Videos

[naplesrealestate]

I think the use of videos will play a greater role in tomorrow's real estate industry, if it already is.

Is anyone using extensively any type of video casting on their website or blog?

Using a Canon Powershot S1 IS with the movie feature, I managed to make several videos of a neighborhood for a prospective buyer. Notice that I said several - it would have been more professional to have one nice video (all of them together) and post it either on my site for the specific community and/or blog.

I did find a software package and hardware called Pinnacle Movie Studio, which allows me to combine the videos and add many features and then some, that MS Movie Maker has. The key item for me was having both the software and hardware that will allow me to take various video formats (VHS, DVD, etc.) and convert them into a format that is acceptable to youtube and Google video.

What I would like to know is, if anyone else has had any experience with any type of video software and hardware? And what their experience has been.

BTW - the prospective buyer did buy the property without physically viewing it.

[Homer4Bama]

I've done a few of those videos for clients, and yes they pay off! The only real downside to me was the server space they take up and the time to upload, but my out of town clients really enjoy them....

Personally, I use a JVC HD handheld DVD recorder. It seems to do the trick.... As far as software for editing, I have used cyberlink (I think it came bundled with the camera).

On my pc, as I said, I use Cyberlink, it came bundled with the camera. Fairly easy to use and I think it does a fine job for splicing movies and adding title frames before a scene.

On my mac I use Adobe premier, pretty expensive, but has all the bells and whistles, 80% of which I don't use (or know how...it is learn as you go for me)

[naplesrealestate]

Ed - thanks for your input - I might be in the market for a new recorder for doing the videos and hopefully, make it easier for myself.

[Homer4Bama]

I just remembered, Adobe Premier Elements is around $100. It has a free trial download. at

adobe.com/products/premiereel/tryout.html

[lasvegasrealestate]

You might try using a compression agent like Divx, to crunch the file size down, then convert it to a flash player. Divx will compress it to a lot smaller size with hardly any loss of quality. I have a few videos that I would like to upload to my site, when I get the time (sound familiar?). I've already bought a program that will convert virtually any video format into a flash player and html page. This weekend I'm going to try to compress the DVD footage I have using Divx then convert it to flash.

[naplesrealestate]

Charles - thought you would have experimented with your software that you purchased by now. What are you doing with all your spare time? LOL

Ops - I think I was supposed to re-e-mail (like that new word ) the avi file for you to try.

[Andrea Messenger]

Has anyone tried using the companies that do the listing videos for you? Just curious how they compare to the ones done on your own.

BTW, it seems folks continue to prefer still photos when browsing listings - esp on the web. Do you find that as well?

Although, I think videos are a very nice tool to use with sellers and can be an extra wow with buyers. Not to mention they are light years ahead of the old "fishbowl" house from virtual tours.

[lasvegasrealestate]

I think with the embedded flash player that will change everything. You can embed great looking video with sound into any html page. You don't have to worry about player incompatibilities, because 99% of internet users will have flash installed already, regardless of os or browser.

Ha, Glenn, you're funny. I've been working for my friend. Man, does he need the help.

[naplesrealestate]

Originally Posted by Andrea Messenger Has anyone tried using the companies that do the listing videos for you? Just curious how they compare to the ones done on your own.

Andrea - yes I have tried the companies that do listing videos, but it was a number of years ago. I did not care for the "fishbowl" look to the tours - the walls seemed to have curves in them.
The tours that I do are not great, but I have the option to add more views of the neighborhood, clubhouse, tennis courts, community pools and spas, etc. that are not normally part of the video package.

What I see is the ability to create videos that are unique to a community, so that a site visitor does not have to read, they just look at the video and get to see the neighborhood and the neighborhood video could be augmented by places that are close-by.

If we do a search on mapquest or whatever, they always list what is nearby - now extend that information to an actual picture or video and we have gone to the next level.

Just some of my thoughts - believe me, I am no futuristic visionary.

[Jason Painter]

I was thinking that an easy way to avoid the hosting issues with the large video files is to just upload them to youtube. Make sure you include some frames with your contact info in it and then you even have some more advertisement out there for your business.