7 Ways to Make Video Tours Work for You

Video tours are a must-have for today's agents. According to Inman, 85% of buyers and sellers want to work with an agent who uses video. Listings accompanied by videos get four times more inquiries than photo listings alone. Make those numbers work for you! Make stellar videos that get result. Here's how:

Plan Ahead

Starting at the front door and walking through the house is a bore. Instead, preplan the story that you want to tell.

1. Stories help forge an emotional connection with potential buyers.
2. The story will also help you determine which features you want to show and how to make them look their best.

For example, if you're emphasizing a spacious home for a growing family, lots of low angles will make the rooms seem larger, towering over the viewers. You might also record the swing set swaying in the breeze in the backyard. If the house is small with plenty of charm, panning the rooms will suffice but be sure to take close ups of the home's unique details.

Invest Wisely

With a solid smartphone or DSLR, you can take stunning videos with very few accessories. One worthwhile accessory is a monopod, which improves stability and video clarity in low light.

Consider Film Students

If you're working with a limited budget yet you aren't comfortable with your own videography skills—you're the person who crops off heads during vacation photos—then college students may be your best bet. Many of them have online portfolios to help you determine the quality of their work. As students, their rates will be wallet-friendly—maybe free with internship credits.

Edit Smart for Less

With few exceptions, the apps on your phone aren't going to result in professional-looking videos, especially if you can't add transitions. In less than 20 minutes, you can learn video editing basics on YouTube for iMovie or MovieMaker (both may have come with your computer). Learning post-production basics is a worthy time investment that will make pro-style videos easier.

Be Mobile Minded

Aim for small file sizes for easy visibility on mobile devices. You can show the highlights of the best home in three minutes of fewer, which is great for many social media platforms.

Share Your Videos

Of course your videos should be available through your website, but don't stop there. Share your videos on platforms that resonate with the ideal buyer. In addition to Facebook and Twitter (which now supports video), a community packed with young adults will benefit from a video presence on Instagram. More mature adults provide high click-through rates when you share your video tours via email.

Go Live!

In hot markets, some properties are listed and under contract in less than 24 hours. Meerkat and Periscope apps let you stream live video and receive comments, which is perfect for when you have an interested client on a tight schedule.

Have you made a great video tour for one of your listings? Share a link in the comments! We'd love to see it (and we bet our readers would, too).

To view the original article, visit the Point2 Agent blog.