In today’s world, instant access to information has become more than just a trend powered by the tech savvy. It’s become a way of life for everyone - everywhere. So what does this mean  for Buyers, Sellers and even real estate professionals? The Internet is where the majority of homebuyers begin their property search. The numbers vary from report to report, but the median number is 84% of all home sales begin with an online search!  

Before, when home buyers would seek out the conventional brokerage - whose strength lay in their vast inventory of properties they represent - now they seek out resources that allow them to search every listing from any brokerage within their chosen search parameters.

These days, when a Seller interviews an agent, a critical component of the Seller’s decision-making process is knowing where and how the agent and broker plan to market their home to qualified Buyers. This factor is now right up there with “How much is my home worth?” and “How much do I need to pay you to sell it?”

Whether large or small, all brokerage firms must accept the changes that are afoot and look  for ways to use all available tools to better serve their clients, including the harnessing of the Internet. One cannot change the fact that consumers don’t necessarily need an agent to show them the homes for sale in their market anymore; with a few clicks of the mouse, Buyers can search for listings in their own neighborhood, on the other side of the country, or even across the globe.

What real estate agents and their brokerages can do, however, is to focus their attention on how they provide enhanced forms of service and set themselves – and their listings – apart from a vast sea of information that is now available to Buyers. That is how any agent or brokerage will maintain their relevance and valuable place in the process of selling or purchasing a home.

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January 12, 2011 by the EDOBA Team.

In a recent poll on the National Association for the Remodeling Industry website, when asked what room homeowners plan to remodel in the next six months, an overwhelming majority said, “the bathroom”.  Minimalism and simplicity is definitely a popular trend in baths right now and many clients are looking to achieve a ’spa’ type atmosphere for a tranquil feel. The spa-like bathroom can be achieved by using natural materials such as slate and travertine, naturally finished woods, and neutral colors. Water and energy conservation and use of eco-friendly materials are also being incorporated into the overall design of this year’s baths. Thermostatic valves allow you to set the water temperature in your shower at your desired temperature and then use separate volume valves to turn the flow on and off. This type of valve has been a standard in high-end fixtures and now is available more widely at all price points.

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For our more information on our thoughts on design trends for 2011, please click the Design Trends link in the navigation area.

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December 29, 2010 by the EDOBA Team.

Taking the guess work out of the equation: “your own private designer”

This really can be a relationship saver.  Rather than playing ping-pong back and forth about design concepts with your mate that may or may not have the ability or the time to try and figure out what exactly your remodel concept is, share it with them by utilizing virtual design.

From a price standpoint, Virtual Property Design is something to get excited about.  One doesn’t need a huge bank roll to hire one’s own interior or exterior designer any more.  With the VPD technology, you can have your own designer at a much more reasonable price.

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For more information on VPDs for remodeling, please visit www.edobavirtual.com

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December 27, 2010 by the EDOBA Team.

The average house lost a few inches in the recession and is still managing to keep the size down as buyers (and banks) avoid biting off more debt than they can chew.  Cost obviously has helped precipitate this change and many buyers are looking for homes that meet their practical needs rather than satisfying their egos. Home spaces will continue to combine both living and work environments. Also individual offices, either within the home or in modular form just outside the home, will be more common. This year will see continuity in the creation of large multi-purpose rooms, rather than divided ones. Kitchens will combine eating and meeting spaces - bring dining, cooking, meeting, and recreation all together in one large space.  The kitchen is the place to be in 2011 - no longer does the chef remain isolated from the guests while the meal is prepared. Family, guests, and business associates can feel right at home while they visit or brainstorm! 

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For our more information on our thoughts on design trends for 2011, please click the Design Trends link in the navigation area.

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November 17, 2010 by the EDOBA Team.

Taste and style are two very important factors when hiring a company to stage a home for sale.  With VPD, the staging can be site specific and appropriate to the audience that you want to reach.  Realtors finally have the option to “decorate” a home in a number of styles or one that truly compliments the architecture.

Traditional staging will always be around and that is a good thing.  However, there is plenty of room for VPD, especially in this market with its tech savvy clients.  Using VPDs also allow you to stage the same room in more than one style which simply could not be done with traditional staging.

Here is feedback that we’ve recently received from an agent that had multiple VPDs created for a property. “It’s fun to be able to hand a prospective buyer a rendered image of an un-staged home before they walk in,” she said. “Rather than a look of consternation on their face about a dated or obsolete space and the labor it will take to make it work, people get excited about a new project.”

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For more information on using VPDs to stage empty properties, please visit www.edobavirtual.com

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November 2, 2010 by the EDOBA Team.

Every real estate professional is now a photographer. Acquiring photos that represent the property is part of the job - an essential service that agents are expected to provide both buyers and sellers. Whether professionally shot (which most agents do not have the budget for) or not, the importance of taking well-composed and exposed photos of real estate can not be understated.  It all starts with a good picture and there are simple techniques to help you achieve a perfect shot.

The tips:

The Camera: While a wide angle lens isn’t required for taking real estate photos, using one can certainly be a plus since more of a scene can be captured than is possible with a standard width lens. Most compact cameras start at the equivalent of about 35mm, but there are a number of models available that have the equivalent of a 28mm lens or wider. Not only can more of an area of the scene be photographed with a wide angle lens, but wide angle allows you to stand closer to the subject and still fit it in the frame.

Tripods or Monopods: When shooting in any poorly lit setting or using zoom, there’s always the risk of the picture blurring if you hold the camera. With the camera mounted and stationary, the potential problem is easily eliminated.

Setting the Stage: Before taking a photograph, temporarily move distracting items from the scene - such as a car in the driveway, a garbage sign, and even the “For Sale” sign. For interior shots, tidy up the room so it looks uncluttered.
 
Compose Your Shot: Use the camera’s viewfinder or monitor to visually compose your picture before shooting. A slight change of angle may improve the overall presentation of the property and add some depth to the photo.  Also, review the scene so vertical or horizontal lines are perpendicular.

Shooting the Exterior: The property should be well lit and ideally the source of light should come from behind the photographer, not behind the house. Try to shoot on a day when the sky is blue and contains clouds. Shoot when a cloud covers the sun so the light is diffused, and dark shadows are barely noticeable. Even bright, overcast days can provide good lighting for outside shots of buildings.
 
Shooting the Interior: For interior shots, turn on all the available lights, even when using flash. Or, plan to shoot during daytime hours, and take advantage of a combination of the interior lights and the ambient light.  You also want to avoid backlit situations. When the background is bright, the subject can get lost in the shadows. You can avoid this by drawing the curtains/shades or changing your angle.

Reflective Surfaces: When taking photos of items with reflective surfaces, shoot at an angle so reflections are minimized. Avoid using a flash as its light will be recorded in the image and ruin it.

Shoot Like a Pro: Take a lot of shots.  Professional photographers  constantly fire away because they know the more they shoot, they more likely they will get that perfect shot. Zoom in and out, shoot interiors with and without flash, move around, and even try changes in your camera height.
 
There are resources on the web that can also give you useful information.  Here are two of our favorites:

A free real estate photo guide (shows a series of good vs. bad photos)
http://photographyforrealestate.net/realtor-photo-guide/

An article in the New York Times, “Making Every Pixel Count”, by Vivian S. Toy (from a few years ago but plenty of good info)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/11/realestate/11cov.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&sq=vivian%20toy&st=cse&scp=3

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October 21, 2010 by the EDOBA Team.

Below is a letter we received from a Main Street organization we’ve worked with recommending us as a resource to other Main Street programs: 

As the national organization says, Main Street is about “helping people protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them.” But in today’s economic reality, that is a challenging endeavor for reasons we’re all too familiar with. 

It is more important than ever to find ways to clearly and compellingly show community stakeholders the benefits of our target projects. It’s one thing to talk about the impact that a facade change, for example, can make to a beautiful old building in your downtown. But if you’re able to show it, to accurately visualize the dramatic improvement, that can make all the difference in trying to drive consensus and create support in the community. 

EdobaVirtual has developed a very cost-effective means to realistically picture a Main Street project in situ and we are finding it very helpful for our efforts. 

Property owners have become enthusiastic and started exploring options. Municipalities have joined the effort to develop funding. Local contractors can see what a dynamic billboard a high-visibility project can be for them and are willing to discuss reduced rates. 

5% goes to Main Street 

And now, EdobaVirtual has graciously chosen to support Main Street efforts by donating 5% of their fees back to the appropriate Main Street organization through whom the project originated. To find out more about this remarkable new technology and see examples, please visit their site. I hope you find it as helpful as we have. 

Karen Auborn

Executive Director

Port Orford Main Street Revitalization Association

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For more information on VPDs and Main Street organizations, please visit www.edobavirtual.com

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October 4, 2010 by the EDOBA Team.

We’ve heard this same phrase over and over again in a real estate transaction, “How can I tell a prospective buyer for a vacant parcel of land how a house can be situated on it?”  By using a VPD, it is a lot more effective and easier to e-mail, or show them a rendering of a residence actually on the lot.  As a Realtor® we have worked with recently told us, “Placing a structure in the actual home site’s photo is beyond helpful.  It’s genius!”

With a new technology, comes responsibility.  Digitally taking out power lines, telephone poles, etc. in property is very misleading.  We have recently heard of an agent who posted 16 virtually staged photos of a property on the MLS without including any actual photos.  Any property manipulated in any way must be labeled so and EDOBA Virtual clearly states this on each VPD image.  If not, that is just bad business and can really make a buyer angry at the very least.

The real advantage of using a VPD on a vacant lot is that it helps to engage a prospective buyer about the possibilities.  As there are many people who have a hard time visualizing, have a scaled design concept shown in a photo of the property makes it much easier for the buyer to start imagining the possibilities.

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For more information on VPDs for vacant lots, please visit www.edobavirtual.com

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