Vision Quest Virtual Tours

It's Not My Job...Or Is It?

2012-03-08T15:18:00.000-08:00

One of my least favorite phrases has always been “It’s not my job.” Having owned my own company prior to entering the corporate world, I never understood how the ultimate success of any organization was not the job of every single employee. Now that I am back to being a small business owner, the question of “Is this my job?” takes on an even greater importance.

I visited the website of another Charleston, SC virtual tour provider to check out our competition. On their website, they have samples of their work and the tour that they chose to showcase their services has a panoramic spin with someone sitting in the middle of the kitchen floor working on the dishwasher. Seriously, of all the tours that you could choose to represent yourself, you couldn’t find one that didn’t have the dishwasher repair man sitting in the middle of the floor?

One of the challenges Realtors face is that their clients often don’t see their own clutter but as an outsider coming into a home for the first time, you’d think one would notice the dishwasher repair man.

At Vision Quest Virtual Tours, we work as a team. With close to 15 years as a professional photographer, Greg stays behind the camera and I go in front of him to prepare each room to showcase the property in the very best light. It is not unusual for him to have to wait on me to finish staging an area because our work represents both us, the Realtor or business owner and the property we are shooting.

Earlier this week, we were photographing a multimillion dollar beach house with panoramic ocean views. The only problem was that the views were completely clouded by dirt and pollen on the huge windows and the sun shining through just accentuated the grime. We were by ourselves at the house and had a few choices at that point. We could leave and tell them they needed to send someone to clean the windows. We could have photographed the living room with the dirty windows and told them, “Tough luck, we only shot what you gave us.” Or we could clean the windows to the best of our abilities and finish the tour.

I can assure you that it was absolutely NOT MY JOB to go out to our car and get newspaper and scrub the windows with Windex but that’s exactly what I did. It was not an easy job because after the first attempt, the windows were streaked and that looked as bad as the grime did. I am absolutely NOT saying that I clean every dirty window we encounter because if we did, we’d never get out of a house. In this case, I only cleaned the windows that affected the view and yes, it was frustrating to have to do it.

One of our marketing tag lines is “The Big Picture Makes a Big Difference” and in the big picture on this house, the best option for us to get the shots we needed was for me to clean the windows and allow Greg to capture the dynamite view. We had to weigh the cost...it was an hour round trip to get to this house and we had shot five other houses on the same island that day. This was one of our better clients who provides us a steady stream of income and is delightful to work with. Had I told them, they would have scheduled their housekeepers to come clean every window but that would have meant we had to reschedule and drive back later.

No, it’s not my job to move children’s toys or the dog bed or the plunger, it’s not my job to clean counters and declutter the coffee table. It’s not my job to hide the dirty dishes (and let me state emphatically for the record - I will hide the dishes but I am not washing them!!) It is not my job but IT IS OUR BUSINESS and since excellence is our standard sometimes, we suck it up and do these things anyway.

Vision Quest Virtual Tours provides high quality 360º virtual tours in Charleston, SC and the surrounding areas. To learn more about us or to schedule a tour visit us at www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com or give us a call at 843-410-4701.

1348 E 1343rd Lane, Fowler IL, 62338

2012-03-07T10:59:00.000-08:00

1348 E 1343rd Lane, Fowler IL, 62338

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-2691-UML8TR-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Home has been completely redone including wiring, plumbing, interior doors, drywall, carpet, fixtures, windows on back of home, new dishwasher, cooktop, sink, countertop, both bathrooms new. Hooked up to city sewer. Hardwood is under vinyl and carpet. 24x40 detached heated garage. 17x25 sunroom has been completed (no heat or air). Great family home! Small portable building does not convey.

Listing Agent

Linda Snider, Realtor®

Cell Phone: 217-257-0126

Davis & Associates, Inc.

http://www.davisrealtor.com/

1112 Broadway

Quincy, IL 62301

	217-224-8100
	217-223-3235

207 E York, Camp Point, IL 62320

2012-03-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

207 E York, Camp Point, IL 62320

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-4867-ZD9HRM-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Very nice, well built brick ranch! This immaculate home features an extra large living room, a formal dining room with doors leading into a cheery sun room with new flooring. From the sun room, you can walk right into the large screened in porch convenient for those summer cook-outs. Nice kitchen with oak cabinets and new ceramic flooring. Two spacious main floor bedrooms plus a bedroom in the lower level that does not have a closet. Large family room in the lower level. Newer roof, plus new heat, air and water softener. Appliances negotiable. Large park-like yard.

Listing Agent,

Carol Rischar

217-740-3989

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

1666 Maine, Quincy IL 62301

2012-03-07T09:39:00.000-08:00

1666 Maine, Quincy IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-0809-6OAH8S-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com


This is a home that has had major updating including kitchen, wiring, plumbing, baths, a 2 story addition, windows and more. Take the time to see the interior of this house and you will not be disappointed.

Listing Agent,

Mike Happel, GRI
217-242-6090 — cell

Happel Inc., Realtors
3837 East Lake Centre
Suite 300
Quincy, IL 62301
217-224-8383

http://www.happelrealtors.com

Egg Metaphors - Managing Your Pipeline

2012-03-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

There are many good egg metaphors that apply to sales such as Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, Don’t count your chickens before they hatch, and of course, there’s the one about Killing the goose that laid the golden egg. Anyone one who owns a business needs to remember these important concepts.

At Vision Quest Virtual Tours, we specialize in photographing virtual tours for healthcare, hospitality and education. We have many eggs in many baskets!! This month, we were on track in March to have our biggest month of income ever. We are working with two beach vacation rental companies, several small businesses and we were scheduled to shoot three behavioral health programs. We are used to travelingthousands of miles per month to shoot all over the country but all of these were within a short distance from our home in Charleston. I was looking forward to a relaxed month for once!

It’s hard to stay motivated when I am looking at a full pipeline. There is the temptation to relax and think I’ve earned a break once I get the pipeline looking good. I have trained and supervised hundreds of sales people and I know that I am not alone in this tendency. I understand sales metrics such as closing ratios and a pipeline of projected business. I know that I have to make a certain number of calls to book a certain number of tours. I also understand that a certain percentage of the tours I book will cancel or reschedule for a variety of reasons. This is why it is of the utmost importance to have a very full pipeline and to have a variety of streams of income and NOT to slow down once the pipeline looks full! Or to use an egg metaphor - I know better than to count my chickens before they hatch.

The day we showed up to do our walk through for the first hospital, we found out that both the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Executive Director had just resigned! Screeeeeeech to a halt on any new expenditures or projects - including our virtual tours. This is not the first time it’s happened to us - we were 5,000 miles into a 10,000 mile trip for a large hospital chain when the VP of Internet Marketing was let go with no notice and the CEO of that chain was let go shortly after that.

Luckily on the 10,000 mile trip we had been paid in advance and the hospitals were only 12 of the 53 tours we shot and this month, we have a full month of income even without the three programs. I will admit though that I have slacked off this month because I knew we had a big check on the way. I have seen other photographers have one real estate office as their main source of business...until that office found another source for their virtual tours and the photographer’s business dried up overnight! Not knowing the circumstances, I can’t say that the photographer killed the goose that laid the golden egg but I’ve seen people raise their prices too high or take their best customers for granted and in an instant, lose a huge portion of their income.

I wish I didn’t have to constantly juggle cold calls, blogging, following up with existing customers and helping Greg shoot tours. But even as I write that, I realize how silly that statement is. Juggling those things IS MY JOB. It would be like Greg wishing he didn’t have to always shoot tours, build them and send invoices. We own a virtual tour business -- that means we sell tours then we shoot tours then we sell some more tours. It doesn’t matter which came first, the chicken or the egg -- without one there would not be the other. No matter how many referrals we get or how much repeat business we get, renewing the pipeline is part of the process no matter how full your future looks!

Vision Quest Virtual Tours photographs high quality 360º virtual tours in Charleston, SC and Quincy, IL and everywhere in between. We specialize in vacation rental virtual tours and behavioral healthcare program virtual tours but our tours are a great tool for anyone looking for a way to show their business to their prospective clients. To learn more or to schedule a tour, visit us at www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com or give us a call at (843) 410-4701 or (404) 863-9769.

1065 Sky Hawk Mountain, Hiawassee GA, 30546

2012-02-17T11:17:00.001-08:00

1065 Sky Hawk Mountain, Hiawassee GA, 30546

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-4540-V3IDZF-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

ENJOY BEAUTIFUL YEAR-ROUND LAKE AND MOUNTAIN VIEWS FROM SCREEN PORCHES ON BOTH LEVELS. ADORABLE HOME FOR FULL-TIME OR PART-TIME LIVING. 2 BEDROOM/2 BATHS ON MAIN LEVEL. MOTHER-IN-LAW SUITE IN BASEMENT AS WELL AS AN ADDITIONAL ROOM FOR QUILTING OR CRAFTS.

Lot Features

Land Use (Ranch)
Lot Topography (Rolling)
Sewer Utilities (Septic Sewer System)

Building Features

Basement (Finished Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Central Heating, Electric Heat)

Interior Features

Floors (Carpeting, Vinyl Flooring, Wood Flooring)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Microwave
Refrigerator

Listing Agent

Jo Ellen Thornton
CENTURY 21 Scenic Realty
Cell: 404-680-6549
Work: 706-896-8633
http://joellenthornton.com

310 Barefoot Hills Road, Hiawassee GA, 30546

2012-02-17T10:56:00.000-08:00

310 Barefoot Hills Road, Hiawassee GA, 30546

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-0144-99I800-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

ADORABLE FULLY FURNISHED D-LOG MOUNTAIN CABIN FOR PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME LIVING. BEAUTIFUL YEAR-ROUN D MOUNTAIN VIEWS. 2 BEDROOM/2 BATH. LARGE GREAT ROOM WITH ROCK FIREPLACE AND GAS LOGS ON EACH LEVEL. BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED AND TERRACED YARD. MOTION

Lot Features

Lot Topography (Level, Rolling)
Sewer Utilities (Septic Sewer System)
Water Utilities (Water Supply From Well(s))
Waterfront (Waterfront)

Building Features

Basement (Finished Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Central Heating)

Interior Features

Floors (Carpeting, Tile Flooring, Wood Flooring)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Microwave
Refrigerator
Washer/Dryer

Exterior Features

Exterior Features (Porch)

Listing Agent

Jo Ellen Thornton
CENTURY 21 Scenic Realty
Cell: 404-680-6549
Work: 706-896-8633
http://joellenthornton.com
jethornton@bellsouth.net

5537 Primrose Lane, Young Harris GA, 30582

2012-02-17T10:41:00.000-08:00

5537 Primrose Lane, Young Harris GA, 30582

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-1113-GZX6DJ-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

BEAUTIFUL HOME IN PINECREST WITH GORGEOUS VIEWS IN FRONT AND BACK. NICE OPEN FLOOR PLAN WITH HUGE FL OOR-TO-CEILING WOOD-BURNING FIREPLACE THAT OPENS TO GREAT ROOM WITH BUILT-IN BOOKCASES AND DINING RO OM. LARGE MASTER BEDROOM WITH TREY CEILING.

Lot Features

Lot Topography (Rolling)
Sewer Utilities (Septic Sewer System)

Building Features

Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Central Heating, Gas Heating)
Handicapped Access

Interior Features

Floors (Carpeting, Wood Flooring)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Refrigerator
Washer/Dryer

Exterior Features

Exterior Features (Porch)
Parking (Garage(s))

Listing Agent

Jo Ellen Thornton
CENTURY 21 Scenic Realty
Cell: 404-680-6549
Work: 706-896-8633
http://joellenthornton.com
jethornton@bellsouth.net

1035 Locust, Carthage IL, 62321

2012-02-17T10:01:00.001-08:00

1035 Locust, Carthage IL, 62321

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-2943-8PL5ZV-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

This home is move-in ready. It has been completely remodeled & decorated with neutral decor throughout. The roof was replaced in 2006 as well as the furnace. Water heater new in 2008. All brand new replacement windows throughout. Brand new appliances as well.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.23)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Forced Air Electric Heat)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Microwave
Range/Oven
Refrigerator
Washer/Dryer

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Brick Exterior,Vinyl Siding)
Exterior Features (Covered Porch)
Parking (Attached Garage)
Patio (Patio)

Listing Agent

Brandi Sanderson

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-242-3641

Office 217-641-2995

1035 Locust, Carthage IL, 62321

2012-02-17T07:37:00.000-08:00

1035 Locust, Carthage IL, 62321

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-1731-Y1904H-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Country living in town. This very spacious home is located on 4 lots at the end of a very quiet dead end street. It offers a beautifully landscape yard and an abundance of living space.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (1.34)

Listing Agent

Brandi Sanderson

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-242-3641

Office 217-641-2995

505 N Madison, Carthage IL, 62321

2012-02-17T06:52:00.000-08:00

505 N Madison, Carthage IL, 62321

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-0528-255FC7-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Wow! A lot of home for a great price. 2 beautiful fireplaces, exquisite woodwork. Lovely lot with a gazebo & extra large garage with walk up storage. Must see.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.45)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Finished Basement,Full Basement)
Heating System (Electric Heat)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Range/Oven
Refrigerator

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Vinyl Siding)
Exterior Features (Covered Porch)
Parking (Attached Garage)
Patio (Patio)

Listing Agent

Susan Boyer

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-242-6334

Office 217-641-2995

752 E County Road 2130, Nauvoo IL, 62354

2012-02-17T06:16:00.000-08:00

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-8809-L2YUE7-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Come enjoy the spectacular river view from this unique riverfront home. Nestled on a hill overlooking the Mississippi, this home has been very well maintained. Beautiful view at an affordable price. Call today! Other high school is West Hancock

Listing Agent

Susan Boyer

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-242-6334

Office 217-641-2995

The Importance of Written Proposals

2012-02-07T14:57:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a situation where what you said and what someone else heard was not anywhere close to the same thing? My parent’s favorite quote after 52 years of marriage is “I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”(Robert McCloskey)

In the past, we relied on emails and phone calls to clarify information and then sent an invoice once we came to terms and hoped to be paid when we arrived to shoot the virtual tour. While this worked almost all the time, we did run into a few situations where the client did not understand some aspect of our terms even though I thought I had explained them clearly. This puts both us and the client in an awkward position and has the potential to cause hard feelings down the road.

We started using written proposals for our virtual tour business this year to make sure that what we say and what our client hears is the same thing. Our proposal outlines what we are agreeing to provide and the terms under which we agree to provide it. Once we have confirmed a time and date to shoot and agreed upon a price, I send a confirmation email with the proposal attached and ask that it be signed prior to the shoot.

The proposal is not a lengthy contract and is certainly not binding but it does outline our expectations in a clear, concise bullet form. If there are questions about our terms, I want to be able to address those PRIOR to showing up to shoot.

Vision Quest Virtual Tours provides high definition 360º tours for healthcare, hospitality and education. We have photographed tours in 31 states but when we aren't on the road, we split our time between Charleston, SC and Quincy, IL. For more information or to schedule a tour, visit us at www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com

610 Cedar, Quincy Illinois 62301

2012-01-28T10:13:00.000-08:00

610 Cedar, Quincy Illinois 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-9941-N18KIV-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 186851

Address:
610 Cedar
Quincy, IL 62301

Description:
Nice two story home with a beautiful front porch and tidy lawn. Newer vinyl siding.

Listing Agent,

Carol Rischar

217-740-3989

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

6208 N Hickory Grove, Quincy, IL 62305

2012-01-28T10:01:00.000-08:00

6208 N Hickory Grove, Quincy, IL 62305

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-9117-7476X0-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187549

Address:
6208 N Hickory Grove
Quincy, IL 62305

Description:
Spacious three bedroom ranch on the east edge of Quincy that qualifies for a Rural Development Loan - zero down! This 1800 sq ft ranch features a huge family room with a stone fireplace that could also be a master bedroom or a large formal dining room. This home has some new paint, flooring, some windows, attached garage with so much storage plus a two car carport. Beautiful setting with the yard full of perennials and oak trees. Exterior is brick and cedar.

Listing Agent,

Carol Rischar

217-740-3989

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

3423 Lewis Drive, Quincy, IL 62305

2012-01-28T09:45:00.000-08:00

3423 Lewis Drive, Quincy, IL 62305

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-9307-29BDCF-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187518

Description:
This three bedroom, 1 1/2 bath ranch home is located in a family neighborhood. This home features a large screened in porch right off the kitchen and overlooking a large yard. Extra large 2 car garage with a workshop. Newer roof and a new sump pump. Quick possession on this one. Motivated seller! Buyer's can have inspections but seller is selling "as is."

Listing Agent,

Carol Rischar

217-740-3989

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

500 West Jackson, LaGrange, MO 63448

2012-01-27T09:41:00.000-08:00

500 West Jackson, LaGrange, MO 63448

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-7526-8ULQ3U-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187538

Address:
500 W Jackson
La Grange, MO 63448

Description:

3 Bedroom

1 Bathroom

.33 Acres

1488 Sq Ft

Listing Agent

Donna Collier

(573) 655-4244

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

3810 Harbor Lane, Quincy IL, 62305

2012-01-27T09:02:00.000-08:00

3810 Harbor Lane, Quincy IL, 62305

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-9065-0QZ705-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Wonderful family home in a much desired neighborhood. Cathedral ceilings, pocket doors, 2 fireplaces, lawn irrigation system, open deck and beautiful stone paved patio area just a few of the many attractive assets of this quality built home.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.81)

Building Features

Basement (Finished Basement,Full Basement,Walk-Out Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Disposal
Microwave
Range/Oven

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Brick Exterior)
Exterior Features (Covered Porch)
Parking (Attached Garage)
Patio (Deck(s),Patio)

Listing Agent

Shirley Bower

Bower & Associates, REALTORS®

Cell:217-257-5745

Work:217-224-1598

www.bowerrealtors.com

3510 Cambridge Estates, Quincy IL 62301

2012-01-27T08:47:00.000-08:00

3510 Cambridge Estates, Quincy IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-5609-AXFSPA-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

This home has it all. Top quality and impeccable taste. Spacious ranch among top quality homes. Kitchen with granite countertops. Top quality appliances, cozy family room off kitchen and dining area. Large, formal living and dining with wool berber carpet. Baths have cultured marble countertops, oval jacuzzi with air pumper. Custom window treatments, plantation shutters. Sprinkler system, beautiful exterior porch and lot.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.57)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Full Basement,Unfinished Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Gas Heating)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Microwave
Range/Oven
Refrigerator

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Brick Exterior)
Parking (Attached Garage)
Patio (Patio)

Listing Agent

Shirley Bower

Bower & Associates, REALTORS®

Cell:217-257-5745

Work:217-224-1598

www.bowerrealtors.com

616 Garden Court, Quincy, IL 62301

2012-01-27T08:26:00.000-08:00

616 Garden Court, Quincy, IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-4315-JE3PNA-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Sunroom and large deck overlooking the Quincy Country Club s 16th fairway. Many recent improvements include the roof, carpet, tile, appliances, countertops, bathrooms, and several of the light fixtures. Check out the virtual tour or schedule your visit today.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.12)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Finished Basement,Walk-Out Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Forced Air Electric Heat)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Disposal
Microwave
Range/Oven
Refrigerator

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Brick Exterior,Wood Exterior)
Parking (Attached Garage)
Patio (Deck(s),Patio)

Listing Agent

Jeremy Farlow

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-257-0098

Office 217-641-2995

The importance of Variety in Search Engine Optimization

2012-01-25T14:07:00.001-08:00

Before we started Vision Quest Virtual Tours, I worked for a therapeutic boarding school that had been embroiled in a multi-million dollar lawsuit. The bulk of the lawsuit was thrown out by the judge and a small portion was settled but the mother who initiated the suit had a vendetta that lasted until the school eventually closed. The school survived the lawsuit but did not survive the onslaught of internet attacks that this mother led. A Google search for the school’s name yielded the school’s website first and second and our virtual tour as the third listing but the fourth through seventh items that are returned were negative attacks.

These vicious and somewhat baseless attacks were led by this woman but appeared to come from several disparate sources. Because they seemed to come from a variety of sources, they appeared to have merit in the eyes of the prospective parents I talked to. Since the third item that came up in the Google search was the virtual tour, I was able to separate the truth about the school from much of misinformation that was out there.

We get about 1,500 hits per month to our website but even more importantly than that, we drive those hits from dozens of different sources. My experience at the school made me realize the importance of variety in Search Engine Optimization. We blog regularly and submit our tours and blogs to over 40 different websites and we get lots of web exposure as a result. If you search “Vision Quest Virtual Tours” on Google, there are two full pages about us before anyone else even shows up. This is a big deal because our name Vision Quest and the term Virtual Tours are pretty generic terms that are used by many other companies.

The Google search for our name returns references from 16 different websites in the first three pages alone! Google juice comes from having lots of different backlinks to your website. The fact that someone searching for our name yields returns from not only our website but from 15 other sources on just the first three pages helps to boost our credibility. Many people who do a search for our company aren’t really looking for more information as much as they are for validation that we are who we say we are.

The very first Google result that refers to anything other than our company is on the third page and is titled “Co-Ed Naked Networking on Vision Quest Retreats”. While our web content is scintillating, I am pretty sure that Co-Ed Naked Networking would catch the eye of anyone who is searching the web in the same way that the negative posts caught the eye of people who searched for the school. When someone searches for our company, I want them to be thinking about virtual tours - not co-ed naked networking!

Vision Quest Virtual Tours photographs high definition 360º panoramic virtual tours all over the country. We specialize in the areas of healthcare, hospitality and education. We have photographed tours in 31 states but when we aren’t on the road, we split our time between Charleston, SC and Quincy, IL. Vision Quest Virtual Tours is owned by husband and wife team Greg and Paige Mitts and the only co-ed naked networking we do is with each other! To learn more or to schedule a tour, visit us online at www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com or call us at 404-863-9769.

Virtual Tour Business Models

2012-01-21T09:20:00.003-08:00

There’s an old saying that being an artist is a great way to earn a living as long as you don’t starve to death first. Owning your own virtual tour business is a 100% commission deal. You only get paid if you get someone to buy your services. This can be frustrating for someone who has great technical skills and is a great photographer. It was the same when I was in the financial services world - the most technically proficient and skilled planners were often the worst salespeople and were shocked that no one wanted to use their services.

At Vision Quest Virtual Tours, we have a clearly defined business model that works well for us. Our primary focus is healthcare, hospitality and education. This business model fits well for our unique situation because we have no kids or pets and therefore have the ability to travel on a full time basis. We enjoy shooting real estate virtual tours but until recently we did pursue that business because of our travel schedule. We now have a photographer in our home town whom we trust and who can shoot those tours for us when we are on the road. The great thing about real estate virtual tours is that once the relationship is built, there is the potential for a consistent stream of income.

While what we do works for us, we never want to imply that our business model is ideal for everyone or is the only way. The great thing about owning your own virtual tour business is that you can set up your business however YOU choose. By choosing a great partner like we have in RTV, Inc., we can focus as much or as little time as we want to on our business and still offer a fantastic product.

Our only source of income is virtual tours however there is absolutely nothing wrong with having your virtual tour business be a part time venture and having something else be your core business or main source of income. I believe that there are a few keys to making a part time virtual tour business work.

Differentiate between part time and spare time. If you are working a full time job and/or have a family, then there is really no such thing as spare time. You must be diligent about making time for your business on a consistent basis. If you do nothing other than make one new contact a day, you will eventually see results. Set a finite minimum goal for every week. I prefer to not make that a time goal but instead an objective goal. My goal is to make 100 new contacts a week. Perhaps a part time goal would be to make one new contact every day and a total of 10 for the week. The key is consistency.

Create your unique value proposition. At Vision Quest Virtual Tours, we photograph high quality virtual tours at a reasonable price in the areas of healthcare, hospitality and education. That does not mean that we don’t do other types of tours but by knowing what our value proposition is, I can then target my marketing approach. Your value proposition is based on your specific skills - you can choose to compete based on superior photography skills, being the most efficient and better value, based on knowledge of a specific business, etc.

Count the cost. I talk about this a great deal because I have seen so many people enthusiastically throw their hat into the self employment ring and end up failing miserably because they did not count the cost ahead of time. There is a ramping up period that is inevitable in any new business. Owning a virtual tour business requires a relatively low initial investment compared to other types of businesses but it is also not type of business where the business flows in as soon as you announce you are in business.

Analyze your market. Is there enough demand for what you want to offer in your local area or are you going to have to expand into neighboring communities? We live in a small town with 40,000 people and ours is the largest town in the region. If we were tied only to the local area, there would not be enough business for us to operate long term on a full time basis. We chose where we live because it is centrally located and allows us to easily travel from coast to coast.

Consider the rewards. What if your virtual tour business only generates an extra $500 a month of income? For most people, that amount of money makes a huge difference in their lives. An extra $500 a month would make a huge difference in what type of car you can drive, how quickly you pay off your debt, what kind of vacation you can take, what kind of house you can afford. What would an extra $500 a month do for you?

Having a good business plan is vital to running a successful business in the long run. Again, whether that business is for extra income or your full time job, having a plan lets you measure your success. No one should ever misunderstand us to say that ours is the only viable or worthwhile business model.

Living Your Vision

2012-01-19T09:35:00.000-08:00

Have you found a way to do what you love and get paid for it? Do you have a clear understanding of your natural gifts and abilities?

Plato said, “All things will be produced in superior quantity and quality, and with greater ease, when each man works at a single occupation, in accordance with his natural gifts, and at the right moment, without meddling with anything else.” One of the greatest experiences of my life has been the chance to do work that fits with my natural gifts and even better than that is finding work that combines my natural gifts with my husband’s natural gifts and allows us to work together.

We feel lucky that our ONLY business is Vision Quest Virtual Tours. We found a market that allows us to do nothing other than photograph virtual tours without having to do other types of photography. Because of our crystal clear focus and understanding of what we do well, we are able to produce superior quality work with relative ease.

I watch Greg creating tours and know that if I were to try to do what he does, it would take me four times longer if I didn’t give up in frustration long before then. He is the technical one in our partnership. He knows the shortcuts in Photoshop, he has developed systems to allow him to build multiple tours at the same time, he knows what he is looking for when color correcting an image. By the time Greg is finished creating a virtual tour, he has taken the images through five or six different software programs but he makes it look easy because he is working within his area of expertise.

Greg listens to me on the phones and is amazed at how easy it is for me to talk to people about our virtual tour business. I LOVE calls like the one I got today where the client told me that his web guy said he didn’t need the virtual tour and I got to overcome a laundry list of objections. I have spent hours on the phone over several months and today he finally got it! I was able to answer all of his questions and we are doing 8 virtual tours for him next week. That sort of thing fires me up but I understand that wouldn’t be the case for someone who doesn’t share my natural gifts and skills. Talking to someone 20 or more times before they say yes gives me a huge sense of accomplishment!

If you haven’t already found a way to get paid to do something you love, consider taking the time to write down a description of your ideal lifestyle. What would your work hours be? What would your role be in the company? Who would you work with? What special skills and talents do you bring to the table? Then look at your current life and ask yourself “What is keeping me from living my dream?”

By knowing ahead of time what your vision is, you can recognize it when the right moment comes along.

Vision Quest Virtual Tours provides high quality virtual tours for heathcare, hospitality and education. We have photographed tours in 31 states but when we are not on the road, we split our time between Charleston, SC and Quincy, IL. To learn more or to schedule a tour, visit us online at www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com.

Final Thoughts From The Traveler's Gift

2012-01-17T10:32:00.000-08:00

Many years ago, I was involved with starting a financial services business. We had hundreds of independent agents who sold products through us. These were not our employees but rather a volunteer army who chose to align themselves under our company and use our products and systems. My business partner had much more patience dealing with these people and was an inspiring leader however there was always that one person who could never be satisfied. After dealing with one such problem agent, I said disgustedly, “I don’t know why you let him treat you that way.” I will never forget his response as it has changed the way I view the world. He laughed at my statement and said, “Paige, I don’t have any control over what people do to me. The only thing I can control is how I react.” He passed away almost 7 years ago but those words ring in my ears almost every day and they are perhaps the greatest gift he ever gave me.

I feel like I am writing a book report as I finish my blogs about the Traveler’s Gift, by Andy Andrews, I cannot help but share the valuable insights from this book. The final three Decisions shared in the book are all about choosing how we react to the circumstances of life:

Today I choose to be happy. I am the possessor of a grateful spirit.
I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit. I will forgive myself.
I will persist without exception. I am a person of great faith.

It’s hard sometimes to remember that we choose our attitude. During an extremely difficult time in my life, I made the decision to conquer grief and depression and instead focus only on positive things. I got rid of my cable subscription and made cd’s of only positive and uplifting music to listen to instead. I read books that were positive and every night before I went to bed, I would list the things that I had to be thankful for. The list got longer every day as I began to change my choices and LOOK for things to be thankful for. I began to let go of past hurts and grievances and instead choose to forgive others and myself for mistakes of the past.

Choosing to have a good attitude does NOT mean ignoring the reality and circumstances of your life but rather choosing to focus on what you can change instead of dwelling on what you can’t. There are a million excuses why something can’t be done but there are always at least a handful of reasons why it CAN at least be attempted. If I fail, I want it to be because I tried everything possible to succeed. Only then can I rest knowing that I did my best.

This is not to say that you don't need to carefully consider an endeavor before starting it, it just means that one should weigh the costs and decide whether or not to go for it. We started our virtual tour business at the peak of the recession. We were broke and unemployed and in the middle of a terrible economy but we took advantage of an opportunity and have turned it into the business of our dreams. If we stop to look at the obstacles we face and the odds against us, then we might never have started on this journey and oh what a mistake that would have been!

More Secrets From The Traveler's Gift

2012-01-16T18:59:00.000-08:00

The book The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrew is about Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success and I am reflecting on how these decisions apply to our virtual tour business. I wrote earlier about the first Decision - “The buck stops here. I am responsible for my past and my future.” The next three decisions are somewhat interrelated as they are all about our actions.

The second Decision of the book came from King Solomon and was “I will seek wisdom. I will be a servant to others”. It seems strange that the man who is considered the wisest man ever would advise the traveler to seek wisdom. But there is truth in the idea that the more you learn, the more you realize how little you know. Our virtual tour technology provider, RTV, Inc. has a national conference that we will be attending in May. I will be teaching other virtual tour providers about how to market their virtual tour business but the real reason we are attending is to learn from other virtual tour dealers about their best practices. Even after almost 15 years as a professional photographer, Greg is always open to learn better ways of improving his skills and systems as a photographer.

The third Decision of the book is “I am a person of action. I seize this moment. I choose now.” This decision was shared by a Civil War colonel at a critical time in the war. Given the choice to surrender or charge, the colonel gave the order to charge and in doing so changed the outcome of the war.

Quitting is often a temptation but as the colonel in the book said, “When I am faced with the choice of doing nothing or doing something, I will always choose to act.” Most of us will never face a physical battlefield but we must make this same decision on a daily basis in the battlefields of our minds. Armed with this simple philosophy, we can usually win our battle at least for the day.

I have found a way to work my way through a quagmire is often not to focus on the big picture but instead to break my actions down into manageable pieces. I have a goal of making at least 100 contacts every week and that number can be overwhelming so when faced with the temptation to take a break or quit before the end of the day, I force myself to make 5 more calls. Usually, the 5 turns into 10 and the 10 turns into 20 but by deciding to do SOMETHING, I am often able to get over the hump.

The fourth Decision, “I have a decided heart. My destiny is assured” was shared with the traveler by Christopher Columbus during his journey to find the New World. Armed with little other than a dream, Columbus was passionate about his vision of an undiscovered land. This passion allowed him to push on despite months of travel with no land in sight...and despite the fact that almost everyone thought he was crazy to try.

Having your own business requires just this sort of determination - especially the sales part. Like I said earlier, I know that when I am calling for a new area, I need to make about 100 calls in order to book two or three tours. What that means is that I am going to get no one on the phone or get told NO about 97 times a week. I got an email last week from a business that said they were interested in doing a tour but needed to pass for now. I exclaimed my disappointment and Greg said, “I think sometimes you think everybody that shows any interest is a Yes”.

I realized at that minute that there’s a reason that he’s the photographer and technical guy and I’m the salesman.

He’s right...I absolutely believe that everybody that I talk to would benefit from what I am selling because before I call, I have researched their websites to see if a virtual tour would be a good addition to their marketing efforts. I know the value and quality of our tours so I am absolutely flabbergasted every time someone tells me “No”. If I did not think that way, I would become overwhelmed by the 97 No’s I get and I would want to quit making the calls.

But like Columbus, even though I may not see dry land, I have a clear vision of where I am going and I know without a doubt that if I put in the hours on the phones, the results and my destiny are guaranteed. There are many things you can’t control when you own your own business but you ARE in control of your actions and your attitude.

To learn more about us or to schedule a tour, visit www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com.

If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going Then It Doesn’t Matter Which Road You Take

2012-01-11T19:05:00.000-08:00

“One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. Which road do I take? she asked. Where do you want to go? was his response. I don't know, Alice answered. Then, said the cat, it doesn't matter.” - Alice in Wonderland

Lewis Carroll’s classic “Alice in Wonderland” tells us that if we don’t know where we are going, then it really doesn’t matter what road we are on. Unfortunately, many people run their small businesses with the same philosophy as Alice.

It is easier to get back from somewhere you’ve been than it is to go somewhere you’ve never been before. One of the easiest ways to set your goals at the beginning of the year is to examine what you accomplished the previous year.

At Vision Quest Virtual Tours, we specialize in Healthcare, Hospitality and Education. Our goal is to focus our marketing efforts and business in these specific areas. Our year end numbers prove that these marketing efforts paid off as 90.5% of our business came from those areas. For 2011, 52% of our income came from healthcare virtual tours and boarding school virtual tours. For that same time period, 38.5% of our income came from hospitality - vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts, inns and hotels.

It’s not that we don’t do virtual tours in other areas but because we know what our market is, that is where we focus our efforts. We did about 5.5% of our business last year for residential real estate and the remaining 3% were a variety of different businesses.

Unlike Alice, because where we want to go, we have a much better idea of which road to take...which is a very good thing because in 2011 we photographed 350 virtual tours in 31 states!

To learn more or to schedule a virtual tour, visit www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com or give us a call at 843-410-4017.www.vquestmedia.com

5718 Hwy 6, Taylor, MO 63471

2012-01-11T07:02:00.000-08:00

5718 Hwy 6, Taylor, MO 63471

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-2243-O641X8-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187419

Address:
5718 Hwy 6
Taylor, MO 63471

Description:
Ranch home on 2.1 acres M/L. Three bedrooms. Full unfinished walkout basement with utility area and shower. Hardwood floors in all bedrooms, living and office area. Nice linen closet in bath. Hand crafted kitchen cabinets with pull out shelves. 3x4 pantry in kitchen. 12x16 deck off dining room. Palmyra school district. 15 minutes from Quincy. Older outbuilding, 1000 gallon concrete septic. 1000 gallon propane owned. Electric-REA. Water-public Philadelphia PWSD#2. Gas-you can chose who you buy from.

Listing Agent

Donna Collier

(573) 655-4244

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

Tax Time is Coming!!

2012-01-10T09:11:00.000-08:00

It’s been said that the IRS Tax code is about ten times bigger than the Bible but the difference is that the Tax Code doesn’t contain any good news. In the Bible, Jesus said, “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.” Many people dream of owning their own business but do not really have a plan for determining if that business is going to be viable. In looking at a starting a business, it’s important to look at long range profitability as well as short term viability.

If you are considering starting a business, look not only at the long term profitability but also the short term expenses involved in start up. One of the big downfalls for small businesses is not being prepared for taxes at the end of the year. Because we are self employed, we knew what our end of year income was on 12/31 and because Greg does such a great job as the CFO of our virtual tour business, I also knew exactly what our expenses were for the year. Last week, I gathered all the information for our taxes and did a preliminary estimate of what our tax situation will be.

2011 was our first full year in business so we had no idea what we would owe in taxes therefore we did not send in quarterly estimated payments. With much anticipation and a little apprehension, I calculated our taxes and realized that we are going to end up writing a pretty good check to Uncle Sam. At first I was unhappy that we didn’t have enough write offs to offset more of the taxes but in retrospect, I am pretty excited.

Owing taxes means that Vision Quest Virtual Tours made a significant profit in our first full year in business. We shot 350 tours in 31 states last year so we have almost 39,000 BUSINESS miles that we can write off for the year. At 51 or 55 cents a mile, that is a significant write off. We are able to write off our phones, internet, meals, uniforms, advertising, supplies...if you own your own business, you know that the list goes on. Even after all of the deductions, we still owed a good bit. As hard as it is to write a big check to the IRS, our hope is that we owe twice that much next year because as small business owners, we only pay taxes on our PROFIT!

Starting our virtual tour business was something we did after lots of research and planning. We operated the business on a part time basis the previous year and made enough to cover all of our start up costs. On December 30, 2010, I quit my full time job and we dove headfirst into the self employed world. We went full time only when we knew we had enough consistent and projected income to make the business viable for the first year. Because we had done a great deal of preparation in the year before we pulled the full time plug, we were ready when the opportunity presented itself.

We credit much of our success to having a great partner who allows us to focus on what we do best. Originally established in 1999 as RealtorVision and now RTV, Inc. proudly supports Vision Quest Virtual Tours as well as over 100 thousand real estate agents in 27 countries. They are the largest full service virtual tour and property marketing network in the World and yet allow us the autonomy to run our own business and make our own decisions. With them acting as our back office, we can focus on photographing and building virtual tours and let them focus on things like research and development of new technology and hosting our tours.

If you are considering starting your own business, count the costs and weigh the risks. Statistics will tell you that between 50 - 90% of small business fail within the first year and yet the dream of many people is still to own their own business and defy those odds. We are living proof that the rewards far outweigh the risks!!

Vision Quest Virtual Tours is owned by Greg and Paige Mitts. We specialize in virtual tours for healthcare, hospitality and education. To schedule a tour or learn more, visit us at www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com or give us a call at 843-410-4701.www.vquestmedia.com

The 7 Decisions that Determine Personal Success - Decision 1 -- The Buck Stops Here

2012-01-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading the book “The Traveler’s Gift” by Andy Andrews and it had a profound impact on me. This simple little book describes the journey of a man who travels back through history to learn important lessons from historical figures such as Christopher Columbus and Abraham Lincoln. As I read the book, I couldn’t help but think about how these same lessons apply in my life and business. The subtitle of the book - Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success - refers to these seven lessons.

The first decision was explained by Harry Truman and the lesson is that “The Buck Stops Here” or in other words, we all must take personal responsibility for where we are. Andrews writes, “I am where I am today -- mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially -- because of how I think”. In order to change where I am, I must change how I think.

How I think determines how I act and the decisions I make. The decisions I make today, directly control the outcome of where I am tomorrow. Every day we face the cumulative effect of all the other decisions we have made. I have a terrible habit of staying up way too late which means I wake up late which means I lose valuable business hours. I have the same amount of hours that everyone else does in a day but it’s how I utilize them that determines my success.

Not only must I focus on working hard, I must also work smart. Not all of those hours are equal. Sure it would be a great idea for me to go for a run but right now may not be the ideal time for that. A run would take me away from my desk during business hours and right now I need to be talking to people about virtual tours.

We feel blessed to have a successful virtual tour business, Vision Quest Virtual Tours. We frequently hear people tell us that we are so lucky or that they are jealous of the life we live but many decisions go into our success. Here are 7 of the decisions that were critical in getting us where we are today:

We chose to downsize our stuff so we could supersize our lifestyle. We live in a tiny house with a tiny payment and very little overhead. We have just one car. Because we have chosen to travel, we don’t need a bunch of stuff or a big house. Because we don’t have a bunch of stuff, we are free to travel.
We live entirely on cash and have chosen not to utilize credit cards. This sometimes affects where we are able to travel or the timing of certain purchases but it gives us a sense of certainty in knowing that we haven’t gone into debt to start or run our business. It also means we have to carefully watch our balance sheet to make sure we are keeping the pipeline of future business full.
We decided that one shared income was enough since it meant that we get to work together every single day. There are times we would love to have at least one steady paycheck but this is the risk we chose in being self employed. The rewards greatly outweigh the risks.
We decided that we would focus our time on what we do best. For us that is two main lines of business - healthcare and education and Vacation rentals and hospitality. By having a crystal clear focus, we can streamline our efforts and create an impressive portfolio in those distinct lines.
We dedicated our business to serving others and we give back a portion of every dollar we make. We think “luck” has very little to do with our success so we honor the giver of the gifts through donated tours and charitable contributions.
We decided that we would price our virtual tours in a manner that made the accessible to almost any business. We believe so highly in the value of the virtual tour and have seen what it can do for a business. We would rather have many smaller jobs than try to gouge a few people. We believe that by offering a high quality product at a fair value, everyone wins.
We decided that having the right partner changes everything and we are so grateful that we chose RTV, Inc. for our virtual tour technology. They are constantly evolving and refining their systems so we don’t have to spend any of our time, money or efforts on researching and development. We have a back office that makes us look even better than we are and we are eternally grateful for the support of the RTV team.

These are Seven Decisions that have helped determine our personal success. What are the decisions you have made that have gotten you to where you are today? What decisions could you make that could change where you are tomorrow? I’ll be blogging about the other decisions over this week but for now, it’s business time and I need to get back on the phones.

Vision Quest Virtual Tours is a full service virtual tour provider specializing in virtual tours for Healthcare, Hospitality and Education. We split our time between Charleston, SC and Quincy, IL however have photographed over 350 tours in 31 states.

Vision Quest Virtual Tours - Excellence is Our Standard

2012-01-05T10:11:00.000-08:00

At Vision Quest Virtual Tours, we photograph all of our tours using High Dynamic Range imaging or HDR. HDR provides an incredible level of clarity and detail that is not available in traditional photography. For each individual image, we photograph 9 different exposures and then blend these together to provide an image that shows both the dark and bright areas equally well. To see the difference that HDR makes, take a look at this tour...http://rtvpix.com/BU-0966-L16DVB-01?h=500&w=700

We photographed 350 tours in 31 states last year and drove 39,000 miles to shoot tours. We photograph a wide range of virtual tours and our prices range anywhere from $100 to $2,500 depending on the size and scope of the job. I read a Facebook comment earlier today from a photographer that said that he would not consider shooting using HDR unless it was on a higher price tour because he felt like it was extra work and the extra time made it cost prohibitive.

That confounds me! We pride ourselves on providing an excellent product no matter if we are shooting a one bedroom condo or a huge hospital. Like I said earlier, we charge according to the scope of the job but every single image we shoot is photographed using the 9 exposure technique because it gives us the best results every time...and we think that's why our customers choose to work with us!

By the time we publish a virtual tour, we will have used no less than 6 different software programs to create the end result. Because of the volume we do, we have streamlined our processes and invested in our systems so that in actuality it takes us almost the same amount of time to shoot a tour using HDR as it does to shoot without it. Even if it does take a little longer, we find it easier to just do our best work every time and trust that it will all even out in the end.

Vision Quest Virtual Tours specializes in virtual tours for Healthcare, Hospitality and Education. When we are not on the road, we split our time between Charleston, SC and Quincy, IL. To learn more or to schedule a tour, give us a call at 404-863-9769 or visit us online at www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com.

318 Lincoln Hill NW Quincy,IL 62301

2011-12-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

318 Lincoln Hill NW Quincy,IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-1895-IZJGVD-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Lots of room!! Beautiful setting on creek with large lot (.43 acres). 3 large bedrooms and full finished walkout basement. Mature trees. Gas fireplace.

Two car garage. Central vac system. Deck overlooking backyard..dishwasher, trash compactor and all appliances stay...Move right in!!

Bedrooms: 3

Full Bathrooms: 3

Full Finished Basement

SQ ft. Est:1946 m/l

Listing Agent

Linda Snider, Realtor®

Cell Phone: 217-257-0126

Davis & Associates, Inc.

http://www.davisrealtor.com/

1112 Broadway

Quincy, IL 62301

	217-224-8100
	217-223-3235

2315 Aldo Boulevard, Quincy IL 62301

2011-12-22T10:16:00.001-08:00

2315 Aldo Boulevard, Quincy IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-6716-18OIWC-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com


Wonderful full masonry home. Only 2 owners until now. Carport and garage. Property Details Address: 2315 Aldo Boulevard City: Quincy State: IL ZIP: 62301 MLS #: 187426 Square Feet: 1864 Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms: 1.5

Listing Agent

Mike Happel, GRI
217-242-6090 — cell

Happel Inc., Realtors
3837 East Lake Centre
Suite 300
Quincy, IL 62301
217-224-8383

http://www.happelrealtors.com

105 Woodlawn Road, Quincy, IL 62301

2011-12-22T09:53:00.000-08:00

105 Woodlawn Road, Quincy, IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-2340-EGGQG7-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187449

Address:
105 Woodlawn Road
Quincy, IL 62301

Description:
Style and charm throughout this completely remodeled home. So much living space with open floor plan. Beautiful refinished hardwood floors, open staircase, crown molding, 2 fireplaces, 2 screened-in patios for outdoor entertaining, large island in kitchen, M/F laundry. Very unique decor. Fenced yard. Close to everything, but on a very quiet street. Ready to move in. Home warranty with acceptable offer.

Listing Agent

Sherry Hills

217-740-6820

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

2410 Hampshire, Quincy, IL 62301

2011-12-22T09:45:00.000-08:00

2410 Hampshire, Quincy, IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-6011-3VDW3J-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187385

Address:
2410 Hampshire
Quincy, IL 62301

Description:
This home was completely stripped down to studs in 2007. Everything in it is new! There is a fresh clean flow to the home with a very open floor plan. Lots of extras including crown molding, tray ceiling, cathedral ceilings, new real hardwood, granite countertop, breakfast bar, lg walk-in closet off master suite with closet organizers. Energy efficient with 90 plus furnace and tons of insulation. Great floor plan. Fenced in side yard. Next to school playground and parks.

Listing Agent

Sherry Hills

217-740-6820

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

1011 College, Canton, MO 63435

2011-12-22T09:35:00.000-08:00

1011 College, Canton, MO 63435

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-1295-YK62BB-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187357

Address:
1011 College
Canton, MO 63435

Description:
Beautifully remodeled 3 story brick home. Wood fireplace with decorative wood mantel in living. Wood beams in ceiling of living and dining room and wonderful refinished hardwood floors. 5x6 bath main floor. Main floor laundry. Living room and dining room separated by wood pillars and built in secretary and china cabinet. Open staircase to level 2. Master bath 9x8 with French doors to master bedroom. Maser walk in closet with built n drawers 10x10. Level 3 could be a 4th bedroom or family room with closet and 1/2 bath is 5x5. All modern amenities with classic turn of the century charm. Call for list of improvements.

Listing Agent

Donna Collier

(573) 655-4244

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

uincy, IL

221 N Rangeline, Lima IL, 62348

2011-12-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

221 N Rangeline, Lima IL, 62348

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-4187-AFP5AN-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Very well maintained home on over an acre. Also a 40x48 building can be used for many purposes. Many updates in last 8 years including roof, siding, and much more.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (1.6)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Full Basement,Walk Up Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Forced Air Gas Heating)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Range/Oven
Refrigerator
Washer/Dryer

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Vinyl Siding)
Parking (Detached Garage)
Patio (Deck(s))

Listing Agent

Brandi Sanderson

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-242-3641

Office 217-641-2995

2712 Oak St, Quincy, IL 62301

2011-12-22T08:39:00.001-08:00

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http://rtvpix.com/RE-2367-D4KAOE-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187212

Address:
2712 Oak
Quincy, IL 62301

Description:
Cute home with tons of living space all on one level. New roof, patio, fenced yard new flooring electric, windows and more. Must see.

Listing Agent

Sherry Hills

217-740-6820

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

1011 Spring Lake Court, Quincy, IL 62305

2011-12-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-2841-QITG1Z-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187167

Address:
1011 Spring Lake Court
Quincy, IL 62305

Description:
Two story, English Tudor family home. Large, professionally landscaped, corner lot has a golf course view. Over 4000 sf of living area plus over 1800 sf finished in the lower level. A grand entry foyer with open staircase to second floor. Main floor formal living & dining, eat-in-kitchen, family room, den, laundry & bath. Covered patio & private, composite deck off of master bedroom suite. A quality, custom home.

Listing Agent

Don Frese

217-430-2900

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

3025 Lindell Avenue, Quincy, IL 62301

2011-12-22T08:19:00.000-08:00

3025 Lindell Avenue, Quincy, IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-6677-EUCYLQ-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187342

Description:
Immaculate home. This maintenance free home features newer windows, high efficiency furnace, spacious living room, formal dining room with hardwood flooring, 3 bedroom with nice hardwood flooring, tons of storage in the basement, large lower level family room, and a newer roof. Insulation was recently added to the attic area making this home energy efficient with low utilities. Nothing to do-just move in. Home is priced below recent appraisal.

Listing Agent,

Carol Rischar

217-740-3989

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

2210 Aldo Blvd, Quincy, IL 62301

2011-12-22T08:03:00.000-08:00

2210 Aldo Blvd, Quincy, IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-0903-0SW6J0-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Definitely one-of-a kind in Quincy, unbelievable interior. Main floor is open and inviting to either the newly remodeled kitchen or the 18' ceiling in the great room with floor to ceiling windows. The two door garage has a life for a third car. New HVAC in 2007. The roof in rubber membrane, new in 2010. Check out the virtual tour and then call to see it.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.41)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Partial Basement,Unfinished Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Forced Air Gas Heating)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Disposal
Microwave
Range/Oven
Refrigerator

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Stucco Exterior)
Parking (Attached Garage)
Patio (Patio)

Listing Agent

Jeremy Farlow

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-257-0098

Office 217-641-2995

3202 Timberline Drive, Quincy, IL 62305

2011-12-06T17:33:00.000-08:00

3202 Timberline Drive, Quincy, IL 62305

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-1018-TU697G-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Massive, open, vaulted living room with views to the kitchen, open 2nd story steps, entry, and dining room. Main floor master bedroom suite. Four bedrooms upstairs with full bath. Two additional rooms in basement with open entertaining areas. This home is priced to sell in today's market subject to owners finding suitable housing. Come take a look today.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.79)

Building Features

Basement (Finished Basement,Full Basement,Walk-Out Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Interior Features

Interior Construction (Wet Bar)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Microwave
Range/Oven
Refrigerator

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Brick Exterior,Vinyl Siding)
Exterior Features (Covered Porch)
Parking (Attached Garage)
Patio (Deck(s),Patio)

Listing Agent

Jeremy Farlow

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-257-0098

Office 217-641-2995

417 South 14th, Quincy, IL 62301

2011-12-06T17:18:00.001-08:00

417 South 14th, Quincy, IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-9931-19OK9C-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Finally a Historic Home with all the charm you expect with nothing left to do! Beautiful hardwood floors, working pocket doors, open staircase, unpainted trim, spacious family room addition, updated kitchen, wine cellar in basement, new roof last year, buried fencing for dogs, flowers, and so much more.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.18)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Full Basement,Walk Up Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Forced Air Gas Heating)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Disposal
Microwave
Range/Oven
Refrigerator

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Brick Exterior)
Exterior Features (Covered Porch)
Parking (Detached Garage)
Patio (Patio)

Listing Agent

Jeremy Farlow

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-257-0098

Office 217-641-2995

1223 Granite Court, Quincy, IL 62305

2011-12-06T17:04:00.001-08:00

1223 Granite Court, Quincy, IL 62305

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-6406-FMEYWH-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Everybody talks about quality and custom features, you ll notice this home has both from the moment you see the house. From the hidden things like the R20 insulated walls and R46 insulated attic to the things you can see like the hand-scraped distressed hickory floors, custom-cushion close cherry cabinets, marble counters, ornate trim, and wrought iron stair balusters. The home has a full basement finishable to 9 ceilings with walk-up stairs to garage, egress window for future bedroom, and rough in for future full bath. Don t forget about the 12 x20 composite deck. Come take a look.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.55)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Full Basement,Unfinished Basement,Walk Up Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Disposal
Microwave
Range/Oven

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Brick Exterior,Vinyl Siding)
Parking (Attached Garage)
Patio (Deck(s))

Listing Agent

Jeremy Farlow

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-257-0098

Office 217-641-2995

1620 Wellington Court, Quincy, IL 62305

2011-12-06T16:54:00.000-08:00

1620 Wellington Court, Quincy, IL 62305

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-5969-C642MW-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Everything you want; incredible curb appeal, custom black walnut kitchen cabinets with granite countertops, cool touch stove top, double convection ovens, maple hardwood throughout kitchen-walk-in pantry-main floor laundry area, custom built bookshelves surrounding gas fireplace, huge windows providing amazing light, 10' ceilings in the finished basement, garage door into basement for yard equipment...come take a look before it's too late.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.37)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Finished Basement,Full Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Forced Air Gas Heating)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Interior Features

Security System (Security System)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Disposal
Microwave
Range/Oven

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Brick Exterior,Vinyl Siding)
Parking (Attached Garage)
Patio (Deck(s),Patio)

Listing Agent

Jeremy Farlow

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-257-0098

Office 217-641-2995

3428 Greenspointe Parkway, Quincy, IL 62301

2011-12-06T16:45:00.000-08:00

3428 Greenspointe Parkway, Quincy, IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-0099-07IJ9N-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

This European styled home with weeping mortar brick and stone work sits on a large lot with mature trees, giving it the old world ambiance of being built many years ago. Elegant stone entrance with 8' arched mahogany double doors open in to the two-story foyer. Oversized great room features an 18' ceiling and 18' stone fireplace. Arched stone posts flank the formal dining, kitchen and great rooms. We're asking that showings be scheduled for qualified buyers only.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.63)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Full Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Interior Features

Security System (Security System)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Disposal
Microwave
Range/Oven
Refrigerator

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Brick Exterior,Stone Exterior,Stucco Exterior)
Exterior Features (Covered Porch)
Parking (Attached Garage)
Patio (Patio)

Listing Agent

Jeremy Farlow

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-257-0098

Office 217-641-2995

3540 Payson Rd, Quincy, IL 62305

2011-12-06T16:30:00.001-08:00

3540 Payson Rd, Quincy, IL 62305

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-7629-ZOD4KY-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Small acreage on edge of Quincy. Old farmhouse and barn made new! New roof, windows, gutters, kitchen cabinets, carpet, refinished floors, insulation...within 3 yrs. New wiring, two furnace and AC units, water heater...within 6 yrs. The work is done. Come see for yourself.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (1.8)
Water Utilities (Well Water)

Building Features

Basement (Unfinished Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Forced Air Gas Heating)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Microwave

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Brick Exterior)
Parking (Detached Garage)

Listing Agent

Jeremy Farlow

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-257-0098

Office 217-641-2995

729 Birdie Lane, Quincy, IL 62305

2011-12-06T16:21:00.001-08:00

729 Birdie Lane, Quincy, IL 62305

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-4201-NLMQE0-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 186983

Address:
729 Birdie Lane
Quincy, IL 62305

Description:
Ranch style on corner lot with sprinkler system, fencing, professionally landscaped and large new deck with hot tub. Three car garage, full basement with family room, rec. room, workshop and storage. Main level, new hardwood and laminate floors, new light fixtures and ceiling fans updated and remodeled kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and hallway.

Listing Agent

Don Frese

217-430-2900

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

507 County Road 145, Maywood, MO 63454

2011-12-06T15:57:00.000-08:00

507 County Road 145, Maywood, MO 63454

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-6510-KQ22UJ-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187200

Address:
507 County Road 145
Maywood, MO 63454

Description:
10x22 three season sunroom, 6x25 covered porch, 7 acre stocked lake with boat dock, 2 acre pond; new, 18 acres of timber, 5 acres in CRP, 6 acres open. Missouri Rural Elect Co Op, pellet stove in rec room conveys, jacuzzi tub & steam shower in master bath, hardwood flooring is bamboo, house in custom built with vaulted and nine ft ceilings, cherry cabinets, granite counters and more.

Listing Agent

Don Frese

217-430-2900

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

1028 S. 24th, Quincy, IL 62301

2011-12-06T15:40:00.001-08:00

1028 S. 24th, Quincy, IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-7151-V2HN81-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS #187292

Address:
1028 S. 24th
Quincy, IL 62301

Description:
Two-story single family home has been newly remodeled inside and out.

Listing Agent

Sherry Hills

217-740-6820

Davis & Frese Inc, Realtors®

2310 Broadway St

Quincy, Il 62301

http://www.davisfrese.com

217-223-9700

2243 N. 2903rd Lane, Clayton, IL 62324

2011-12-06T15:31:00.001-08:00

2243 N. 2903rd Lane, Clayton, IL 62324

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-4000-7FX7IE-01?h=500&w=700

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

This dream home with 4 br, 4 ba, features 3 living rooms, sunroom, weight room, and an entire additional attached mother-in-law quarters with own ground level entrance including its own full kitchen & laundry facility. This home has many new items, including: roof, paint/stain on the entire outside of home, furnace with warranty, kitchen sink and faucet in main kitchen, stove, stainless microwave, carpet, paint inside of house, built-in surge protection, and the list goes on. Less than 30 miles to Quincy Walmart you can live in your dream! Turnkey ready for you. Just call for your appointment today.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (20)
Waterfront (Pond)

Building Features

Basement (Finished Basement,Full Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Dishwasher
Microwave
Range/Oven
Refrigerator

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Log Exterior)
Exterior Features (Covered Porch)
Parking (Detached Garage)
Patio (Deck(s))

Listing Agent

Jeremy Farlow

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-257-0098

Office 217-641-2995

242 Schofield, Carthage IL 62301

2011-11-28T18:04:00.003-08:00

242 Schofield, Carthage IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-3385-NVRXV3-01

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Beautiful home with so much to offer! Extra large master suite, fireplace, skylights, vinyl privacy fence, and more! Tastefully done with a sound system indoor and out. Comes with a 1 yr home warranty-a must see. Other room is a bonus room.

Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.45)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Finished Basement,Full Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Forced Air Gas Heating)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Interior Features

Interior Construction (Skylight(s))

Appliances

Dishwasher
Disposal
Microwave
Range/Oven
Refrigerator

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Vinyl Siding)
Exterior Features (Covered Porch)
Parking (Attached Garage,Detached Garage)
Patio (Deck(s),Patio)
Pool (Above Ground Pool)

Listing Agent

Susan Boyer

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-242-6334

Office 217-641-2995

526 Locust, Carthage IL 62301

2011-11-28T17:47:00.001-08:00

526 Locust, Carthage IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-3146-U7V78Z-01

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Beautifully redone Victorian home in Carthage, Illinois. Completely remodeled inside with a large kitchen with high end appliances and built in wine cooler. Four bedrooms and three full baths, fireplace, wonderful master suite and a great deck for entertaining. Set across from a park this home has the perfect blend of historic heritage with modern appeal. Must see!
Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.33)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Full Basement)
Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Electric Heat,Hot Water Heat)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Interior Features

Interior Construction (Skylight(s))

Appliances

Dishwasher
Disposal
Microwave
Range/Oven
Washer/Dryer

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Vinyl Siding,Wood Exterior)
Exterior Features (Covered Porch)
Parking (Detached Garage)
Patio (Deck(s),Patio)

Listing Agent

Susan Boyer

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-242-6334

2010 Jefferson, Quincy IL 62301

2011-11-28T17:32:00.000-08:00

2010 Jefferson, Quincy IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-9557-7M0N6M-01

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Well-maintained home on a nice location with a fenced in yard extra large 2 car garage with attic storage. Home has had a new roof in 2009. Must see soon.
Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.22)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Cooling System (Central Air Conditioning)
Heating System (Forced Air Gas Heating)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Range/Oven
Refrigerator

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Vinyl Siding)
Parking (Detached Garage)
Patio (Patio)

Listing Agent

Susan Boyer

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-242-6334

Office 217-641-2995

1117 Chestnut, Quincy IL 62301

2011-11-28T17:15:00.000-08:00

1117 Chestnut, Quincy IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-2071-YLHRQ1-01

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Adorable home with spacious fenced in yard. Gorgeous butternut woodwork. Double garage, office or nursery on 2nd level. Great value!
Lot Features

Lot Dimensions (0.15)
Water Utilities (City Water)

Building Features

Basement (Partial Basement)
Heating System (Forced Air Gas Heating)
Roof (Asphalt/Fiberglass Shingle)

Appliances

Range/Oven
Refrigerator

Exterior Features

Exterior Construction (Aluminum Siding,Brick Exterior)
Exterior Features (Covered Porch)
Parking (Detached Garage)
Patio (Deck(s))

Listing Agent

Susan Boyer

Farlow Realty

http://www.farlowrealty.com/

Mobile 217-242-6334

Office 217-641-2995

Don't Let Someone Else Tell Your Story

2011-10-31T09:49:00.000-07:00

Many years ago, I was involved in negotiations to sell a privately owned company to a publicly traded company for $6 million. The negotiations had gone on for over a year and the final vote of the board of directors was scheduled. The night before his final presentation at that meeting, the owner and CEO of our company got a phone call that his father had died. The meeting went on without him and someone else made his final presentation for him. In the confusion, the wrong materials were presented at the meeting and the deal fell apart.

I learned from this was that when you are making a sale -- whether it be a $6 million sale or a $60 sale -- no one can tell your story better than you. This is a lesson I have never forgotten and keep in mind when I am making sales calls. I believe that I can tell my story with a good voice mail but it’s not unusual to find a business where the person I am trying to reach does not have voice mail and I am asked if I want to leave a message.

My answer to the question “Can I take a message?” is to simply and politely say that it would probably be easier if I just call back. I usually say, “Why don’t I just call her back in case I get back on the phone. That way we don’t have to play phone tag” and then I ask when might be a good time to try back. I tell the person taking the message who I am and who my company is but then explain that I would prefer to explain what we do and it would be much easier for me to tell that story than ask the receptionist to do it for me.

When I get the chance to talk to a decision maker, I am pretty good at sharing my passion for what we offer in a way that convinces them of the value of a virtual tour for their business. The challenge is trying to share that passion in a little pink message slip to be interpreted and conveyed by someone else. This is what I must do when I am asked to leave a message and my preference is not to take that risk.

There are many reasons I want to be the one telling our story. I am passionate about our virtual tour business. I am lucky to work with my husband who is also my best friend and I am very proud of his talent as a professional photographer. We have an incredible portfolio and have worked with leaders in the industries we represent. I have seen firsthand what having a virtual tour can do for a business.

Again, I find it helpful to tell the person on the phone who I am, what we do and why I am calling because the main job of a receptionist is to act as the gatekeeper and keep pesky salesmen like me from bothering decision makers. By befriending the person answering the phone, I greatly increase my chances of getting through the next time I call.

Vision Quest Virtual Tours is located in Quincy, IL. We provide virtual tours in Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa as well as all over the country. We specialize in healthcare, hospitality and education as well as residential and commercial real estate. To learn more or to schedule a tour, visit our website at www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com or give us a call at 404-863-9769.

607 S 17th, Quincy IL 62301

2011-10-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

607 S 17th, Quincy IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-7636-45WP4D-01

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 187124

Address:
607 S 17th
Quincy, IL 62301

Description:
Charming 2 to 3 bedroom, 2 full bath home featuring original woodwork and hardwood flooring. Large eat in kitchen plus a spacious dining room with beautiful pocket doors leading into the living room. Interior has been completely repainted and there is newer carpet in the upstairs bedrooms. New roof in 2007 plus a new patio and back sidewalk and vinyl fencing. Insulation has been added to the attic plus a new central air in 05. Lots of storage plus an upstairs walk in closet. Seller's are providing a year's home warranty. Excellent location. Exterior is half-brick.

Listing Agent

Carol Rischar

217-740-3989

4110 Rebecca Court, Quincy IL 62305

2011-10-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

4110 Rebecca Court, Quincy IL 62305

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-8413-CU29XO-01

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com


Listing ID: MLS 186896 Address: 4110 Rebecca Court Quincy, IL 62305

Description:
Well maintained 3 bedroom brick ranch on corner lot in a quiet subdivision! Open floor plan with formal dinning room, main floor laundry & a whole house intercom stereo system. The master suite offers walk-in shower, whirlpool & large walk-in closet. The newly finished basement offers a cozy family room, recreation room, office & built-in closets. Directly behind the lower level office is an additional large walk-in storage room. Enjoy the evenings on your patio while viewing the impressive landscaped private corner lot filled with numerous flowers and perennials.

Listing Agent

Janet Arns

217-617-0751

3425 Wynvalley Road, Quincy IL 62305

2011-10-19T19:41:00.001-07:00

3425 Wynvalley Road

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-4039-R4TQA7-01

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 186370

Address:
3425 Wynvalley Road
Quincy, IL 62305

Price: $315,000

Status: Available

Description:
Custom built ranch. 1 owner home quality throughout. Solid surface countertops. Double sided fireplace. Formal dining plus large eat in kitchen. S steel appliance. Geo thermo heat which makes this large family home very energy efficient. Full finished L/L. Oversized 3 car garage. Reverse osmosis. Large master suite w/ jacuzzi air tub. Handicap accessible throughout the home. Edge of town corner lot makes this home very desirable. Furnace has a 10 year warranty. Home has a 1 year warranty.

Listing Agent

	Sherry Hills
	217-740-6820

1627 Hampshire, Quincy, IL 62301

2011-10-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

1627 Hampshire, Quincy, IL 62301

Take a virtual tour

http://rtvpix.com/RE-8535-YESCBJ-01

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 186927

Address:
1627 Hampshire
Quincy, IL 62301

Price: $149,900

Status: Available

Description:
Classic historical with all the old world charm, ornate wood work, 2 beautiful fireplaces, french doors. Newer roof complete tear off, updated HVAC high efficiency. Original hardwood floors throughout. 2 light & airy sunrooms, private deck off master suite, jacuzzi tub, mother-in law suite or could be used for rental. Partially finished lower level with workshop. Multiple large crystal chandeliers beautiful landscaped with fountain & pond. Very private yard 3 - car garage. Large front porch with porch swing.

Listing Agent

	Sherry Hills
	217-740-6820

2009 Madison, Quincy, IL 62301

2011-10-19T19:08:00.001-07:00

2009 Madison, Quincy, IL 62301

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http://rtvpix.com/RE-1285-3XPZ3O-01

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

Listing ID: MLS 186724

Address:
2009 Madison
Quincy, IL 62301

Description:
Warm charming-tastefully decorated 3 bedroom 2 full bath historical home. This home features original woodwork, hardwood flooring, built in desk and bookcases in the spacious living/family room combination. Adorable, updated kitchen, formal dining room, two updated baths, but one with the original claw foot tub. Family room in the lower level with new carpet. Plenty of closets and storage-huge patio-nice landscaping with a waterfall, 2 car garage, fenced in play area-and all of this sitting on two lots. Quick possession on this well cared for home. Wonderful South end location! 2nd parcel #23-3-0360-000-00.

Listing Agent:	Carol Rischar
Agent Phone:	217-740-3989

3801 Lancaster Ln, Quincy, IL 62305

2011-10-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

3801 Lancaster Ln, Quincy, IL 62305

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http://rtvpix.com/RE-7134-ZA7GFC-01

Virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

County: Adams
Approximately 0.87 acre(s)
4 total full bath(s)
3 stories
Family room
Kitchen
Master Bedroom is 11x14
Living room is 11x14
Dining room is 14x14
Family room is 15x18
Kitchen is 15x17
Den is 15x18
Pool features: Pool In Ground
4 car garage(s)
Attached parking
Forced air heat
Cooling features: Central A/C
Approximate lot is 140x267.72x140x270.26
Lot size is between 1/2 and 1 acre
Utilities present: Septic Sewer, Mill Creek
Elementary School: Monroe
High School: Quincy
Dining room
Den
Living Room
Master Bedroom
Parking features: Detached
Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave, Range/Stove, Refrigerator, Trash Compactor, Finished Basement, Full Basement, Walkout Basement, Breakfast Nook, Ceiling Fan(s), Master Bath, Water Softener, Wet Bar, Whirlpool, Bedroom is 11x14, Bedroom is 11x11, Bedroom is 16x16, Bedroomis 13x14, Recreation Room is 15x20

Listing by

Mike Happel

Happel Inc., REALTORS

217-224-8383 -- office

217-242-6090 -- cell

Virtual Tours for Auctions

2011-09-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

Vision Quest Virtual Tours has just finished our first virtual tour for Sullivan Auctioneers, LLC . Sullivan Auctioneers does anywhere from three to 10 estate sales every week. The items for auction include homes and farmland but also tools, collectibles, antiques and furniture, cars, farm equipment and much more.

The auctioneers list the information about the auction in the local newspaper, create a flyer, and post pictures and information on their website. Prior to the sale, they catalog the items and hold a preview day prior to the sale where people can come by and take a look. As with many real estate open houses, the people who come to the open house are often curious neighbors and not seriously interested prospects.

A virtual tour is a perfect way to provide a preview of the items for sale as well as show the property that is included in the auction. We did our first virtual tour for them yesterday and were thrilled with the results. The house is being remodeled so we will go back once it is done and take the interior pictures of the home but this tour allows someone to get a great idea of what is being offered without having to go to the preview day.(click here to view the tour)

We have priced the auction tours a little higher than a plain real estate tour since we will be doing more stills of particular items. We are looking forward to creating a great partnership with Sullivan Auctioneers and the best news is I get a sneak peek at what is going to be in the auction!

Vision Quest Virtual Tours provides high quality 360º real estate virtual tours in Quincy, IL and the surrounding areas. We focus nationally on healthcare virtual tours, school virtual tours, bed and breakfast virtual tours. To learn more, visit our website at www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com or give us a call at 404-863-9769.

1817 Van Buren, Quincy Illinois 62301

2011-09-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

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http://rtvpix.com/RE-5237-21L7DV-01

Property Details

Beds 4 bed Baths 3 bath
House Size 2400 sq ft Lot Size 0.25 Acres
Price $149,900 Price/sqft $62
Property Type
Single Family Home
Year Built 2009
Neighborhood Not Available Style Not Available
Stories 2 Garage 2
Property Features
Status: Active County: AdamsApproximately 0.25 acre(s)2 total full bath(s)1 total half bath2 storiesKitchenMaster Bedroom is 17x17Living room is 18x24Dining room is 10x19Kitchen is 14x192 car garage(s)Forced air heatCooling features: Central A/CApproximate lot is 40x180Lot size is less than 1/2 acreUtilities present: City Sewer, City WaterElementary School: AdamsHigh School: QuincyDining roomLiving RoomMaster Bedroom Parking features: Detached
Fireplace Features Fireplace Electric
Heating Features Natural Gas Water Heater
Exterior Construction Vinyl, Crawl Space
Roofing Asphalt/Fiberglass
Interior Features Dishwasher, Disposal, Microwave, Range/Stove, Refrigerator, Ceiling Fan(s), Main Floor Laundry, Master Bath, Bedroom is 11x12, Bedroom is 11x13, Bedroom is 11x12
Exterior Features Alley Access, Deck, Patio

Listing By

Spencer Schelp
Happel Realtors
http://www.happelrealtors.com
217-823-3110

3000 Saddlebrook, Quincy Illinois 62305

2011-09-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

Take a virtual tour created by http://www.visionquestvirtualtours.com

http://rtvpix.com/RE-6950-EKEF9X-01

Property Details

Beds Baths House Size Lot Size Price Price/sqft Property Type Year Built Neighborhood Style Stories Garage Property Features Fireplace Features Heating Features Exterior Construction Roofing Interior Features Exterior Features
5 bed 5 bath
4122 sq ft 1.18 Acres
$700,000 $170
Single Family Home
2010

Status: ActiveCounty: AdamsApproximately 1.18 acre(s)4 total full bath(s)1 total half bath2 storiesFamily roomKitchenMaster Bedroom is 15x18Living room is 12x13Dining room is 14x22Family room is 16x18Kitchen is 14x17Den is 12x123 car garage(s)Attached parkingCooling features: Central A/CLot size is between 1 and 2 acresUtilities present: Septic Sewer, Mill CreekElementary School: MonroeHigh School: QuincyDining roomDenMaster BedroomLiving Room
Fireplace Gas
Geo Thermal, Electric Water Heater
Brick, Stone
Asphalt/Fiberglass
Dishwasher, Microwave, Range/Stove, Refrigerator, Finished Basement, Full Basement, Walkup Basement, Breakfast Nook, Ceiling Fan(s), Main Floor Laundry, Master Bath, Sump Pump, Water Softener, Wet Bar, Whirlpool, Bedroom is 11x15, Bedroomis 13x15, Bedroom is 12x12, Bedroom is 14x17
Landscaped, Patio, Porch Covered, Sprinkler System

Listing by
Mike Happel
Happel Inc., REALTORS
217-224-8383 -- office
217-242-6090 -- cell

Is Your Website Just a Glorified Business Card?

2011-09-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

How many times have you gone in a store and had a salesperson approach you with the same question, “May I help you?” The standard answer is usually, “No thank you, I’m just looking” even if you are there for a specific reason. Until we have decided that we want to do business with someone, we don’t want to be engaged or hounded by them.

As the internet has evolved, so have our expectations for websites. Remember when people used to ask you if you HAD a website? Now having a website is a given -- if you have a phone number and a business card, you probably should have a website. The internet has provided us a virtual mall where we can browse around and get a real understanding of our options before actually actually engaging the services of a particular business.

The problem is that many websites today are nothing more than a glorified business card. The days of just putting pictures and text on your website and asking people to decipher your message are over. We are so inundated with data that we no longer want to sift through pages of information to find out who you are and what you charge. As I research prospective customers for our virtual tour business, I am amazed at how often I have to search multiple pages just to find the phone number for the facility much less the name of someone to talk to. Now granted, I am on the website trying to get this information so that I can sell our virtual tour services to them but MOST people are on a company’s website as potential customers for THEIR services.

Whether we are talking about healthcare facilities and treatment programs, vacation rentals or residential real estate, there is no shortage of competition for business in today’s market. Most people use internet searches to create a “short list” of options to call later. I know that’s what I do. Once I have created a short list, I go back and review all the detailed information to help me further narrow down my choices. Most of the time, I want a quick overview from the home page that answers my basic questions -- who is this business, what do they do, what makes them special and who do I need to talk to if I am interested.

A virtual tour is a one click way to answer many of those questions. If the information on the home page interests me, I will then go on to read the rest. By providing an automatic overview of the program, home or business, the virtual tour allows the prospective customer a chance to walk around without a pesky salesman asking “Can I help you?”

Vision Quest Virtual Tours provides high quality 360º virtual tours for healthcare, hospitality and education. We specialize in virtual tours for therapeutic residential treatment programs but we work with any business that wants to give their customers a chance to “look around”. We are located in Quincy, IL but work with businesses all over the country. Visit us online at www.VisionQuestVirtualTours.com to see why businesses in over 30 states have chosen us as their marketing partner.