(VIDEO) Be a Fly on the Wall at our Candid Camera Listing Appointment - Our first video !

Hey Somers Team!

What a fun new way to showcase a home. I need to get on the video wave, but I'm a little scared. I guess I just need to do it, and get over myself. Ok, going to Best Buy, see you later! 

-Lisa

You can extract the audio track in many of the video editing programs. I personally use a Mac, so for quick jobs I use IMovie (Free), and Final Cut Pro ($1,200) for more produced pieces.

For the Windows user, do some research on free programs like Windows Movie Maker (You might even already have it on your computer)! There is also some great stuff from Pinnacle and Sony Vegas for around $99. You can take out the audio in bits and pieces, or completley to overdub and ensure that your message is even better. You can even add some music!!!

The Flips ($199) are amazing, and all a person really needs to get started! The video is very good quality for web video! The only negative review I have about the Flip is its lack of a "stabilization" feature. I am confident it will be on a future model. Other than that, it is 10 stars!!!!!!!!

The advice I would have for you is to talk in your videos!!!! Talk about the features of the house, introduce yourself to the audience, and let people get to know you! Do not worry about being "Super Professional", as people really want to do business with people they like. While I am not saying to lay on the couch and discuss American Idol for an hour, a quick comment about a hobby, or pop culture event can peak interest in you, and your video. at the beginning, create a nice little intro telling us just your name and company, then a brief description of how you are going to bring value into my life.

Video is awesome! The key is solid content, and if you do this consistently, your business will grow so fast you will not realize what is happening!

Keep up the great work, and if you ever need anything, just ask!

~Harrison Painter

P.S. I almost forgot! Get your video on as many sites as possible! You can do this for free through a site called TubeMogul. This will get your video on up to 2 dozen websites!!!!!

P.S.S.- You can not get around the "shaky" when you are doing this kind of video. So do not worry about it. Social Media Marketing is not supposed to be "perfect". You will learn a few tips and tricks to make it a little better, but at the end of the day it is all about getting it out there to the masses! GREAT JOB!!!!

Well, indeed a great start...somewhat shaky was making me a little dizzy watching the video.  But, like everything else...takes time for perfection.  I was searching to see if AR has a Video Group, but could not find one.

I'm with LENN on this; it isn't as easy as it appears or that some make it sound. LOL  I have to get into it more... been putting it off. Sigh 

Good job!

For those of you who feel it is not as easy as it appears, I thought that too.

The I looked at it like this:

If I can get a real estate license, learn contracts, work with Buyer's agents, deal with mortgage brokers, cooperate with an inspection response, and get a deal to the closing table, then this video thing should be a cakewalk!!!!

All of you have already achieved things most only dream of, and video is much, much easier than the challenges you have already conquered!

I hope that helps! I feel that a simple change of mindset can really improve our real estate business.

~Harrison Painter

Okay -- next on my shopping list. And, it would be nice to see a blog on AR just on videos. I'm still trying to learn how to use YouTube!

Congrats on your foray into the wonderful world of video marketing!  I was pleasantly surprised to see that Matt Stigliano gave me a couple of mentions above (for the contest and for my tutorial post about embedding video).  I would recommend using Windows Movie Maker if you use a PC or iVideo if you use a Mac.  They are both very intuitive and FREE!

Use Flipshare and you can lay in music in place of the audio talking and back ground noise!  They have tunes you can use or you can load your own mp3 files.  It rocks!  I love my flip!!!

I forgot to mention that with Flipshare you can also do an intro and credits at the end which is great for property info and your contact info at the end of the vid.  I have the flip mino and got it in Sept. on Amazon.com for $144.99!  You can also take an individual shot from the vid and save it as a jpeg for photo usage too!  Also open an account on Fliggo.com you can have your own YouTube like channel on there, mine is called Hill Country Video Vault....http://www.hcvv.fliggo.com  check it out!

I think you did pretty good for your first time!  I have had my flip since last March and the only real video I did was the actual birth of my grandson!  I need to get with program and get busy! 

Go Guys. I think you are doing a great job. I look forward to seeing many more videos from you. Best of Luck.

Congratulations on your introduction to video!  It takes time and patience, but you have a lot of support here in the Rain.  I did a video tutorial on how to embed a WellcomeMat video into an AR blog post if it helps.  It's fun to venture into something new and we learn by trial and error.  Have fun and good luck! 

Great job on the video!!  I love my Flip Video!  I also just found Wellcomemat and it very easy to upload videos and it does give you the embed code if you want to insert the video into your posts.

I keep forgetting that I need to get this Flip Video. I like the video. But I didn't get to hear everything in the video. Congrats on the feature Chris and Stephaine. Have a great weekend. Great post.

Nice videos!

One recommendation I have is to make the video picture more steady.  We've done a bunch of videos and steady picture is very important....and an easy way to do that is to 1) take off your shoes, 2) hold a tripod to add more weight, and 3) brace your arms more.  check out the video here: http://www.videosbyaddress.com/MRIS/AX7057402

Also - did you know that you can have your video linked to your MLS website with www.VideosByAddress.com?  We're MRIS and Realtor.com approved virtual tour vendor - and we hoped to be approved much more.

Here are my comments for your questions:

* Is there a way to mute out the audio?

There's two ways to accomplish this.  The video server "WellcomeMat" should have a feature to mute the audio.  If not, you have to recompress the video with the audio off.  Several comments show you how to do this, but if you can't seem to figure it out, then let me know and I'll mute the audio for you and even add some background music if you'd like.

* How can you embed the whole video frame in the blog post verus just a link ?

I created a video demonstratng how.....http://activerain.com/blogsview/1104228/how-to-embed-for-chris-and-stephanie

Interesting. I would go back and do it when it's been staged and no one is home...however, I think the concept is awesome and will look into the technology as well. Thanks for sharing!

Cool beans!....I'm hooked which way is Best Buys?

thanks for sharing,  Jess

If you are up for a few suggestions???? I think you showed too much of the home, and the home was WAY too cluttered.  I found my inner mind going "where'd they get all that stuff... they should pack away half of it.. didn't they know the realtor was coming over... fluffy scrub in the shower????... look the carpet's even folded over... OMG it's on a very busy street - no way I'ld show it."  ETC.  You want to continue to entice people with the shots, not turn them away. 

so #1 only shoot video if it improves the online presense.

Next, is focus on the elements of the house, instead of their furniture.  Like shooting their dresser and the art hanging on the wall...they are not for sale. 

And personally I would not shoot while the family was there.  The crying baby was distracting, and your conversatoin with them was a little vouyeristic. I felt like I shouldn't be listening. 

This home had great features... tile, granite,maple, but it was hard to notice with so much clutter.

Otherwise... great that you are jumping into it. (Hope you were up for some constructive critique... fell free to slam mine if you like!  I like getting better!