Make them yourself or find somebody to shoot, edit and host ‘em — but don’t miss out, believers say: video is an easy way to set yourself apart from the competition in real estate.
You don’t have to hire a professional or go to film school to make use of video. The ability to shoot video in digital format and edit it on a computer has turned the process into child’s play — literally.
But there’s more to it than walking through a listing capturing some footage and posting it on YouTube (no-no’s in this video: “blown out” sunlit windows and rooms cloaked in darkness; occupants and their possessions at every turn, and a heavy-breathing cameraman who gives the whole thing the atmosphere of a slasher flick).
With a little bit of effort, it’s possible to get good results shooting your own video. And there are a growing number of videographers who will do the work for you at surprisingly affordable rates. At the upper end of the scale, there are professional production companies capable of producing broadcast video that’s good enough for TV.
For the most part, agents and brokers are using video in two ways: to promote themselves, which brings them clients and listings, and to sell individual properties with videos that accompany listings.