How To Get An Agent To Use Video

Hi,
I've recently produced a real estate video for an agent. I produced and distributed this video for free. Anyone have any tips on how to make the real estate pros realize the power of video?
Thanks!
Nick
New Jersey

Well first ask yourself-why do YOU believe video is powerful (over say pictures or slide shows etc)?

Hey VVVT!
Here's a quote I just read by WellcomeMat's Hal Kench...

Video is the most compelling visual marketing medium, combining movement, sound, music and action to engage and compel potential clients......................."OK, so why then are you using a SLIDESHOW"?

But you are quoting someone else...what do YOU think about video. You can't convince these agents to buy your video unless you believe yourself it is worth it. What is your PERSONAL opinion? i'm curious now ;)

You need to just resign yourself to the fact that about 10-20% of realtors will "get video". They understand the benefits and they will utilize it often. Some will do video for ALL of their listings, because they know it sets them far apart from all of their competitors. Some will do it only for 'special listings". The other 90% of the realtors will look at you as yet another "invoice" - nothing more. They'll do video if pressured by a seller to "do more". But they don't do it because they understand the benefits, they do it because they're being pushed into doing more than the status quo to market a home.

It's just the way it is unfortunately. The two camps that totally understand the benefits are the sellers and the buyers! The more sellers see video, the more they want it for themselves, and oftentimes they will initiate the process to get a video - and sometimes they will pay for it themselves.

Realtors are a tough crowd. Many don't want to spend any money to market a house. Many want to spend as little as possible. They don't see the big picture.

The best way for everyone to understand the power of video is to just get it OUT THERE. The more often people SEE actual video on the MLS, etc. (realtors and sellers), the more people will utilize it. Otherwise you're going to waste a lot of time trying to explain "video" to people "who already do it now" with VisualTours.com, RealEstateShows.com, etc. They already "think" they're "doing video"....

It's an uphill battle against a group that are largely "technologically challenged", to say the least!

There are 3 compelling reasons for brokers to try using video. Video can convey value that descriptions can't, the market is increasingly competitive and video helps their properties stand out ... and last but not least, competing brokers are using video successfully, so if they are not doing so yet they better start or lose business. The bottom line is that video costs a small fraction of the broker commission. In a flat market, motivated property owners may be willing to shoulder part of the cost with the broker, so all considered it should not be a hard sell.

As to "slide show" ... I've produced "animatic" slide shows with audio & narrative that were more compelling than many videos I've seen, here or elsewhere. It's all about the creativity, not the format. Take pride in your work and use creative tools that tell the story. The end result is what counts, not the cost or type of equipment used.

All of your comments are very insightful!
I really appreciate the advice.
Has anyone ever produced a video for a thrid party company like TurnHere or any of the other ones?
I see they send out video producers to shoot and edit a 60sec. business and/or real estate video. Any info. about this? Are they legit (ie. will they pay)?

Well Nick WE pay...I don't know about the rest...

That's good to know VVVT. Do you hire freelancers in your area?

Nick,
As a Realtor, but on the Buyer's side, not the Listing side, it is hard to get people to spend money on technology. It really does sell the home more.It saves me money as a buyer's agent from having to run to listings buyers are not really interested in and it saves me time and gas money. More consumers now more than ever start their home search on the internet. Actually the new generation is on their smart phones and videos and slide shows can be sent to them on just about any tool now. I started my search that way and the homes with virtual tours caught my eye more than ones without. Video or slideshow doesn't matter. As long as I can get a feel for the inside of the home. I think it is just a slow progressing segment because a lot of Realtors are retirees who don't have the time or patience to invest the time to learn the technology.
I am also trying to break into the market with slide shows to start and video down the line, but it is tough to get people to part with their had earned money when everyone already takes a piece of the pie. I wish you well in your endeavors.

Wow! Thank you very much Nan Pitcher Team. I really appreciate the insight from a realtor's point of view.

I think the Nan Pitcher Team sums up the hurdles well from the broker perspective. If you are just seen as an added cost it's a negative. However if you can show value as being an effective sales tool ... well, the current market is for the bolder brokers who use visual marketing effectively. This is really our mandate in my book. Effective visual communications can take a variety of forms and costs. Find the sweet spot in your market for the smarter brokers who already "get it" ... trying to convince the technophobic is frustrating and futile. Video vs "slide show" ... both need real quality production or they demean the property. Time and a tougher marketplace will prove to be on the side of those who are innovative. BTW Nick, I may get inquiries for NJ (and you may get for Long Island) ... we should all start to coordinate a referral process that assures quality. I am deeply involved in Commercial properties also where I see an expanding need.

Thanks Paul. I would imagine that this technology would be of most value in the Commercial aspect since a lot of buyers are investors from other parts of the country more so than the Residential side of things. I think that will work well.

Thanks Nick,
I hope it helps and good luck with your ventures! I feel very strongly that it is time to step up and move forward. There are always those that will hang on to the "old fashioned" way of doing business and there is a market for that, but for the rest of us appealing to the masses, this is definetly the future!

Thanks to all!
Great idea Paul, I'd love to start a referral process. The great thing about WellcomeMat is that they allow us to include our contact info. on our profile and also let us link to our personal websites. Very cool!
Wish the best,
Nick

Well put everyone. I am currently expanding my company into southern california, and it AMAZES me that agents have listings over $10mil with no web representation. Are you kidding me? If you were selling my home and not marketing it with video, and I know you were going to make a quarter of a million $ in commission, I would fire you!

Good point Eric!
If I was selling a home, the cost of having a video produced and distributed would seem like a drop in the bucket compared to the commission I'd make (even on a modest suburban home).
What is the average commission % for a real estate agent anyway?

standard commission is 2.8% to the listing agent, and 2.8% to the buyers agent. Many times when an agent represents both sides, they will cut the commission to a straight 5%. So, $28,000 commission on a $1mil home sold? sounds to me like these agents need to get off their pocketbooks!

Well, it's not QUITE that cut and dry. Commission rates vary by location. Standard in our area are 4-5%. BUT.... that $28K is also usually split (often times in half) with the agent's broker, so the agent receives only $14K. Less taxes, expenses for marketing... It's not a bad living, but many people don't see the entire picture. And these days, when it goes months and months without ANY closings/paychecks... it's not quite as lucrative as it appears.

Thank-you Fred. I wish I could make the money people think you can make. I might not be thinking of a business on the side!
With the price of gas and the cost of advertising in all the places you should be advertising to represent your seller in the best possible light (Not just the internet, but a good place to be none the less) it is harder and harder to keep up a living in Real Esate. It seems the lower the home price, the less education the buyer has about the home buying process and the more work you have to do to get that buyer closed.
Having virtual tours will maximize profit by allowing the buyer to shop around online before they come to me to drive them everywhere and think they are missing out because I am not showing them every home in their price bracket that doesn't meet their specifications. I don't know how we are doing this job without every listing having a virtual tour, not only on the listing side, but on the buying side as well.

I'm so glad I found WellcomeMat. It's only been a few months, but I am learning so much. Thank you all for communicating and being open/honest. Oh yea, Nan Pitcher Team, could I please quote the last two sentences in your comment? Those are words of wisdom and they may help me convince my local agents to use video in their marketing plan!

A sad, but true story.

When I was first getting started, I used to work out a deal with an agent to show my videos at their broker open houses. I offered a FREE video tour and FREE photography ($379 value) as a raffle prize (they always have raffles and food to get agents to the open house). In exchange, they promoted me in their flyers, and let me attend their open house.

To date, in the past two years I have now given away 14 of these freebies as raffle prizes. All of these agents needed to be present to win, which means they SAW the video display at the open house.

How many have redeemed them in TWO YEARS?

Still. Pathetically. Only one.

Now, considering agents typically have more listings now then they've ever had at one time in their careers, and considering the slow market, wouldn't you think the little light bulb MIGHT go off? Free marketing? Free promotion?

Ah, but no.

It's not all about money with realtors. Many (hell.. MOST!) just ABSOLUTELY DO NOT GET IT. They just don't!

I also spent 40 minutes yesterday on the phone with an agent 'teaching' her how to 'cut and paste' her video tour link in the MLS. She was clueless. She even crashed her computer doing it. 40 minutes. Cut and paste. It's 2008!
Two weeks ago I had to help an agent and teach her how to send a photo as an attachment in email.

A funny group these realtors are!

Fred,
Sadly you are right. It is about money too. I am having to charge a $35 set up fee and $15 -- that's right $15 fee to put together videos to get any business and some are complaining about that. It is money to start with, then that they don't understand the value of the service and it should be mandatory to take computer classes when you start as several don't even know how to save stuff on their computer, how to do flyers or to e-mail pictures, so how could they see the value in using technlogy like virtual tours? It is very frustrating from a business stand point in the virtual tour world and being a realtor that everyone is not on the same page. I would expect that as a client you may not know about technology, but you would expect your agent to know it and know how to utilize it.
A majority of agents in our market are over 50 and seem to struggle the most, but it is not exclusive to an older generation, a lot of younger agents have not learned anything beyond e-mailing also. What to do??

Well, they say that 10% of realtors do 90% of the business. You just need to FIND THOSE TEN PERCENT. They understand marketing. They understand video. hat's why they're successful. They're making money. They're doing business. I charge $300 a pop and I'm as busy as I can possibly be without working 24 hours a day - so there ARE people who get it and there ARE people who will pay what it's worth. You just have to find them and don't waste your time with the others - who will never understand until 2011 or something...!

I did a first video for an agent last week. She just ordered two more about an hour ago. Another one... HOOKED! She's psyched. The seller loves it. She used the first video to get two NEW listings. She's showed it to everyone in her office. THEY loved it. She JUST figured it out... and now she'll probably be a regular customer.

Don't sell yourself short. If you give away your services, you'll never be able to charge what they're worth, as you'll get yourself boxed in to a lowball price with a lot of customers. I would do them for FREE for a bunch of people, making very clear it's a promotion (obviously)... but it will get people to personally SEE the value not only to them and their marketing, but to their seller as well. More people will see them on the MLS, more people will call.... Bam! You're in business!

Most of my clients do them for many, if not all of their listings. If you can get 3 or 4 dozen agents who do them regularly - you've got pretty steady business! There's plenty of business out there - today is my first (sort of) day off in about 3 months! And only because 3 sellers weren't ready that were scheduled for today. AND its beautiful out to boot! Hooray!

Thanks for the GREAT advice Fred. Our Market doesn't do all that business, but you are right, it does do more than I am thinking about by a few. I will have to consider changing my business strategy. It sounds like you are doing very well. I wish you continued success and it is great to come here and hear great ideas that you guys are sharing for all of us. I don't get much referral business, but I will definetly let you know if I do.Thank-you again! How exciting. I am just at the very 1st stages of putting this all together, so I have a ways to go, but I can really see the need. I just have to figure out how to get it focused and off the ground without ruffling feathers or giving away technology to competition since I am still a Realtor for my day job. It's a fine line. I don't do listings, but I am hoping that if I help out the agents in my office on the side, it will help me to formulate a plan to do this full time when it comes around.

To a listing agent, most important thing is to sell the house. The next most important thing, until you sell the house, is to keep the Seller happy.

If I were selling my services as a videographer I'd do two things.

1. I'd get in front of the agents, maybe a short presentation at a sales meeting, and show them three listings from their office. One with just pictures, one with pics and a virtual tour, and one with good pics and a good video. Then ask them which listing do they think will generate a call?... All other things being equal, which home will sell first?

2. I'd review all of the homes that were on the market for more than the average for you market area and call or mail the owners with your pitch for your services. If the agent doesn't get it, the Seller will. Especially if their house is languishing on the market.

I'd do both until I was too busy shooting and producing videos to spend any time on marketing.

I think Fred's idea of giving away a video tour as a door prize is a great idea.

Many agents don't blink at a 25% referral fee or $1,000s per month for print ads. Once they're convinced your services are worth it they'll pay $250-500 per tour without a second thought.

But you have to deliver a quality product that works! And that's NOT a slide show. It's a qulaity narrated video.

Point taken Ray, I will work on saving funds for a good camera, but in the mean time, a good quality slide show will have to work! I am getting there slowly. I guess that is why i am not up and running yet. I really know that the video is the way to go, but I have to start with slide shows because that is what I have right now and even that is cutting edge for now.

Two great points Ray!
I especially like your second one.

I've only been contacting agents so far.
Contacting the sellers is briilant, plus they are able to request the use of video distribution to their agents .
This goes back to Ray's other point of keeping the seller happy.
I now have a better strategy.
Thanks a lot!

I have got to say that I think this may be the most informative post we have had here on Wellcomemat. Great information from all!

Everyone's input is informative and from experience here. It has been a challenge for me as well. But I also fear we have all shot ourselves in the foot by lowering our prices and giving away free videos when you take into count the amount of hours it takes in production and post just to show and convince these Agents just how effective of a sales tool it can be. A full motion video, professionally edited and narrated can make a difference when getting that listing. Problem is Real Estate as you all know is really tough these days. But as it was mentioned, the 10% that is really working and taking advantage of the market conditions for the next two years is the demographic we all need to go after anyway.

I am driving all the way to AZ this weekend just to help shoot a 4.7 mil property for an Agent and I am doing this for free (with the positive injunction that this will be used to sell my services to all other top producing Agents in the area and for a golden review from the listing Agent...etc etc)

But I keep thinking to myself... are we all shooting ourselves in the foot? Video productions such as ours would cost up to 2000 easily in So Cal for other industries why are we cut throating it just to get their business?

The time for Free lunches, solutions and perks from title companies and such are over! Agents must realize by now that if they want to be serious and stay in business, they have to rely and pay for the best marketing and branding solutions. The "flock" or graduating classes that think "I might as well have a Real Estate License and sell my uncle's home" are quickly getting thinner now that it is becoming more difficult to take the test and become an Agent.

So I propose we all form some kind of an organization and belong to it, hold virtual meetings, discuss the correct price for our work and make sure we publish documentation that explains our work in detail and why there are certain costs.

The other alternative is to make sure if the Agents are not paying our fees (otherwise going for Free or 15 dollar tours when we know they should be no less than 300-500 min) then maybe it is time we introduce our video tour pages with advertising banners, then go to advertisers and have them sponsor the pages knowing they will bet considerable traffic... what do you all think about that?

Bottom line Nick, the simple answer to your question is:

Video vs. virtual tour: full motion video is the most effective way to capture a property and to make the viewer feel as if they are right there viewing it, if done correctly. I have always disliked a bunch of spinning rooms shot in fish eye lens view as a proper representation of a property. Picture tours are great too but again... not as effective and as expressive as full motion video.

Having a video file (pitch for brokers and high end producers) is like having a 24/7 open house that is never closed down and always available for viewing... great now with prices of gas when people don't really think they can make it out to see the property. now they can view the home at the comfort of their homes without even leaving. As mentioned already, this is a GREAT way to get the online investors that are currently looking for properties to invest in with our current market conditions. It is also quickly becoming the favorite question for listing presentations "Will you have a video tour of the home and put it everywhere including the MLS?"

There is my two cents ... or 25 judging by the length of it :)

Fred... holding virtual meetings to discuss the correct prce... bad idea!

It's in violation of the anti-trust laws. It's also why you don't see agents from different offices discussing commissions.

Videographers, if they want to make a living in this market, need to market their product.

How about a short compelling video of what you offer? Get some facts about how video is working and get it in front of your prospective buyers.

Giving away samples to carefully selected, and high profile, prospects can be part of an effective marketing program.

Sell the sizzle! Get excited about what you can do for them. Don't sit back and complain about how they don't get it. If they don't get, you haven't done a good job marketing your product.

I've had three homes sell sight-unseen to buyers that just viewed my video tours. I've sold homes that other realtors couldn't sell.

The way you sell a house is to get qualified buyers through it. I get and average of 100 views of my tours in the first week. When the Buyer shows up they're motivated and there are no surprises.

Video works!

Here's one more idea.

Approach a high-volume agent in your market and offer to do a free demo video of a home. Maybe their own personal residence.

Have them include it in their listing presentations. Maybe even have them leave a DVD of it before the listing presentation.

Tell them you'll give them a discount for the first 10 or so. Or maybe 5 free DVDs of each tour you do for them.

Once they experience how effective video is, they'll buy your product. And at a fair price.

Also... I think videographers make a mistake when they focus on high-end lisings exclusively. The people that make real money in real estate do it by volume. Find the high-volume producers and concentrate on them.

I still think the biggest problem videographers have is pricing the product based on what THEY think the video is worth, what the going rate is for something similar, etc... and THEN trying to sell the realtors.

I've worked with realtors for many, many years and I knew what the threshold was for pricing. I knew there was NO way many would pay more than $300-$400 for something like this - it just wouldn't happen. Granted, you may get one here and one there that would spring for the big bucks, but you're not going to make a living that way.

You have to determine the correct price point THEN create a product that falls in line with that price point.

Will you cut corners? Of course! It all comes down to time and workflow. I can spend 8 hours editing a video, but not for $300! But if I can whip it off in 30-45 minutes, it's doable. I can do volume, I keep the price low, I keep the volume up and I can make money. And the more I do, the more exposure I get to realtors AND sellers via the MLS..... and THE MORE I DO.

People laugh when I tell them I edit in iMovie... a free software program that comes with the Mac. (the old version even!). I have Final Cut. I know how to use it. But I can do it MUCH MUCH faster in iMovie... Is it the same product that I would do with more involved editing and time? Of course not! But it's GOOD ENOUGH, and it's priced right, and people will (and do!) buy them. I'm booked solid every single day.

Another thing... Realtors and sellers don't CARE what kind of equipment you have, how much it costs, what kind of editing software you use, how many awards you've won, how long you've been editing video..... NONE OF THAT. It makes no difference!

They care about price. And they care about how it looks. If you keep your business within those parameters, you'll do great business.

It's like the Blu-Ray and DVD issue... most people polled will NOT be buying into the Blu-Ray video revolution.... because they're HAPPY with DVD's. It's GOOD ENOUGH.

Good ENOUGH is all it needs to be. (which doesn't mean it should look like a slasher movie.... you're selling very expensive products here).... but it doesn't need to be flashy. People are looking at the HOUSE, not at the production values.

Build your business to your price point, not your price point to your business. Otherwise I think you'll fail in real estate video.

Here's another idea.

I'm going over to a listing today to video it for an out-of-state Buyer. It's not my listing but the buyer is anxious to narrow down the list of homes to consider because they want to amke a quick trip up to Alaska to buy a home.

This video will provide them with the incentive to come up on their buying trip.

Offer a special to agents that specialize in Buyers... Offer a quick walk-thru and a few detailed pictures of the specifics they-re interested in. For maybe $100

The video I take at 1:00 PM toda will be in front of the Buyer in Texas within three hours. I'll probably shoot for 15 min, edit for 30min and upload it in 15min.

Or.. you may just want to offer this service to your established tour custmers.... mybe a free buyer preview for every 10 tours.

Fred Light is right...

The objective is to sell the house. Not win an Oscar!

Ray, thank you for your comments... btw, there is no problems in creating a "consolidated organization of colleagues" I have seen it in many businesses. It brings the consolidated power of many people in the same business together. by the way, no one is trying to "win an oscar" producing videos for selling homes.

Anyway, and Fred, your videos rock so I don't know what you mean about "cutting corners" even with your supposed cutting corners... your videos are done very nicely and I always like your narrations. It comes with experience obviously because I know you have done many of them.

Fred is right as always.
I have cranes, dollys and tons of other really cool equipment but its not cost effective to bring it out. I shoot million dollar house's nearly everyday of the week but none of my agents want to spend over 250 dollars. So what they get is about 2 hours of my time. Honestly I would love to do way more for them, and make it amazing with helicopter shots and fireworks and a super model spokesperson, but I'm willing to take what there willing to pay and build the product around the price point. Some of my agents don't even want video they just want photos I don't tell them no that's not cool enough you have to do video. I say what's the address and then I deposit the check.
I do double my price for builders, the pockets are deeper and I take a bit more time with lighting and editing.

Here's another idea...

Get a real estate license, hang it with an agreeable broker and do videos for a referral fee.

Most successful Realtors are willing to pay a referral fee for someone who brings value to the table.

A $350,000 house @ 6% brings in $10,500 to the listing broker. Realtors routinely pay 20-30% to referring brokers and relo companies.

So... 5% of $10,500 is $525. Just pick your customers carefully and you should do good with an approach like this.

You get paid after the sale closes.

There you go Ray, now you are talking! the next two years is going to be a fantastic window of opportunity to make money at this specially for people who have the technology at their side. I know I am getting my license going this summer and will be working with investors... and will be using my video tours, video blogs and my SEO lead generation sites for my own benefit for once :)

I think this last post and suggestion tops them all ;)

Good discussion. It's nice hearing the agents perspective. They are a tough bunch to sell technology to. Great ideas! Keep them coming...

Fred, your story about agents not taking advantage of something free is funny and true with us as well. We give away ads at meetings, trade shows, and other special occasions and it's like pulling teeth just to get them to use it! If you don't constantly remind them about it they will not use it. I've quit reminding them now. Their loss.

We're a tough bunch to sell to because most of have spent tons of money on Advertising that doesn't work. The data backs this video gig. I do too. You can tell the agent they're being lied to. And they are. These scmucks selling stitch together 'virtual tours' and wannabe 'video tours using your existing photographs' are a bunch of liars. They’re wasting our money and quite frankly pissing off the consumer. You see we're telling consumers to click here and see this great video tour and they're not getting what they think they should be getting..THIS IS WHAT THEY SHOULD BE GETTING...REAL VIDEO! A representation of the home - a true, valid walk through. The consumer doesn't care about the pretty music and flashy intros. They want to see the house for what it is. Period. The sooner you video guys/gals realize this and the sooner you can convince this to your clients (us...because again, most of us are skeptical of new marketing) the sooner the public will get their video and everyone will have what they want. I think the key is to keep our cost down by keeping your cost down. Don’t waste time fluffing the video up. Take a good video that represents the home accurately, make sure the lighting is good, sound is good (if applicable) and include in your service posting it up here. Again, the less you edit the more you can save and the less you have to charge us (I’m think I’m right here

Also, I've browsed my zip code for a videographer and I can't find one with a sample of their work posted??? What gives??? How can I as a broker recommend you to my agents or co-brokers if you don't show me your work? Put up your sample videos and give us some prices. Blah, blah, blah..I could go on forever..this is the future guys...create it..figure it out! It has to be cheap and it has to be pretty good quality, but it doesn’t have to be fancy..not for mainstream.

Chris...
As an associate broker doing my own videos I agree with much of what you say.

But professional vieographers have to charge enough to make a living. They can also make a professional product AND show the property without spending an undue amount of time.

Real estate video is in it's infancy. There was probably a time when only the upper end listings were worth the trouble to go out and take pictures of and post them on the Internet. Now its a requirement of an effective marketing program for any listing.

Things will change and video will be mainstream. My guess is it will take 2-4 years for video to take the lead in real estate marketing tours.

Ray,

I agree with you as well. Everyone has to make a living. I'm thinking the professional video guys need to make a tiered pricing index for their services; allowing the agent with the 100K home to spend $100 or less on a low budget video. Also, the same agent could spend $500 on a damn nice video for their 500K home.

Man I know everyone needs to make a living and I also know most agents aren't going to do their own videos...heck, we can't even get them to take good video. All I'm saying is the price needs to be pretty damn cheap for this to go mainstream. Me not being on the professional videographer side of things, I'm not quite sure what it takes to cut costs or what costs are even involved. I'll tell you what, however..this video interests me so much that I might try and make a go at building a company that does just this.

Correction: heck, we can't even get them to take good PHOTOS

Hi, I'm new on the board and really found this discussion interesting. I'm a relatively new agent (only 2 closings so far), but I believe video is the way to go when promoting my listings. It is important to me to weigh the benefits against the cost, but I think video tells a better story and offers more marketing options overall. Trying to find good videographers at realistic pricing is sometimes difficult, though. I'm trying to set myself apart by embracing technology so I can provide the best services to my clients. For what it's worth....

It will take time. I know plenty of agents still reluctant to utilize their email or computer in general. No kidding.

Darrin & Andrea ...

Don't worry about the agents that refuse to use technology. They won't be around that much longer.

I'm taking Ray Wood's advice.
I'm going to real estate school next month. Hopefully I'll hook up with a broker and I'll produce videos for my own listings. Any advice for a wannabe real estate agent?
Nick
New Jersey
www.9southproductions.com/VideoProduction.html

Nick...

The most important things for real estate success are:

1. Mind-set...Don't expect to make anything for the first 3-4 months. Hire on with the company with the best educational program for start-ups. You can always switch later if you don't like working for them.

2. Watch successful people, ask them what they do. Do what they do.

3. Follow up with buyers and sellers and do what you say you will do.

4. Rely on personal contact, direct mail and an Internet presence, in that order, to create business. You don't have to spend lots of money on fancy marketing gimmicks and programs. You can copy the expensive glitzy marketing programs for very little money.

5. If you're not making lots of money and enjoying what you are doing in three years. Quit and find something else. 90% of the real estate is sold by 10% of the Realtors. If you're not in that 10%, you're in the wrong business.

Good luck!

Nick it looks like you really hit a nerve with this post ! 50 posts and counting haha

Yea bro!
That just shows how powerful and effective WellcomeMat.com is.
I really appreciate everyone here.
You all are extremely helpful and I just hope to return the favor sometime.
Thanks so much,
Nick
New Jersey
www.9southproductions.com/VideoProduction.html

Realtors will not move to Video anytime soon for the following reasons:
1. Budget
2. Ignorance
3. Time consuming
4. They are dinosaurs
5. Steep learning curve

Nick,

I watched your listing video. Invest in a steady cam device. It's worth every penny. Good Job, but you need to smooth out the shakes.

Hey Ted,
Thanks for the tips and feedback.
I actually used a Glidecam Smooth shooter on that one.
It was one of the first shoots I used it on.
Luckily, I've learned how to balance/operate it better now.
Check out the new edited version. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Nick

Nick: Just noticed on your website you're using VIMEO. Don't. They will ban you and remove all of your videos with NO notice. They are slowly going through their entire database and removing ANYTHING that smells of a commercial video... such a real estate. Stay away from them or you'll have blank holes on your website one day.

Thanks for the heads up Fred.
I appreciate it. Do you know of any other sites that allow HD uploading? Anyway, I'm now going to change my vimeo vids to wellcomemat vids.
Thanks again,
Nick

Daily Motion does for certain accounts, but that's all I'm aware of. Even Vimeo doesn't do HD as an embed. You have to view it on their site. But their quality was great. They zapped me and a whole bunch of other people last week.

Nick,

HA! I had the same problem when I first used my steady cam. What Camera do you have?

I was one of the Vimeo channels that was knocked off.

I have found a great new one I am using (video hosting place that is) and that is motionbox.com for 30/year I upgraded my account to allow HD and unlimited downloads.

Oh and Nick, you can research how to easily make your own steady cam device on youtube... with very small budget, with simple things found in a lowes or home depot even... you can make some very clever things for your camera.

Most new HD handhelds also come with better correction these days :)

Fred.... Have you checked their TOS? Sites like these seem to be coming down hard on real estate/commercial videos and just deleting accounts. Blip.TV, Vimeo, Spike.com, iFilm, all of these sites once were accepting videos, now have banned and removed all real estate advertising.

This site looks very focused on home movies and seems to have very little advertising. Not sure how to interpret this in their TOS: "You shall not broadcast or send any form of advertising, mass communication or solicitation to any Motionbox users."

But I would be careful with sites like these and embedding them on other sites, especially for clients. If they kill your account, your videos disappear everywhere overnight and with no notice.

Another reason to stick with sites like WellcomeMat who "wellcome" real estate videos - not remove them!

Fred, thanks as well for the vimeo notice as I've been using them too. I know you use Brightcove's player and when I uploaded my vids there the quality was really poor. I'm not sure if I have a setting wrong or what b/c the same vids uploaded other places look alot better. Yours look great so there must be something I'm doing wrong. Any advice/insight?

Russell: Somewhere on their site are specific specs for uploading to Brightcove - so if you just copy them as they recommend you should do OK.

Awesome info. from everyone.
I'm gonna stick with WellcomeMat's player.
If someone has an older/less powerful computer, it's difficult for them to smoothly watch a HD upload. Besides, WellcomeMat is the best site I've ever found. As a video producer who mostly creates business profiles, webmercials and hopefully real estate vids, this site is perfect!
Oh yea, Ted, I use a Sony Z1U. I try to shoot in 1080i at all times unless the client requires 4:3.
Thanks to all!
Nick Cheadle
www.9southproductions.com/VideoProduction.html

It's also a smart idea early on (before EVERYONE is doing video) to send out a press release to your local newspapers. They ALWAYS bite...

I sent out one just 3 weeks ago, and two local papers called me within 12 hours to do a story!

AUG 15 Realtors trying some different methods to sell off houses

AUG 3 Video can be a sellers best friend

Last time I did it a couple of years ago, I got a story from a statewide magazine.

In 2006, I got a fairly large story that was picked up by the AP and went national.

All were from press releases that I sent out.

In February of 2006 I sent out a press release on using video podcasts, which resulted in a spot on the Boston 11pm news - the website received 200 hits per hour for about 5 hours! The article about the story still remains on the ABC affiliate's website 2 1/2 years later - with a link to the agent's website!

However, you need to learn how to properly write a press release and you need an angle, otherwise it's just promo fluff, which they don't like.

The angle for these two recent stories was the sellers were taking matter into their own hands during a slow real estate market, and participating and completely doing the entire video tour themselves. Evidently, THEY found it to be newsworthy!

It creates awareness for the concept, it creates brand awareness for your company and it creates credibility in a huge way.

Props to Fred with the Press Releases. I agree wholeheartedly that free press is way more credible and CHEAPER than paying for self-proclaiming advertising. A good book to learn how to write a press release and get free press is "PR for Dummies."

Excellent idea Fred! I'm actually starting to get attention in my local area now because I found one of my area's top realtors (i.e. early tip from Fred).

This was still a free video, but it is worth way more than any price I could have charged.
The agent is using her video as a tool she sends it to all of her contacts.
This helps me as a video producer greatly. Now one of her sellers wants one done on his/her property. Guess who gets to charge now?!!!

I'm definitely going to try Fred's tip on writing a press release. That would be so awesome if a story got in the local paper. Buyers, sellers, realtors and brokers read the paper!

Nick... better yet, most newspaper articles are now indexed (and ranked highly) by Google. The article that was in the today's paper I've found all over the net. It was picked up by several blogs and websites I follow and I received it in my RSS feed reader - 4 times I think. And it stays on the newspaper's website usually for a week or more.

So.. even though I think almost NOBODY reads a newspaper anymore, many do read it online and it definitely grows some (albeit temporary) legs. And periodically, they get picked up by the AP and go national - you never know.

I've been reading the threads here (very informative by the way) and have learned a couple of things along the way with my own business. Advertising doesn't generally work. We did rent a booth for a large show (nearly $900 for a 10x10 booth for one day) to get our name out at the largest listing service show (FMLS) in Atlanta. We had many stop, love our work, etc., but we later calculated how many new clients we picked up and the business it generated and it wasn't worth it.

We have found that if we can get an audience at a brokerage sales meeting, we can usually obtain between 5-6 new clients who then start using us on a regular basis and give us referral business. (Be prepared to give one tour away at a drawing and a great way to obtain realtor's business cards too).

Like many of you, pricing is key. What are realtors willing to pay for a tour? When it comes to editing, I don't have the bandwidth or the knowledge (not that I couldn't do if I really put my mind to it) to edit my own videos. I do however, script and record the narration, so my overhead is a bit higher. My editors are usually hungry college kids that just want to have a little fun and do a fantastic job! I do have one or two young people who work in the televsion industry who also do my editing. Given those factors, the price of gas now, and the time involved, and what my competitors are offering, I have to make sure I'm in sync.

We lucked out shortly after we got started with the Atlanta Journal Constitution who ASKED to do a piece on us for the Real Estate Saturday section. The front cover was me and my camera! You couldn't pay enough for this kind of publicity!

With the market today, it's hard to get the realtors to understand the value of video when they don't know if they're going to be able to make their next house payment due to lack of commissions. The one thing we all need to emphasize is that the tours bring the homes to life. How many of us have at one time or another shopped for a home. Personally I'm look for the homes with virtual tours...and video draws me in even more!

One other key factor I've learned is showing the realtor how they can use your product as the WOW factor on listing presentations. This is where those little handy business card size CD's come in to play. Create some of these and give them to your clients or potential clients to take on a listing presentation. Most realtors take a lap top these days and being able to actually SHOW the potential home seller the virtual tour that will be used in incredibly beneficial to the home seller AND the realtor who generally gets the business.