Why Use Mouse On House?

1. What are the benefits of using Mouse On House?
2. My house is so small. What can Mouse On House do for me?

Photography

1. When will photographs of my property be taken?
2. What should I do to prepare my property before Mouse On House takes the photographs?
3. Once the photographs are taken, how long will it take before I can access them and see the tour on the website?
4. Does someone need to be on site at the property when the photographs are taken?
5. May I use the photographs taken by Mouse On House?
6. Are the photographs print quality?
7. Can I get new photographs taken, or supply substitutions, if I remodel my property?
8. Can I get a copy of the photographs at the time of the shoot?

Show Ready Tips

Floor Plans

1. Do I need to supply Mouse On House with a floor plan of my property?
2. How is the square footage calculated?

Linking Your Mouse On House Property

1. May I link my Mouse On House property to my personal website?
2. May I link my Mouse On House property to a real estate agency's Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?
3. May I link my Mouse On House tour to Realtor.com?

Making the Most Out of Mobile

1. What is the difference between a website I see using my computer and one on a smartphone?
2. How do I get a mobile virtual property tour and how much does it cost?
3. What website address (URL) do I give customers for a mobile tour?
4. What if my agent or company website doesn’t have a mobile version yet?
5. I hear a lot about mobile applications, why didn’t you develop a Mouse On House app that supports your tours?
6. Do I need to do anything special in MRIS to use the mobile version?
7. Does MRIS have a mobile website?
8. Does Realtor.com have a mobile website?
9. Can I point a Quick Response (QR) code to the tour?
10. Where can I get a QR code?
11. Will you store QR codes for me in my Mouse On House account and can they be used in print materials?

General Questions

1. Does Mouse On House provide 360-degree "spin" photographs, like as a traditional virtual tour?
2. Why is using Mouse On House better than using a 360-degree view?
3. How will my property get listed on the MLS or rental company's website?
4. I just bought a domain and would like it to be redirected to the tour?

Why Use Mouse On House?

What are the benefits of using Mouse On House?
To begin with, our service has proven itself as an invaluable tool that attracts buyers and sellers, and differentiates you from your competition. And, because Mouse On House is accessible online, it works for you around the clock, providing a complete feel for your property 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - from anywhere. There are also the cost savings you'll receive by creating an opportunity for faster sales. Not to mention our outstanding customer service that has inspired a number of testimonials from our clients.

My house is so small. Why would I need Mouse On House?
The old saying "don't judge a book by its cover" answers this question. A floor plan and photographs of a home can help set buyers' expectations. Real Estate Agents and customers have told us that Mouse On House was the best decision they ever made regarding their properties, regardless of the size.

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Photography

When will photographs of my property be taken?
Scheduling a photography session for your property typically takes place within a few days, depending on whether or not it is ready (clean) and available. Once you've decided to use our services, simply contact us to make an appointment.

What should I do to prepare my property before Mouse On House takes the photographs?
Before Mouse On House arrives, your property should be cleaned well, including picking things up off the floors and other surfaces, making beds, putting away laundry and properly placing all furniture. A good rule of thumb is to have it "show" ready. Please note that we do not move furniture because we don't want to be responsible for damage.

Once the photographs are taken, how long will it take before I can access them and see the tour on the website?
Your sales property will be available online the next business day between 12PM and 5PM.

Does someone need to be on site at the property when the photographs are taken?
Although we do need access to the property, we prefer it to be unoccupied. If you need to convey to us any special instructions or needs, please do so prior to the photo shoot. A lock-box combination lock can be provided to us or, if you prefer, the real estate agent or homeowner can let us in.

May I use the photographs taken by Mouse On House?
All floor plans, photographs, images and maps are copyrighted and remain the property of Mouse On House, Inc. The purchaser of the tour may utilize the images via their account or provide authorization for use. All tours provide access to web quality photographs. The Photo Tour Deluxe and Virtual Floor Plan tour provide access to print quality photographs.

Are the photographs print quality?
Yes. Our print quality photographs are 300 DPI (dots per inch) with no watermark - ready for use on your website, flyers and brochures. The Web quality photographs are not suitable for printing. They are 96 DPI and have the Mouse On House watermark.

Can I get new photographs taken, or supply substitutions, if I remodel my property?
We can re-shoot your property for a fee. Or, if you prefer and you have purchased the Virtual Floor Plan Tour, you can take the new photographs yourself and provide them to us as long as the photographs are high quality and meet our photo standards. We understand that sometimes the owner or real estate agent will have photographs from a different season that can help show case the house. To learn more about our specific photo standards, please contact us.

Can I get a copy of the photographs at the time of the shoot?
Just like you, we take pride in our work and all of our photographs must be processed through our image correction system to ensure that the photographs are perfect. Hence the photographs will be available the next business day via your Account.

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Floor Plans

Do I need to supply Mouse On House with a floor plan of my property?
No, our service includes the creation of the floor plan.

How is the square footage calculated?
Floor plans are approximate and no responsibility is taken for any error, omission or misstatement. Square footage calculations are measured from the inside of the exterior framed walls including basement, garage, stairs, closets and hallways; and do not include decks, open to below or other areas drawn with dashed lines. Each tour has the above disclaimer at the bottom of the tour. No distinction is made between condos and fee simple ownership. We measure and calculate using the same methods.
The realtor can request an adjustment of the square footage based on a tax record or a written request.

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Linking Your Mouse On House Property

May I link my Mouse On House property to my personal website?
Yes, depending on the agreement you make with your agent. We do not charge any additional fees for the link.

May I link my Mouse On House property to a real estate agency's Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?
Absolutely, we provide the linking information to the listing agent or real estate company to place in the virtual tour field. We are an approved vendor with MRIS, and we provide the linking.

May I link my Mouse On House tour to Realtor.com?
Yes. We are an approved Picture Path vendor for Realtor.com. The Realtor.com distribution fee is waived for tours loaded to listings belonging to subscribers of the Agent/Office Showcase Listing Enhancement Product. Tours loaded to non-showcase listings will be required to pay $25 per listing. For more information about Showcase Listings, please visit http://resource.realtor.com/Agent/listing/Showcase.aspx.

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Making the Most Out of Mobile

What is the difference between a website I see using my computer and one on a smartphone?
Mobile sites are optimized for viewing on a small screen and take into account smaller bandwidth availability (i.e., slower download speeds). That means it uses fewer graphics, the layouts of the web pages are adjusted for the smaller screen size, it has big easy to use navigation buttons, there are fewer bells and whistles making downloads quicker, and contains less verbiage.

How do I get a Mouse On House mobile virtual property tour and how much does it cost?
It’s FREE when you buy a Mouse On House virtual tour! Our obsession is to continually look for new ways technology can be used to bring you and your customers the best experience possible, so the capability to view Mouse On House tours on mobile devices has been added as a standard feature on every one of our tours. You don’t even have to ask for it because our tours just work that way.

What website address (URL) do I give customers for a mobile tour?
Your unique Mouse On House virtual property tour web address is the same no matter what size screen the user is surfing on, so there is no other web address needed. Just provide your property tour URL and we’ll take care of the rest.

What if my agent or company website doesn’t have a mobile version yet?
It isn’t necessary that the Mouse On House tour be associated with a mobile site, because you can send potential buyers directly to the mobile version just by posting the unique web address (URL) on any of your marketing materials (e.g., print ads, social media and online advertising).

I hear a lot about mobile applications, why didn’t you develop a Mouse On House app that supports your tours?
Mobile applications must be developed for each specific operating system (the engine that makes smartphones so smart), which includes the three most popular (Google, RIM and Apple) along with many others that combine to make up the remaining 10% of the market. Also, providing tours using an application requires that the user find and download it before being able to virtually walk through the property. By providing a mobile website version of all Mouse On House tours it allows anyone to view it on a smartphone over the internet and works seamlessly with QR codes, social media and other marketing tools.

Do I need to do anything special in MRIS to use the mobile version?
No, the Mouse On House tour will automatically adjust to the screen size of the user.

Does MRIS have a mobile website?
No, but we have been told they are exploring the possibility.

Does Realtor.com have a mobile website?
No, but they have apps available for free download on iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows 7. The app is available only on those types of wireless devices which requires the user go to the associated app store, search for the Realtor.com app, and follow the download instructions.

Can I point a Quick Response (QR) code to the tour?
Yes, and we think that’s a great idea! If you already have a QR code you want to use just change it to present a specific Mouse On House tour URL, or create a new QR code for each new property and link it to the respective Mouse On House tour.

Where can I get a QR code?
There are many free sites online. Try searching “QR code generator” on Google and you should easily find several options that will meet your needs. Here is one we found: http://www.qrstuff.com

Will you store QR codes for me in my Mouse On House account and can they be used in print materials?
Yes, we will store it as an image which can be placed anywhere on print materials similar to how you can drag and drop property pictures.

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General Questions

Does Mouse On House provide 360-degree "spin" photographs, like as a traditional virtual tour?
No. We differentiate ourselves from the traditional virtual tour by using a wide-angle lens and providing a floor plan, complemented by photographs of every room, multiple exterior photographs, as well as additional high-resolution photographs. The potential buyer can view the home at their own pace and instantly view what is important to them.

Why is using Mouse On House better than using a 360-degree view?
The method we use provides a better overall feel for the home than a 360-degree rendering. Additionally, our "Insta-Load" technology loads much faster than the traditional virtual tour, which makes the tour available instantly - you don't have to wait for the tour to load before viewing it. Another downside of a "360 spin" is that it requires an application download, such as the Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (MSJVM). We do not require downloads of any kind, which is why you don't see any technical support issues listed in our FAQs. Therefore your buyers will never get a message that says they do not have the appropriate player to view the tour. Incidentally, the MSJVM reached the end of its viability on June 30, 2009. Microsoft indicated, "Customers are encouraged to take proactive measures to stay informed about obsolete software and move away from the MSJVM in a timely fashion." See www.microsoft.com/java for more details.

How will my property get listed on the MLS website?
We are compatible with most MLS systems, and we either provide the link to the realtor or directly to the MLS, depending on how their MLS system works.

I just bought a domain and would like it to be redirected to the tour?
You need to edit the home page of your website with the following redirection code. An HTML and Javascript version are show below. The # fields need to be replaced with your unique property id available on your account logon.:

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