I am preparing to give a sales meeting presentation about virtual tours in a real estate office in nearby Chester County, Pennsylvania. In getting ready to talk about using virtual tours to promote properties and market a real estate agent, I came across some astounding statistics:

Last year, home buyers were actively using the Internet to make their home purchases. What is so important is that these buyers overwhelmingly eventually use real estate agents to assist in their purchase:

· Method of Home Purchase, By Use of Internet:

· Agent/Broker – 81%

· Direct from Builder – 10%

· Direct from previous owner whom buyer didn’t know – 5 %

Source: 2006 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

Consider what this means: 4 out 5 buyers using the Internet also use an agent!

So if you are a real estate agent, you have to ask what you are doing to improve your Internet marketing. Based on last year’s data, you just can’t sit back. If you don’t get active marketing on the Internet, this business is just lost to your competitor. Remember that listings with virtual tours always get selected first by potential clients. So as you allow last year’s statistics guide your future marketing plans, consider how important quality virtual tours are to your marketing plan.

George Sheldon
VirtualToursCompany