Video Tour for MLS Listings

[powayseller]

I saw a post on Jim Klinge’s website, and someone congratulated him on the great video tour. It really is nice.

Which makes me wonder: why don’t all realtors put together a video tour? This is the internet age.

Isn’t it internet appeal, curb appeal, home appeal?

Sellers: get good photos and a narrated video tour, because you are competing with 7 other sellers for that ONE buyer. Why miss an opportunity to market your home?

Isn’t a video tour MUCH more important than those stupid old-fashioned newspaper ads that nobody looks at anyway? Come on, when was the last time a buyer asked to look at a home he saw in a newspaper ad!

Realtors, please jump in. I’d like to add that I’m thrilled to have so many professionals on this forum. It really makes the forums so much more interesting and educational.

[sdrealtor]

It’s funny but many people still begin their search in the Sunday Paper. I dont get as many calls from ads as a few years ago but still get them regularly from people at the beginning of their search.

Regarding video tours, i’m not sold on them. The name of the game in marketing anything is getting people to come look at the merchandise in person. Give them too much information and they dont need to see it in person. Many of the tours are slow loading and poor technology also. Throw in a slow computer or Internet connection and you freeze up people’s systems. I would guess that I actually wait and view less then half the virtual tour I click on in the MLS for this reason. Realtors will claim their virtual tours are great marketing tools in an attempt to differentiate themselves in the eyes of sellers but I say show me the money! It’s another thing Realtors throw at seller’s to entice them with a high perceived value but I believe high quality still photography is much more important.

[PerryChase]

sdrealtor, i too feel that good still photos are best. I never watch the video because they are a waste of time. If you like the house, drive by it. If you really want to buy schedule a showing. There’s nothing like an on site visit.

You’d be surprised how many people don’t do their own research. They just ask an agent so show them around then buy whatever is in their monthly payment budget. I’m not in the RE business but it’s seems that way to me from what I hear.

[OwnerOfCalifornia]

When I shopped for my previous house, I never looked at a newspaper. I did all my initial research on the internet, and developed a list of homes to go see in person. The “interactive tours” were nice, but at least one photo was needed.

The videos are ok, but I think today any internet presence is the single most important bit of marketing. As long as property is on the MLS that should be sufficient to get it listed at places like realtor.com, etc. right?

[sdrealtor]

Agreed and there are many people like you. However, the fact that you are on an Internet blog to begin with makes you biased in that direction. While its changing, lots (and I mean LOTS!) of people out there still do thing the old fashioned way. People roll into town all the time to look for a new home. Most arent toting laptops with wireless Internet connections. Even though they probably did some advance research on the Net alot open the paper to find a realtor. Beyond that, most business in RE is done by referral anyway.

As for the Internet, the only site that matters in my mind is Realtor.com which gets direct feeds from the MLS. For a small price you can enhance your listings which makes a huge difference in visibility on the net.

[powayseller]

A poorly made video is a detraction, almost. I saw one the other day, that was 15 minutes long! The agent stood there, walking slowly through each room, explaining every feature of that house. Shouldn’t a video be about 30 seconds long? Does anyone really still use dial-up?

[SD Realtor]

I have polled my buyers as well and the overwhelming majority say that they simply like stills rather then a video tour. For high end properties I will recommend a good photographer that I frequently use. He does great stills and he also does a neat video tour as well. His video tours kind of start with a wide angle and then focus in on a spot. The 360 degree tours are a total laugher.

Anyways I think it is that instant gratification thing PS… Most internet shoppers like information and they like it at thier fingertips. Things that even take more then a few seconds tend to get passed over…

[Author]

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