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Video Tips for Home Inspectors

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Services for Real Estate Pros with HouseLens: Video Marketing for Real Estate

Video marketing: it's not just for real estate agents! Allied professionals - such as home inspectors, loan officers, and contractors - can benefit from it, too. So, starting today, I'll occasionally be sharing tips for attracting and retaining customers if you work in one of these allied fields. Today, my focus is home inspectors. Read on for ways to use video in your home inspection business!

Report on inspections. This is probably the most obvious way to use video. Especially for buyers who aren't able to attend, video is an ideal way to provide a record of an inspection. You can film the entire process, or focus on specific problem areas and your recommendations for further action.

 

Introduce yourself. Video is also a great way to introduce yourself to your customers and point out your qualifications. In just 30 seconds or a minute, you can say hello, share any certifications you might have, and briefly state why you're a good choice for customers. It's a great opportunity to make a personal impression and show that you're competent, easy to work with, and trustworthy. Post this kind of video on your website, or share it with real estate agents and other professionals who might refer business to you.

 

Push your product. Use video to show prospective customers what they can expect if they hire you. Combine narration, photos, and video clips from actual inspections to demonstrate what you do. This is also a great time to highlight your competitive advantages—any extra services you offer that set you apart from your competition.

 

Add value. In these days of social media, customers expect value-added content from their service providers. As a home inspector, you can use video to share information related to your field. Possible topics include: how to spot basement water damage, seasonal home maintenance, where to look for foundation problems, when to call an electrician, and more. Post these videos on your website, YouTube, your Facebook page, or Twitter. Or work out a distribution partnership with a contractor, real estate agent, or professional association.

 

What are your tips for using video in the home inspection field?

 

Comments(3)

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Bruce Hicks
Best Homes Hawaii - Honolulu, HI
Your Best Hawaii Realtor!

I haven't seen any Home Inspectors using video here yet but that sounds right.  What I hope to incorporate on my Real Estate side is use of a Quadcopter with a camera.  I saw where Verizon is selling these with a camera for $300, flys up to 165 feet and can fly for 6 hours on one charge.  You could fly up, over the roof, around the exterior and even into the home to provide a unique view.

Feb 12, 2014 12:18 AM
Jim Griffin
HouseLens: Video Marketing for Real Estate - Nashville, TN

Yes, Bruce, I've heard of folks doing that. My only recommendation would be to get some training first because Quadcopters are very tricky to fly. Inman Next has several helpful posts about using drones. Just go to inmannext.com and search "drones." I'd also recommend mixing drone footage with ground-level footage or images. Drone footage can seem a bit detached, while ground-level footage gives a homier, more "present" feel.

Feb 13, 2014 11:54 PM
Jim Griffin
HouseLens: Video Marketing for Real Estate - Nashville, TN

For Bruce and anyone else interested in drone photography (which would include Quadcopters), I learned something extremely important today: in order to use a drone for photography/videography, you must have a certificate of authorization from the FAA. Otherwise, the usage is illegal under current FAA rules and can result in heavy fines or even forced closure of your business. There is some question as to whether indoor usage is allowed, but outdoor usage is definitely not OK. Here are a couple of helpful articles on the subject if you want to read more:

http://photographyforrealestate.net/2013/01/29/us-airspace-is-closed-to-unmanned-drones-doing-real-estate-photography/

http://fstoppers.com/using-drones-faa-approval-photos-or-video-is-illegal

Feb 17, 2014 09:17 AM