Four Real Estate Video Pioneers to Watch
Posted on 30. Apr, 2009 by Joshua Ferris in Blog, Industry, new york, real estate
Real estate video, when done right, can be amazing and offer insight into a property or place that might have otherwise been lost in photos. These four real estate video pioneers from all over North America have raised the bar on what an independent agent is capable of.
1. Mike Lefebvre -- Greater Boston Area, MA Real Estate Agent
Mike Lefebvre gained national attention with his entry and subsequent win for the Century 21 video competition held in 2008. By crafting a story of intrigue while folding in the details of his listing, Lefebvre was able to sell his listing quickly. With all of the press there is no doubt Mike was busy listing many more homes after his video victory. Check out the prize winning video below:
You can see more of Mike Lefebvre‘s videos on his website. Mike is also on Twitter.
2. Robin Greenbaum -- New York, NY Real Estate Agent
I’ve touched on the price of artifice (inspired by Rob Hahn’s entry of the same name), or the cost of creating professional quality videos, in the past. For most brokerages and agents it’s next to impossible to mix professional video values with the authenticity of “amateur” video hosts. Such a limitation doesn’t exist for Robin Greenbaum who manages to successfully blend the two into a cohesive, enjoyable video tour of one of her listings. Here’s one of Robin’s listing videos that breaks the mold:
Robin can be reached on Twitter.
3. Rick & Ines Hegedus-Garcia -- Miami, FL Real Estate Team
This Miami real estate team has taken Miami’s sexy lifestyle and shared it with the world through blogging and online videos. In the video below Ines describes one of her favorite Miami restaurants and reviews their Mojitos. What’s more Miami than mojitos? The video is successful for two reasons. First, it gives home buyers a peek at the Miami lifestyle they would enjoy if they moved to the Miami area. Second, it showcases Ines’ personality and, should the viewer want to buy a home in the area, will build rapport and make them feel like they already know Ines.
Ines is reachable via Twitter.
4. Kye Grace -- Vancouver Real Estate Specialist
Kye Grace set a new innovation milestone in real estate video with his 72 hour open house. Grace was able to garner international media attention, exposure for his listing (which sold shortly after the open house) and establish himself as an internet marketing specialist. In addition to the 72 hour open house, Kye is also well known for his popular Propertyegg.tv online show where Kye and special guests discuss real estate related topics.
Catch the latest news from Kye Grace by following him on Twitter.
If you’re new to real estate video or don’t know where to begin you could start by checking out how each of the pioneers above are carving their own path in the field. Don’t be afraid to go out there and experiment with different show formats, video hosting styles and topics. As you can see above, each video has its own standout features that make them fun to watch.
Are there other real estate video pioneers you would like to see mentioned? Leave me a comment below or get in touch with me on Twitter and I’ll gladly update the list.
Hi Joshua,
Our company has also been trying to create a new type of property video that integrates both the property as well as simulates an actual walk through. I think the challenge with real estate video is that it is already beginning to look outdated. The Virtual tours can be misleading (as only views that show the home to it’s absolute best) are chosen. I think consumers are really wanting something more real. We have tried really hard to capture that with our new style of videos. What do you think? Does it work?
Beth Toomey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeFsC8XvRCU&fmt=22
Michael Ackerman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=260vdp5CZzM&fmt=22
Hi PRM,
I like the approach you have taken to giving the home a more in-depth tour and the production quality is excellent.
The two things I have some reservations about are the personality of the hosts in the videos and length of the video.
The issue you’re going to run into is bordering on the price of artifice over authenticity. While I felt both agents did a great job giving a tour of the home I also didn’t feel connected to their presentation or feel that there was genuine passion for each home.
The length is tough because you’re doing full tours of the homes but keep in kind that internet users have short attention spans. I would recommend a video length of 3 – 3 1/2 minutes tops.
All that aside, they are still stunning and beautifully produced videos. Thanks for sharing them!