Real Estate Video Tours

Here are some simple tips and tricks to create a great video tour of a house for sale.

Equipment:

I prefer a DSLR that allows you to add a wide angle lens attachment. I personally use a Canon T2i with a stock lens and a .44nm Fisheye adapter.

A tripod that moves smoothly is essential for room pans.

Clean audio is essential. You can pick up a Zoom H4n, H2, or H1 for about $100-$250. Also, buy a lapel mic and extension cable.

For still photos, get an external flash.

Start with a walk through of the house, making sure it is staged correctly. The same rules that apply for an open house apply to a video tour. Get rid of clutter, stow away the pets, make sure the walls are clean and painted, etc... Take note of the areas that you want to highlight in your video.

Take still photos and room pans of everything, even if you are positive that you will never use them. (You never really know) Take shots of every room from multiple angles. Use an external flash facing the ceiling to maximize your lighting, while minimizing ugly shadows. Don't forget exteriors and local landmarks, if available.

Set up a video conversation in the rooms you want to showcase. The key is to establish a sense of walking through the home using your words. Describe what you see when you walk in the door. And what you would see as you walk through in one pass.

Example: As you walk in the front door, you see the family room to the left... the staircase leads you up to the master bedroom with an in suite bathroom, two smaller bedrooms with another large bathroom... As you come back downstairs, to the right is the large kitchen, which we'll talk about in a minute... The finished basement has a large laundry room and a hidden storage area...)

Create excitement about the room you want to showcase on camera. Talk about the details and craftsmanship, it's potential as a room for entertaining.

Talk about the land and surrounding area. Highlight the walk-ability, shopping, dining, etc..

End with a specific "Call to action" with an easy to remember url or phone number. Have a graphic that corresponds to the information.

When editing it all together, overlay the still and room pans over your tour conversation. Create motion in stills with slow zooms and pans. Make a lower third with the address and agent info.

When uploading the tour to youtube, include as much detail as possible in the description for better search results.