Videos are for early adopters.  It is expensive unless you can DIY.  I Video all my listings now.  I am the film crew, editing and production crew.

http://www.wellcomemat.com/video/5FF2BBB592

I've been using narrated, HD video tours for EVERY listing for three years now. It's a slam dunk competitive edge of my competition. Video is hard to do well though, so it will never be mainstream - which is a good thing. The more we all look the same, the more difficult it is to stand out. Most realtors don't even do virtual tours of ANY kind, even today in this market. It's pretty hard to believe.

VisualTours, Real Estate Shows, and other virtual tour providers offer a consistent and tried-and-true approach to rich visual listing presentation. Real video is very hit and miss.

Professional videographers are the BEST approach, offer the BEST results, and are the MOST expensive.

Some real estate agents are achieving success with amateur devices ... they are an exception to the rule. Video editing can be complicated and time consuming. Techies are attracted to this venue, mainstream real estate agents are not drawn to it.

I am playing with video but I am still a long way from achieving the level of quality that makes it worthy of publishing on the Web.

One of my favorite real estate agent Vloggers [Vlogger = Video Blogger] is Virginia's Daniel Rothamel at  http://RealEstateZebra.com.

The biggest problem I see with Visual Tours, Real Estate Shows, Tour Factory and similar products (of which there are many,) is this: The vast majority of realtors put the EXACT SAME photos that they already have in the MLS into these slideshows. Sorry folks, but just because you're now zooming in and out on the same (usually mediocre to bad) photos, and putting music behind it, this is NOT offering something additional, NOR is it offering anything that buyers WANT. When a buyer takes the TIME to download and load a virtual tour, they want to see MORE. MORE photos, DIFFERENT angles, NEW photos, LARGER photos.... they want MORE. And what most realtors give buyers is exactly the SAME. It's insulting, and essentially a waste of time. I hear now that some buyers won't even bother downloading a virtual tour, because they know exactly what they're getting... absolutely NOTHING. If you're not going to offer MORE information, it's best to not bother. They've already seen your photos. That's why video excels. They always see MORE. They see everything. It's the closest thing to actually being in the space. They can see relationships between rooms. The flow of the home. The neighborhood, the street, the shops. But bad video is the equivalent of MLS photos taken with a cell phone. It's horrible, and if I were the sellers of some of these videos and photos I see, I would fire my agent. But some people don't even pay attention to how their home is being marketing. It's pretty amazing. Not only is video the next thing for real estate, it's the next thing for the WEB. Period. If video were doable in 1995 when the web first gained popularity, I truly believe it would have been a 100% video based medium from the get-go. People LIKE to watch and interact with video. Why do far more people see the movie than read the book? Sitting down and giving 100% concentration to tons of words on a low resolution computer screen is NOT what most people prefer - it's just what most people are used to - until now. It's a better way to interact. It creates emotion. You can 'watch/listen' to a video while you do something else.... http://www.NashuaVideoTours.com

Ted,

I'm really interested in how you are DIY on the video.  Any helpful information would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Dena Calivas

I'm using HelloWorld to send out video emails, which I can tie into video tours and my own website by having viewers just click on banners. You can see samples at: www.alternativeincomesources.com

I agree that you need a professional approach to actually do a video tour, but I'm also able to do live broadcasts, video blogging, and video podcasting using HelloWorld, all for just $9.95 per month for which you just need a Logitech Webcam. You can check it out at: www.helloworld.com/sterling.

 www.virtuoo.com

The best video virtual tour company in Southern California. VIRTUOO!

All of this for $149: **NEW as of January 2008-Placement on REALTOR.com!**

 

 

• 3 fully-edited, high-definition videos with professional voice over and licensed musical background

   

• 10 DVDs in sleeves and lightscribed labeling

   

• Corrugated Yard Sign

   

• Placement on television show on KZSW-TV "Inland Empire Real Estate Today"

  (runs 12 times, Saturdays at 930AM, Sundays at Noon, and Mondays at 7AM.

  Only 30 spots available per show! More info at the show's blog (http://ierealestate.blogspot.com). Check for local listing information at www.kzsw.tv)And now featured on tvs in area businesses like the $1.99 Capri Cleaners on Murrieta Hot Springs Road in Murrieta

   

• Dedicated web link for the MLS and code for the video to place on your website

   

• Submission to Virtuoo's video host network, along with submission to Youtube, Myspace, Veoh, and a host of other video networks online.