It’s 2019, and it feels like everybody who works in real estate is also a videographer. And that’s no surprise — video has been shown to drive massive amounts of internet traffic to home listings.
Agents can add videos to their listings even without the budget or tools for the kind of product made by luxury brokerages and massive franchises — so long as you know how to maximize the phone you already have.
Gustavo Gonzalez
“We all walk around with a mini Hollywood studio in our pockets,” said Gustavo Gonzalez, the senior manager, content and multimedia at Coldwell Banker, at this year’s Inman Connect New York. “iPhones are powerful, powerful tools.”
Here’s all you need to know for making killer real estate videos without breaking the bank:
Bring extra batteries (seriously, do it)
A battery malfunction once left Gonzalez filming a listing video of NBA star Patrick Ewing’s home from an iPhone. While he got out and lived to tell the tale at Inman Connect, it’s still not something you want to happen to you.
Get the right tools
Many do not realize that iPhone has more than the default video setting. If you’re going to take this seriously, you need a way to control the aperture and shutter speed — apps like VSCO or Camera+ 2 are some inexpensive and reliable options.
If you are going to be filming videos from your iPhone regularly, you might also want to buy add-on lenses, a hand-held tripod and an external light.
Inman Connect 2019 | Photo by Veronika Bondarenko for Inman
Invest in a Lavalier Microphone
One of the first things that sets apart professional videos is the audio (in simpler terms, lack of the background screeching and buzzing that accompany iPhone videos filmed outside.) You can find Lavelier Microphones that hook onto the speaker’s clothes for $79.99.
Do not zoom
Zooming blurs the subjects and distorts the quality. Get closer to the subject instead.
Don’t limit yourself to house tours
Get creative! Gonzalez suggests peppering your website and social media with videos of homes of the week, community tours and Instagram Stories.
“It feels like there’s a person behind it instead of a production team,” Gonzalez said.
Don’t chase perfection
When you see video after professionally produced video, it can feel like nothing you’ll make will be up to par. This is a misconception — when it comes to clicks and visitors, imperfect video is almost always better than no video at all.
