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5 Ways To Make Your Real Estate Videos Look Professional

By
Real Estate Technology

Real Estate VideosProducing quality real estate videos does not require having fancy equipment and a degree from film school.

As a matter of fact, most Realtors® walk around with a high definition camera in their pockets every time they leave home. The smartphone has come a long way. If supplemented with a few inexpensive items, your mobile device will make your real estate videos look professional and boost your brand’s image.

Let’s first start off by saying that listings and virtual tour videos should still be done by a professional if this is in your budget. However, if you’d like to have a bigger presence in the video marketing space, a few small tweaks and investments can up your game quickly.

Camera position

You don’t have to be James Cameron, but you do should avoid holding your device vertically. Those black bars on either side of your video—they’re a huge turnoff to your audience. Hold or set your device side-to-side, not up-and-down.  Shaky camera work can also make your audience click away. Invest in an inexpensive table top tripod and combine it with a smartphone adapter.

Lighting

Newer phones and tablets do a pretty good job at making up for poor lighting. In situations where lighting conditions are dim, there are some easy, inexpensive fixes.  Taking the shade off a bedroom lamp is just not going to cut it. Nothing makes your video (and the image you are trying to portray) look instantly amateurish like bad DIY lighting.  Invest in an inexpensive video light that can make all of the difference. A compact LED video light that works on a rechargeable battery can make your real estate videos look insanely more professional.

Audio

High-quality audio is perhaps more important than lighting and camera work. Your audience will not watch your video if they cannot hear you clearly. Stop using your in-camera microphone. It doesn’t matter if you have the fanciest phone or tablet on the market. Using the built-in microphone will make your beautifully shot real estate video sound like it is recorded in a 1970’s era phone booth.

Again, shoddy audio can be fixed with a small investment. A great-quality lapel microphone that connects to your phone can be had for less than $20. Your audio will instantly sound better, and you’ll be able to talk in your normal tone of voice without worrying that the mic isn’t picking you up. Also, it looks a whole lot more professional than recording with your earbuds attached.

Don’t Be Boring

A lot of real estate agents protest that they can’t do video because they aren’t extroverted, they aren’t loud, or  they don’t look perfect on camera

Well, guess what? You don’t have to be any of those things to have an engaging real estate video.

What you do have to be is passionate. Your personality and natural love for helping clients with the housing needs is what needs to come across. Clients are looking for a Realtor® that has a great work ethic and welcoming demeanor.

Do Not Wait Until Everything is Perfect.

Sure you want to produce great videos that represent your brand, yet so many Realtors® wait until all their stars have aligned to begin. The majority of agents are not doing any video marketing because they think that video quality, lighting, audio, and a script have to be perfect. While those elements help, you will never get them right the first time. In fact, it may take a few tries until you get the hang of it. However, after a few practice runs, you’ll be churning out great real estate videos more often than anyone in your office.

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Comments (58)

Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Noah, your tips make videos less intimidating.  I'm inspired to take another step toward creating a video!

Dec 02, 2015 02:51 PM
Barry Kessler
Pinnacle Estate Properties, Inc. - Simi Valley, CA
Barry Kessler

Thank you for the tips Noah.

I tend to wait too long to do what is really easy when you think of it. Just do it.

Dec 02, 2015 03:50 PM
Carol Tunis
Florida Homes Realty & Mortgage - Saint Augustine, FL
Carol Tunis...a "HouseSold" name!

Just purchased a new phone 2 days ago, for this very reason.  I have been extremely apprehensive, but you gave such great advise, I'm going for it!  Thanks...

Dec 02, 2015 08:41 PM
Ron Aguilar
Gateway Mortgage Group - Saint George, UT
Mortgage & Real Estate Advisor since 1995

excellent advice, thanks for your time

Dec 02, 2015 09:50 PM
Dana Basiliere
Rossi & Riina Real Estate - Williston, VT
Making deals "Happen"

Let ike the Nike commercial said... Just "Do it" 

Dec 02, 2015 09:53 PM
Karen Robinson
Sterling Heights, MI
Providing all your real estate needs

This was some very good advice. Thanks for showing me some great gadgits to help make it easier.

Dec 02, 2015 11:00 PM
Julie Bryan
KeySouth Real Estate Group - Thomasville, GA
Thomasville GA Real Estate

The microphone just went on my Christmas list!!!  Thanks for the great advice!

Dec 03, 2015 12:58 AM
Georgia Weaver
Weaver Realtors - Storm Lake, IA
A Promise Made is a Promise Kept! 712-291-0118

Noah,

Thank you for the info, tips and products. I have done videos and think they are a great way to connect with people. What do you think of the body mounted and dash camera for capturing video of the towns. The one my office is located in has a large lake with a lot of wild fowl, the lake is also a walleye nursery and top fishing destination. On the body cameras and dash cameras do you have a favorite?

Dec 03, 2015 02:02 AM
Andrew Jones
Horizon Pacific Realty - Los Angeles, CA
LA Beach Cities Homes 310-399-3740

Here's my short-list of tips for anyone thinking of just turning the camara on and 'going for it:'

Tell a Story - A little planning and getting shots of everything that you need will always give you a better, more interesting result and save time editing.

Get Master or Establishing Shots - Always get shots of the neighborhood, house, room, etc. that set the scene for your story.

Get Plenty of Detail Shots (B-Roll) - When you talk about the fireplace or fine tiles... show it! Close-ups are very powerful for creating the feeling you want your story to have and they also give you a place to go when cutting from one wider shot to the next.

PS - If you don't want to edit... all of these elements can be included in a single, continuous shot. Just do it lol!

Dec 03, 2015 02:58 AM
J Perrin Cornell
Coldwell Banker Cascade Real Estate - Wenatchee, WA
Broker, ABR, VAMRES

I use videos. I use an app called VIDEOLICIOUS (it is free). I have a video, one for buyers and one for sellers, talking about what happens after we are signed around. I also have a video on listing I send to Listing appointments the day before. Another tool and useful.

Dec 03, 2015 02:59 AM
Bill Reddington
Re/max By The Sea - Destin, FL
Destin Florida Real Estate

Understand the video craze. The issue I have is most videos are forwever. Just don't have the attention span for that.

Dec 03, 2015 06:11 AM
Noah Mandel

The best ones are under a minute

Dec 03, 2015 10:09 AM
RealtyTech Inc.
Real Estate Technology and Marketing - Thousand Oaks, CA
Premium Websites/IDX/Marketing for Realtors

Noah, I definitly bookmarked this to send to some of our clients! Many times, agents send us pictures and videos that are low quality like you mentioned with bad lighting, sound, or shaky camera. We usually strongly suggest them to redo the video or picture as it is better to have a great website without video than one with a video that leaves a bad taste. Thank you Noah!

Dec 03, 2015 06:19 AM
Noah Mandel

Awesome RealtyTech Inc. 

Dec 03, 2015 10:08 AM
Dan Derito
Success! Real Estate - Brockton, MA

Thanks for the advice and encouragement Noah.

Dec 04, 2015 12:55 PM
Kathleen Frawley
Keller Williams 916 730-4404 Elk Grove, Wilton, Folsom, Sacramento - Wilton, CA
South County Sacramento, 916 730 4404

Great post. "Don't wait until everything is perfect"  THAT statement keeps me from a lot.  You make it sound possible, Thank You!

Dec 05, 2015 09:05 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Thanks Noah, video is a part of marketing that I do need a lot of practice with.

Dec 06, 2015 07:15 AM
Dan Dee McGinnis The Pumpkin Man
HomeSmart - Phoenix, AZ
The Pumpkin Man

Noah

thank you for sharing this information.

Dec 06, 2015 11:53 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

Good advice, and it doesn't have to be perfect--just do it!

Dec 07, 2015 12:35 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Hi Noah - your post is just exactly what I needed to get me moving again with videos. Thanks for the great motivation and the tip about the lapel mike!

Happy holidays!

Dec 22, 2015 01:28 AM
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Noah Mandel This list is a great start for agents to consider when shooting videos, yet by the looks of many photos agents post, they still need to get still photography mastered before tackling videos.

Dec 22, 2015 01:45 AM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Noah - Thanks for sharing these tips on creating better real estate videos.

Dec 22, 2015 05:44 AM