ANCHOR LEAD IN:
A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN YOU WANTED TO SELL YOUR HOME---YOU'D SIMPLY PUT
UP A SIGN, LIST THE HOUSE-AND HOPE FOR THE BEST. BUT THE INTERNET HAS CHANGED THE MARKETPLACE….NOW, WEBSITES WITH 'VIRTUAL' HOME TOURS ARE AN INDUSTRY STANDARD.BUT CAN THEY PUT HOME OWNERS AT RISK?
_____ _____ HAS SOME SAFETY ADVICE FOR YOU IF YOU DECIDE TO SHOWCASE YOUR HOME ONLINE.

TRACK ONE Length: 07
FOR RICK TESTA - THIS IS HOME SWEET HOME.BUT IF HE HAS HIS WAY-IT WON'T BE FOR LONG. HE'S SELLING HIS HOUSE ONLINE.

SOT
KEY @: 08 Rick Testa, Home seller
"Our realtor felt that it was a great tool for us to broaden the range of people, and even from all over the world too."

TRACK TWO Length: 08
WEB TOURS OFFER A 'VIRTUAL STROLL' THROUGH THE INSIDE OF A HOME…REVEALING AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF DETAIL. BUYERS HAVE COME TO EXPECT THEM.

SOT
KEY @: Voice of: Mark Lesswing, National Association of Realtors
"Consumers like to look around, instead of just looking at a static view, they get a sense of 'I could live here,' or 'I could never live here.'"

TRACK THREE Length: 11
BUT WITH THE ADVANCING TECHNOLOGY - THERE MAY ALSO BE ADDED RISK. THE TOURS CAN REVEAL VALUABLES LIKE ARTWORK - OR DETAILS ABOUT ALARM SYSTEMS OR WINDOW CONSTRUCTION-AND THAT'S RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT BURGLARS…

SOT
KEY @: 45 Mark Lesswing, National Association of Realtors
"It does pose a risk, and what you want to do is to not highlight those features."

TRACK FOUR Length: 13
SOURCE: National Association of Realtors
EXPERTS SAY JUST BE SMART ABOUT IT: SECURE OR REMOVE YOUR VALUABLES BEFORE VIDEOTAPING. AVOID SHOWING AREAS IN YOUR HOME THAT COULD COMPROMISE YOUR
SECURITY…AND MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO FAMILY PHOTOS IN YOUR TOUR. IF YOU DO ALL THAT…

SOT
NO KEY
"There's no more concern than you would have if you were doing an open house. "

TRACK FIVE Length: 14
GLADE JONES IS PRESIDENT OF OBEO, WHICH SPECIALIZES IN VIRTUAL HOME TOUR TECHNOLOGY. HE SAYS WEB TOURS ARE ACTUALLY SAFER THAN OPEN HOUSES, BECAUSE
THE SELLER CAN CONTROL HOW MUCH IS REVEALED. AND WHILE HE SAYS THE PHOTOS ARE
HIGH RESOLUTION…

SOT
KEY @: 1:19 Glade Jones, President, Obeo,Inc.
"It's a web-based product. It's not high enough resolution for you to get details on many of the highest value items in the home."

TRACK SIX Length: 03
RICK SAYS HE'S NOT WORRIED. IN FACT, HE'S ENTHUSIASTIC.

SOT
NO KEY
"I'm hoping that we find someone that will have an opportunity to see this home and find out that that's the exact home they want. I think it will be a great benefit."

ANCHOR TAG:
SOURCE: 2006 National Ass'n Realtors profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
IN A RECENT CONSUMER SURVEY OF 129-THOUSAND HOME BUYERS-MORE THAN THREE-FOURTHS OF THOSE BUYERS REPORTED USING THE INTERNET IN THEIR HOME SEARCH.

SOURCE INFORMATION
FOR CLIENT-STATION USE ONLY
The information provided below is for client-station use only. It is provided to help you obtain answers to any additional questions you may have and to help you localize a story. This private contact information, including phone numbers, addresses and email addresses, cannot be given to viewers nor posted on your Website. It is for internal station use only. Any exceptions to this will be clearly noted. Thank you.


Mark Lesswing
National Association of Realtors
500 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20001-2005
(202)383-1290
(630)788-8658 (private cell)
mlesswing@realtors.org

Mark Lesswing is Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for the National Association of Realtors. The organization provides support and education to agents, as well as information for individual buyers and sellers nationwide.

Glade Jones
President, Obeo,Inc.
57 W. 200 S., Suite 550
Salt Lake City, Utah 84101
(801)533-0360

Glade Jones is President of Obeo, a company which specializes in virtual home tour technology. Obeo provides targeted solutions to help real estate professionals as well as home buyers and sellers to achieve their individual goals.

MORE ADVICE FOR WEB TOURS:
((Source: NAR))

****Take time to go over details carefully with your realtor before creating your home tour. What do you want prominently featured? What do you not want shown? A qualified realtor can advise you on security issues related to your web tour.

****'Curb Appeal' can also mean added safety... For exterior photos in your web tour, avoid shots of high bushes near windows, or concealed entrances. Potential burglars look for these to gain easy access.

**** Before showing your home to a buyer, have your realtor help to ensure they're qualified. At the very least, get personal contact information from them, such as a phone number, address, and verify the information before allowing them into your home.