Real Estate Video Tours are effective on many levels - the obvious one is that it helps sell a home. But a less obvious benefit is as an incredibly effective LISTING TOOL.
Why? Because you're appealing directly to the ego of the seller! You're going to make a mini-movie of their home! The reality is, in regards to video tours, the sellers 'get it' far more than realtors do! They understand the potential benefits and effectiveness. They also know what the market is currently like and how effective marketing is a key in getting a home sold today.
The mistake many realtors make however, is telling a potential client that you will do a video tour of their home.
Why is that a problem? Video is the hot buzzword on the web right now - not just in real estate, but in general.
In the Boston/ Southern New Hampshire area, there are only a handful of listings that have actual, real video tours, yet so many realtors 'promote' their 'video tours' as to a potential listing client.
The problem lies with misinformation. There are numerous companies out there (VisualTours, RealEstateShows, TourFactory, etc.) that offer inexpensive slideshow programs. Operative word: SLIDESHOW.
There's nothing wrong with these marketing alternatives at all - some represent quite a good value and offer a very nice presentation. A SLIDESHOW PRESENTATION.
Not only are these NOT video in any sense of that definition, the bigger problem is that 95% of realtors that use these programs just regurgitate the EXACT SAME photos that the buyers JUST saw on the MLS - into a slideshow! How does zooming in and out on those SAME photos (with a little music in the background) give the buyer any additional information? It doesn't! It's just a rerun of what they JUST saw, and most importantly, ITS NOT VIDEO!
One problem is these companies market their products AS video, because that's the big thing right now. It's false advertising and misrepresentation no matter how you cut it! It's NOT video - it's PHOTOS. The SAME photos you probably JUST saw! And again, there is nothing wrong with photos. But call a spade a spade! Just because you zoom around your still photos, doth not a video make!
Realtors actually 'think' this is video, and market it as such to their clients!
If you are doing legitimate, full motion video, you are providing a far superior marketing product to your customer, and you must be SURE that you present it as such. The best way? Bring a SAMPLE video on your iPod, iPhone, on a CD or DVD, or on your laptop. SHOW them the video. Don't tell them about it, SHOW them. Let them watch the entire tour. EXPLAIN to them the difference between YOUR video tour and virtually EVERYONE in your market who claims to offer video. You must educate your sellers as to the differences.
Once THEY understand the differences, YOU have the listing. It works EVERY TIME. It really does.
Use video to your advantage!
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I understand the difference. The problem is making the video really look good. What camera do you use, how do you keep the shot steady, what do you do for additional lighting? It's easy to say go shoot video, but my job is to make the house look really good.
How much do you charge for this?