REDMOND, Wash., Jan. 6, 2000 — The MSN TM HomeAdvisor TM online real estate service today unveils its virtual tour of Whoopi Goldberg’s colonial farmhouse, featuring sneak appearances by the Oscar-winning actress and the world-famous Blue Dog. After watching Goldberg in her other residence, the center square of television’s “Hollywood Squares,” beginning today, consumers who visit HomeAdvisor can get the only close-up view of Goldberg’s restored 1860 farmhouse available online through panoramic 360-degree photos. HomeAdvisor is also showcasing new virtual tours of some of the most luxurious and interesting homes on the U.S. market. The virtual tours of Goldberg’s home and featured homes for sale can be explored on HomeAdvisor at http://homeadvisor.MSN.com/ie/homes/vtours/ .
This is one virtual program not to be missed. The tour of this beautiful rural farmhouse will include sneak appearances by Goldberg and the Blue Dog. Blue Dog, created by Cajun artist George Rodrigue, is the loyal companion to Blue Dog lovers from all walks of life, including actors, musicians and politicians alike. The duo can be spotted in many rooms during the tour. HomeAdvisor gives viewers the freedom to explore several areas of Goldberg’s home, from the master bedroom to the sunroom, through the power of virtual tour technology.
A far cry from her television home in the center square, Goldberg’s spacious 5,000-square-foot farmhouse is situated on 13 acres in rural Cornwall, Conn. The farmhouse was completely restored after she purchased it in 1991. Currently for sale with Seymour Surnow at William Raveis Real Estate Services, the home features two fireplaces, rustic pine floors, a library and a panoramic sunroom enclosed in glass. It is surrounded by 13 acres, complete with an apple orchard and a workshop.
The view of the actress’s home is the third in a series of celebrity virtual tours to be featured on HomeAdvisor. Other virtual tours will be added to the site, showcasing high-quality listings to prospective home buyers. In the coming weeks, HomeAdvisor will feature additional virtual tours of the homes of some of the world’s most provocative newsmakers, entertainers, comedians and sports celebrities, letting users of HomeAdvisor sneak a peek into their worlds.
HomeAdvisor also gives visitors a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most interesting homes on the market. Currently, visitors to HomeAdvisor can admire the ocean views from a $5.975 million home in Laguna Beach, Calif., or get a feel for city life in a light-filled,
$3.9 million SoHo condominium. This is in addition to virtual tours of Goldberg’s home, the stylish home of television’s “Will & Grace,” the $25 million luxury jet of international music legend Julio Iglesias, and some of the world’s most exquisite million-dollar homes on HomeAdvisor.
“I love the fact that people around the country – even around the world – can see what a beautiful place Connecticut is to live,” Goldberg said. “I’m excited to use virtual tours to help sell my home.”
Whoopi – Down on the Farm
The virtual tour on HomeAdvisor of Goldberg’s farmhouse includes panoramic shots of the front yard, kitchen, master bedroom, sunroom and main living area. Fans can also pan around the rooms to catch a glimpse of Goldberg and her loyal companion, Blue Dog. The following specific features of the farmhouse can be viewed on the virtual tour:
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The front yard, with a view of Whoopi’s porch, swing and six-stall barn
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The two-story living room, with a dramatically large fireplace, a perfect spot for winter reading
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The sunroom, where Whoopi and her friends would watch deer meander through the yard
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The rustic kitchen, where Whoopi loved to cook a Thanksgiving turkey with the mandatory pound of butter
Virtual Tour Technology
Virtual tour technology allows potential renters and buyers to view a property via the Internet as if they were actually there, offering a series of 360-degree photos of various parts of a home. From the exterior to the dining room, living room, kitchen and bedroom, consumers can virtually “walk” through a home with a few clicks of the mouse.
About MSN HomeAdvisor
MSN HomeAdvisor is the Internet’s most complete guide for finding homes and loans, combining Microsoft® technology with services and expertise from some of the most trusted names in the real estate industry. It empowers consumers through every step of the home-buying process and is the first Internet site to fully integrate content and services such as neighborhood crime and school statistics with homes, loans, editorial content and expert advice. Winner of the Inman Innovator Award as the best residential real estate site, HomeAdvisor is a PC Magazine Top 100 Web site, a Yahoo! Internet Life Best of the Best winner and one of its 100 Best Sites for 2000, and a Family PC Web Site of the Month. Part of the MSN network of Internet services, HomeAdvisor launched in July 1998 and is free on the World Wide Web at http://homeadvisor.MSN.com/ (connect-time charges may apply).
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software – any time, any place and on any device.
Microsoft, MSN and HomeAdvisor are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
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