I’ve written before on how how to use video to sell your house. I’ve written about using Youtube to host a virtual tour. Heck, I’ve even written about all the video hosting alternatives to Youtube.
But until now there really hasn’t been an easy to use solution for Realtors looking to use video to help sell their properties. But now there’s WellcomeMat, which rolled out a total redesign of their site today.
WellcomeMat first hit my radar screen after I met one of the founders at a cafe in SoHo prior to the Inman Connect conference in New York last month. Phil sat me down over coffee and showed me an early version of the site and how easy it was to use their product.
I was sold right away.
The basic premise behind WellcomeMat is they want to create an easy way for Realtors to market their properties online using video. They’ve succeeded and done it in a couple of different ways.
First off, unlike Brad Inman’s TurnHere, which provides full-service video production services (of which I’m a big fan BTW), WellcomeMat doesn’t want to produce your videos for you.
Rather, they provide a marketplace to help connect Realtors and video professionals. Video pros can create a profile page on WellcomeMat that showcases their work; Realtors can go to the Videographer Directory and find a videographer they like, one that’s close to home. You choose the pros, post the nature of the job you’d like shot and get a quote from each. It’s that simple. A user rating system ensures the integrity of the marketplace.
WellcomeMat does not currently charge anything for this service.
Secondly, whether your video is professionally shot and edited or it’s something you’ve shot yourself and cobbled together in iMovie, WellcomeMat can host it and stream it for you. Their relationship with Limelight Networks means they have the horsepower to do this and ensure the video quality remains top notch (my 2mb test video uploaded in less than 10 seconds – pretty impressive stuff).
In my opinion, this is where WellcomeMat really shines. The quality of WellcomeMat’s video far surpasses that of Youtube and Google Video. Their upload process is easy and their patented video player is second to none. The ability to add tabbed chapter markers to the video file makes is a visually compelling way to highlight the selling features of a property.
It’s this one-two punch that I think makes this company’s strategy a winner. WellcomeMat’s founders both come from film production backgrounds and are passionate believers in the power of online video (check out their blog for more insight). Furthermore, they are truly committed to helping Realtors get the best out of video and go to great lengths to do so.
They won kudos from many real estate bloggers at the Connect Conference for jumping in and hosting videos (see WellcomeMat to the Rescue at sellsius° real estate blog) and several other bloggers have subsequently dabbled in creating their own videos (see âBamboo is the New Graniteâ? at 3 Oceans).
Finally, check out Doug Heddings from True Gotham in his WellcomeMat video (embedded below). Now that’s a great example on how to show a home online!
The site is currently free during its Beta period. WellcomeMat has not yet disclosed its pricing model for the service.
