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My First Listing Video Tour | And I (Gulp) Did it myself

By Rob Muller

Real Estate Agent with ReMax Town & Country

March 26, 2008 01:37 PM

Cherokee County Real Estate | 135 Market Lane

I try to stay ahead of the Technology curve and it seems to me that the wind is blowing in the direction of Internet video. Now I have a monster marketing plan, if someone is looking for a house in my area they see my listings. The plan is effective, but it isn't cheap!

So rather than hire some fancy company to shoot my video I decided to tackle it myself. So here is what I did.

Mini Camcorder From Flip Video: $150
Windows Movie Maker: Came with my Computer
Logitech Microphone: $27
YouTube Membership: Free
Bribing my Wife to do the Voice Over: Empty the Dishwasher
Background Music: Free (search for royalty free music)

For an out of pocket cost of $177 I am on my way. Does it look like Steven Spielberg filmed it, NO. Do I think it gets the job done, I think so. I imagine I will only get better over time but I think this will work for now. Real Estate home show charges $99 or more for a "Video Slide Show" which is really just zooming in and out of still photographs. They are nice, and I may still use them from time to time but I think the better I get at this, the more I will provide it as a service.

This one is a little longer than I would like, I will try to keep them to between 2-4 minutes in the future, but with-out further ado:

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Venancio Gonzalez

Windermere Kelso/Longview - Longview, WA

Longview WA Real Estate Broker - 360-751-4001

Rob - that is a great first time video. I have been toying with that idea too. How about a tutorial about how to up load it?

Mar 26, 2008 07:03 PM

Edward Wadsworth

Better Homes Garden Real Estate Metro Brokers - Newnan, GA

Free list of Bank Owned Homes

Rob

Great job for your first video. I to am wanting to start making videos of my listings and have learned a lot from this post. Thanks!

Mar 26, 2008 10:45 PM

Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239

Real Estate One - Commerce, MI

Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

Congratulations you are further than I am. I haven't gotten that far though I am trying

Mar 27, 2008 12:35 AM

Jim Starwalt

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Star Homes - Grayslake, IL

A Name You Know and The Brand You Trust

Nice first video. Have you thought about asking your wife to do the filming, while you walk thru the house and point out the features?

Mar 27, 2008 12:56 AM

Mike Warren

Prudential Missoula Properties - Missoula, MT

Great job. A little shaky, perhaps try using a pole or tripod and zoom in to feel like walking closer. I am envious, I havn't gotten the courage to move beyond the mini DVD disk recorder then snail mailing it to the client.

Thanks and good luck

Mar 27, 2008 02:11 AM

Brian Hoots

Real Living Speckman Realty, Inc. - Bourbonnais, IL

Rob, great job on your first video!, One suggestion is slow down as you walk through and use a simple tripod (such as this one) that will help stabilize the video. The flip video recorder is great.

Mar 27, 2008 02:37 AM

Ron Bodden

Re/Max 440 - Quakertown, PA

Not bad, not bad at all! I'm about to embark on my first listing that I promised the owners a video tour myself... I just might give it a try. Thanks for the encouragement!

Mar 27, 2008 04:16 AM

Shannon Lefevre

John R. Wood Properties - Naples, FL

Shannon Lefevre, PA Your Naples Smart Girl

Rob, You did ia great job and wife has a great voice-over presence. This little video of yours presents the house in an outstanding way. Don't forget to check your youtube stats when the sellers want to know how many showings you've had...because I think this would count! :)

Mar 27, 2008 06:42 AM

Christopher Bonta

The Bean Group - Londonderry, NH

Realtor, Integrity and Honesty

Nice first vidio, if I video a house I always hire someone, I'm to nervous about doing a bad job.

Mar 27, 2008 06:45 AM

Michael Eisenberg

eXp Realty - Bellingham, WA

Bellingham Real Estate Guy

Great first effort, I am sure they will get better with time and experience.

Mar 27, 2008 07:18 AM

Dane Briggs

Firebird Realty - Phoenix, AZ

GRI, ABR, CNE, MRE

Great job on your first try... practice makes perfect!

Mar 27, 2008 07:45 AM

Scott Hutchinson

REAL ESTATE - Lago Vista, TX

Lago Vista Real Estate

I love it! I personally am a big DIY person. So save the money learn a new skill and become great at it. Hey you can only get better....right?! Good Luck and Best Wishes. Your wife did a great job too!

Mar 27, 2008 10:00 AM

April Hayden-Munson

Brookfield, WI

Brookfield Wisconsin Real Estate

Great job Rob - nice comments posted for you here. I can't believe how supportive everyone is on the Rain.

I just popped by to say thanks for commenting on my blog!

Mar 27, 2008 11:14 AM

Chrysti Tovani

Nick Sadek Sothebys International Realty - Sacramento, CA

Sacramento Real Estate Agent

<applause> Wow! It takes courage to do this. You did a great job for the first time. It could use a little bit of editing, such as taking out some of the panning and go directly to the next point. The narrating was good.

Excellent!

Mar 27, 2008 01:12 PM

Maureen Maureen

Orangeburg, NY

I would like to invent a rolling monopod for video cameras. I think it would be a huge success. Great video!

Mar 27, 2008 01:31 PM

Christy Powers

Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners - Pooler, GA

Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent

I need to learn how to do the voice over. I am going to have to attempt one of these soon. May be that will be my project next week.

Mar 27, 2008 02:47 PM

Rob Muller

ReMax Town & Country - Canton, GA

Cherokee County Real Estate

Christy - You can use windows movie maker to do the voice over

Maureen - That is a great idea, anything to make it smoother

chrystina - That is my next project figuring out how to edit

scott - Thanks for the cooment, I passed it on to the wife

shannon - Thanks, makes it easier to bribe the wife next time when I share the comments like that

Mar 31, 2008 11:50 AM

Me too! Other than the auto movie setting, I'm lost. <g> There's got to be an easier software program for editing. You did an excellent job though.

Mar 31, 2008 04:28 PM

M. Suzi Woods (Gravenstuk)

NOW Sharing the life and spice of the GC one day at a time - Grand Canyon, AZ

Suzi Woods, Prior Independent REBroker in MS

Way to Go! I thought "tripod" too. But, who am I to talk? I still do digital photo virtual tours.

Apr 01, 2008 04:34 PM

Karen Kruschka

RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA

- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Rob, I haven't taken the plunge yet, but I hope I do as well on my first try - voice over with soothing music was great, Karen

Apr 01, 2008 06:12 PM

My First Listing Video Tour | And I (Gulp) Did it myself

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