Special offer

WellcomeMat: Free real estate video web site

By
Real Estate Agent with Florida Property Experts

4 bedroom house for sale in Ormond Beach Florida
I've been posting my real estate videos to www.wellcomemat.com for quite a while now. No offense to Jeff Turner's Real Estate Shows. I like Jeff. He's a nice guy and Real Estate Shows is a great product that is also very affordable. But I am a fan of "free" =)

But this post is to find out if anyone else here uses WellcomeMat. I'm asking because WellcomeMat has made a lot of changes to their site, including a points system. (Gee. I wonder where they got that idea) But part of their points system is "Connections". When members mutually "connect" with each other, they earn profile points. So, if you're a member on WellcomeMat, can you please let me know in my comments? Unless we're competing in the same area, which is not likely, we can "connect".condo on river in daytona beach florida

If you're not familiar with WellcomeMat, it's not just a site where you upload your real estate videos or slide shows. That's how I use it, because I like to do things myself. But you can actually find professional real estate videographers in your area, to create video presentations of your listings. And I have to admit, the pros obviously do a better job than I do.

So let's connect on WellcomeMat! Let me know if you're a member and/or consider joining. But if you're considering joining, will you let me know before you do? Yes, we get points for inviting others as well. Again, I wonder where they got that idea.

If you've been using You Tube for your real estate videos, you really need to switch to a more professional platform. I'm on You Tube all the time, but it's for play. When it comes to business, I don't like not knowing what other videos are going to show up next to mine. On WellcomeMat, you have total control of your channel, and have different sized widgets you can use, to embed on your blogs and web sites.

Finally, since I know the WellcomeMat guys are here on Active Rain also, I thought I should let them know, the site looks great! The changes look much more professional!

EDIT: One of the comments made note of the still shots instead of video. You can use either still shots alone and create a slide show, or video, or combine them as I did for this property. I do that frequently since some rooms are too small for video, or sometimes there are certain rooms that just don't look good in a video OR, I couldn't get enough light in a room. I am after all, a REALTOR. I don't carry huge lights into a house, just to video tape it. These are instances when I use still shots instead. But if you want all video, you can hire a professional videographer... or bring big lights with you. =)

AND: Don't make the mistake I did in this video. I forgot my tripod =/  It will be wobbly without one, but you can find them at Sam's Club for only $25 or get a sturdier one for under $100. I have both. 

 

Lisa Hill real estate agent

Adams Cameron Realtors

Comments(77)

Christian Sterner
Wellcomemat.com - Boulder, CO

@ Paul,

Christian Sterner here with WellcomeMat.  Neither Phil, nor I are attorneys, but I can tell you that-if you want to see some big bad monster in the TOS for any service-you will likely be able to do so (for example, we could ask ourselves what a 'successor or affiliate' of YouTube/Google means).  I would re-iterate that our members are in control of their content; even a surface level understanding of our service would confirm this to be true. And, we have statuses that determine whether videos are live or not.  Don't want your video to show up, de-activate the video...simple as that.  You can also delete your videos entirely from our system.  Should you not want to join WellcomeMat, that is your choice.  Of course, the benefits of doing so are many.  Btw...we appreciate you diving so deeply into the service.  If we can help in any way, just email csterner@wellcomemat.com.  Thank you!

Feb 27, 2008 06:36 AM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate
To everyone who is concerned about the TOS. Trust me when I say that You Tube has the biggest, baddest, scariest Terms of Service I've ever seen. Especially when you enter the "Partner Program"! And You Tube will shut down your entire channel with no warning, and without even watching the offending video, just because someone complains. And they frequently won't even tell you what the complaint was! They have gone copyright crazy. I would definitely not trust them with my business videos.
Feb 27, 2008 06:45 AM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

Jeanette- I think you'll like it. I'm actually a member of several video sites, but for business, I've stuck with WellcomeMat.

Rachel- You do have to create your own videos. But I think all Windows based PCs come with Movie Maker if you want to DIY. I use other video producing programs, but WMM is fine. Or you can hire a videographer on WellcomeMat.

And anyone can join! You don't HAVE to wait for an invitation. I didn't mean to imply that you needed an invitation to join. I was asking you to allow me to get a few points via the invitation feature. 

 

Feb 27, 2008 06:57 AM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

Jeff- I'm on Veoh also. But I've gravitated toward WellcomeMat.

Joan- What a great idea! You could even do videos of neighborhoods.

Katharine- ActiveRain is most certainly a wealth of information! It beats the heck out of sitting through a boring sales meeting and you get at least twice as much information. 

Al- I just switched the video. I didn't realize my other one was all still shots. This one is a combination of still shots and video. (Just don't forget your tripod, like I did.) 

Feb 27, 2008 07:12 AM
Joe Kendall Broker
Keller Williams Elite Realty - Cape Coral, FL
It's Always best to talk to "Broker Joe"

 

Thanks Lisa, I will check it out !  I am sure it is much better then www.slide.com as well!

Feb 27, 2008 09:35 AM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate
Joe- I just checked it out. I hadn't heard of that one before. It looks more like it's made for fun. Like to go on a MySpace page or something. But I bookmarked it for that reason, so thanks =)
Feb 27, 2008 10:25 AM
Christy Powers
Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners - Pooler, GA
Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent
You can invite me too,cpowers21@gmail.com. I haven't heard of them yet. It looks interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Feb 27, 2008 11:56 AM
Chrysti Tovani
Nick Sadek Sothebys International Realty - Sacramento, CA
Sacramento Real Estate Agent
Hi Lisa!  Well, you brought me to Active Rain, guess you should invite me to this too.  You've got my email address... I'll look for the invite.  <g>
Feb 27, 2008 11:58 AM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker
The link isn't working?
Feb 27, 2008 12:02 PM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK
I did join welcomemat and I thought that they oinly allowed me to post 1 listing so haven't been back.  Did I miss something?
Feb 27, 2008 01:12 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate

Rich- Which link isn't working? I just checked them all. They worked for me.

Judi- You can post as many videos or slide shows as you want. I currently have 8 posted. 

Feb 27, 2008 01:59 PM
Jeff Turner
RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA
Lisa, well thanks for saying I'm a nice guy. My mom would be very proud right now. :)

That said, I'd like to address the representation that most other Internet home tours cost a certain price but Wellcomemat is free. It's only 180 degrees off.

What Wellcomemat largely provides is a player, a frame within which to insert a video. That video has a certain cost, in time and money, whether done by a Realtor for his/her own use or contracted out to a videographer/producer.

The true cost comparison is between the cost of a finished video and the other Internet alternatives, including virtual tours, still photos and RealEstateShows.com.

The frame and whatever other features that Wellcomemat.com provides may be of great value (or not) but whatever that value turns out to be, it is not about the content of a presentation.
Feb 27, 2008 05:40 PM
Christian Sterner
Wellcomemat.com - Boulder, CO

There he is!!  Jeff, let us not forget the cost of not doing video well when your competition is.  This is the cost associated with losing business, and believe me when I say this is a real cost, facing every real estate agent/broker on our planet. Lastly, while I appreciate you attempting to reduce WellcomeMat to our video editor/player, I would offer one note: more than anything, WellcomeMat is a thriving community of people softening the learning curve associated with video, and insuring competitive prices for professionally-created video content.  See you in Colorado man...hope all is well.

Feb 28, 2008 01:42 AM
Jeff Turner
RealSatisfied - Santa Clarita, CA
Christian... I will look forward to seeing you in Colorado!
Feb 28, 2008 04:18 AM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate
Jeff- All true statements. Not to mention the fact that many agents can't or won't make actual videos. In that case, your product would be the wiser choice. They're really completely different products. =)
Feb 28, 2008 11:13 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices
Thanks for the info. Never heard of it. Where do you find time for all that?
Feb 28, 2008 06:20 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate
Jon- It's really not that time consuming if you have the right software. My camera has video mode as well, and I have a couple of tripods. I video tape while I'm taking photos. Usually while the sellers are filling out the 5 page property disclosure ;)
Feb 29, 2008 07:13 AM
Sonja Priebe
City Realty Inc. - Olympia, WA

As for the wobbly camera, you can build a video stabilizer for 15 dollars at your local hardware store. I did and it works great. 

 

            http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~johnny/steadycam/

 

Mar 19, 2008 12:50 PM
Lisa Hill
Florida Property Experts - Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Beach Real Estate
Sonja- Thanks! I've never heard of that. I just took a quick peek at the site and it looks pretty nifty. I'm going to go read the rest of it.
Mar 19, 2008 03:09 PM
Ben Myers
The Broker Ben Group at Realty Idaho - Meridian, ID
CEO/Designated Broker
Wellcomemat is a great site.  It seems like it is still growing, but lets get the word out and put this in our marketing.  This site has some great ideas.  Thanks for the post.
Mar 26, 2008 07:28 AM