How to Shoot Real Estate Videos

Trying to sell your house in a competitive market can feel like an uphill battle. Shooting a video can help set you apart from the crowd and give potential buyers an inside look into your beautiful home! This article addresses the common questions that come up when shooting a real estate video. Whether you're wondering what camera techniques to use or where to post the video once it's all said and done, this article is here to help! You'll know all the tricks of a professional real estate videographer in no time.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]What should you include in a real estate video?

1. Aim to get a shot of every room in the house, from multiple angles. Viewers will want to see everything that your house has to offer, including detailed shots of each room. Even the basement, garage, or extra storage spaces will need some attention, as those can be a great selling point to prospective buyers! Get a shot of each room from a variety of different viewpoints and angles. For example, shoot the room from the doorway and each corner of the room. This will really help you find the best shot later on in the editing process!^[1]
   
   • If you've never been to the home before, it's a good idea to visit ahead of time to plan out the shots you want to take. Even a pre-shoot video call with the client an be very helpful.^[2]
2. Focus on the highlights and unique amenities of your home. If you've got a brand new gas range stove or a recently renovated bathroom sink, don't be afraid to show it off! Your real estate video is the perfect opportunity to show viewers what makes your home worth buying, and those smaller details can actually win you some major points in terms of potential buyers.^[3]
   
   
3. Include shots of the house's exterior as well. Though the inside of the home is important to buyers, they will also want to see how your house looks on the outside, including shots of your yard and surrounding neighborhood.^[4]
   
4. Throw in a few shots of the city you live in! If you're feeling creative, you're more than welcome to add a few shots of neighboring parks, restaurants, and shops close to your home. This will add some vibrancy and life to your video and may pique your viewer's interest even more.^[5]
   

[Edit]What kind of video camera should you use?

1. Use your smartphone camera to shoot your video. You won't need a whole film crew to make a professional-looking real estate video! Smartphones are equipped with video cameras that can give you quality footage.^[6]
   
2. Use a DSLR camera for a versatile and affordable option. A DSLR camera can be used for photography as well as video. They come in affordable models and are a great choice for beginner videographers.^[7]
   

[Edit]What shooting techniques should I use when filming a real estate video?

1. Begin each scene with an establishing shot. The establishing shot is the first shot of a video or scene. It lets your viewer know what the scene will be about. Make your establishing shot a beautiful view of your home from the outside!^[8] Get creative by opening the shot with a nearby tree or flower in your front yard and slowly panning to your home. When talking to filmmakers, this would be what's called utilizing the foreground.^[9]
   
   
   • Use a parallax shooting technique to bring movement to your video. Walking slowly through your home as you shoot, steadily pan your camera to the side. For example, walk slowly into your living room and pan to the fireplace at the side of the room. This shooting technique helps your video flow seamlessly and provides movement that is pleasing to the eye.^[10]
   • Use slow motion on your camera to make specific features of your home stand out. Let's say you want to showcase the brand new, renovated sink in your kitchen. Walk your camera at a steady pace into the kitchen and slow your video down by 50% as you approach the sink. This will help your viewers get a closer look at the features you want to show off!^[11]

[Edit]What time of day should you shoot the video?

1. Shoot your video during golden hour. Golden hour describes the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset. During this time, the sun is between 6 degrees below and 6 degrees above the horizon.^[12] It is perfect for film, as the sun's glow is warm and soft at this hour. You don't want your Oscar-worthy shots to be ruined by the sun's glare!^[13]
   

[Edit]How long should the video be?

1. Keep your video around 3 minutes in length. To hold the interest of your viewers, it's best to keep your video brief. A standard real estate video is usually about 3 minutes in length. Make every shot count by showcasing the best features of each room in your home.^[14]
   
2. Make your video a little longer if you're shooting at a larger home. If the space in your home requires it, it’s completely acceptable for your video to go over the standard 3 minute length! Just try avoiding a run-time that surpasses 10 minutes, as you want to keep your viewers interested the whole way through.^[15]
   

[Edit]What should the format of the video be?

1. Shoot in a slideshow or virtual tour format. The format you choose will depend on the size of your home, where you want to post the video, and your personal preference.^[16]
   
   
   • A slideshow is a common format for a real estate video that features pictures of the home. These videos will often include interesting graphics, voiceovers, and music to make the video more appealing to viewers.
   • A virtual tour is exactly how it sounds! This video guides the viewer through the home in a way that resembles an in-person home viewing experience. This style is a great option for giving prospective buyers all the information and details they need to know about the home, as the immersive format can capture some more details than a standard slide show.

[Edit]How do you edit a real estate video?

1. Download free editing programs like iMovie and Windows Video Editor. Each program will offer a wide variety of tools and settings to give you the editing style you want. If you're willing to invest, programs like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premier Pro are great options that are often used by professionals.^[17]
   
2. Compile your footage and choose what shots you like best. Pick only the shots that make your home look best. Next, arrange the order of the scenes to mimic a walkthrough of your home. For example, if the front door leads to your living room, make the first interior scene focus on the living room. If your living room leads to the kitchen, focus on the kitchen next.^[18]
   
3. Splice the scenes together and add transitions, color adjustments, and sound effects. The editing is your opportunity to make your real estate video more creative.
   
   
   • Add some background music to make your video more engaging or utilize transitional effects like speed ramping.^[19]

[Edit]Where do you post a video listing?

1. Post your video on home listing websites. This will be a fantastic means to attract potential buyers, as they will most likely be checking these websites to find their perfect home. Websites like Zillow.com allow you to publish your own real estate video on your house's listing page. Other websites that allow you to do this include Realtor.com and Homes.com.^[20]
   
2. Post your video on YouTube and social media sites. These websites help you reach more potential buyers and help you increase your following! ^[21]
   

[Edit]References

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1. ↑ https://youtu.be/CPAVz4yV8sc?t=263
2. ↑ [v161800_b01]. 23 April 2021.
3. ↑ https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/how-to-shoot-cinematic-real-estate-videos/
4. ↑ https://youtu.be/CPAVz4yV8sc?t=57
5. ↑ https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/how-to-shoot-cinematic-real-estate-videos/
6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dasly3VNOac&t=62s&ab_channel=LearnOnlineVideo
7. ↑ https://www.borrowlenses.com/blog/best-dslr-for-video/
8. ↑ https://youtu.be/CPAVz4yV8sc?t=64
9. ↑ https://youtu.be/dasly3VNOac?t=38
10. ↑ https://youtu.be/CPAVz4yV8sc?t=220
11. ↑ https://youtu.be/dasly3VNOac?t=62
12. ↑ https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/golden-hour.html
13. ↑ https://youtu.be/dasly3VNOac?t=62
14. ↑ https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/how-to-shoot-cinematic-real-estate-videos/
15. ↑ https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/how-to-shoot-cinematic-real-estate-videos/
16. ↑ https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/how-to-shoot-cinematic-real-estate-videos/
17. ↑ https://www.tipsforrealestatephotography.com/how-to/how-to-edit-real-estate-video-tour-walk-through/
18. ↑ https://youtu.be/CPAVz4yV8sc?t=117
19. ↑ https://youtu.be/CPAVz4yV8sc?t=117
20. ↑ https://animoto.com/blog/business/how-to-share-real-estate-videos
21. ↑ https://animoto.com/blog/business/how-to-share-real-estate-videos