Real Estate Video is Here to Stay, Video Podcasting Maybe

21 Comment(s)

1. Michael Price | Feb 28, 2007 | Reply

   First, thanks for the shout out. Your post is great but I think you may be missing something regarding podcasting. Podcasting is distribution mechanism. It isn’t limited to mobile devices. In fact most podcasts are either viewed or listened to on a desktop or laptop. The mobile component of being able to add the content to an iPod, Treo Phone or any other device are features of podcasting, but not exclusive.

   The distribution of podcast feeds for real estate listings is the most important feature of MLPodcast. We are able to blast a podcast feed to a large network of search engines and directories, (like iTunes’ podcast directory). When the feed gets hosted on those sites it parses out the information for the podcast and the individual listings in that site. In doing so, meta data from both the podcast and the the enclosure (listing) impact the ability for that listing to be found in an organic search. Each podcast and each listing also include the client URL. This is important to page ranking services that weigh relevance of sites based upon the number of incoming links. Clients also have the ability to download their videos and submit them to any other video portal such as iTunes as well.

   We host a web based version of each listing that can be used just like any other virtual tour and most of our clients use this as the VT link in their sites and respective MLS systems. They can also take advantage of the syndication that podcasting offers as well by having subscription links for clients to receive automatic updates, on the web, on their iPods or any other device that supports them. So essentially, podcasting offers the best of both worlds, web and mobile.

   So, if 2007 is the year of the Video, I think it’s a safe bet to count Video Podcasting in the mix as well. Thanks again, MP

2. Joel Burslem | Feb 28, 2007 | Reply

   Thanks Mike for the clarification on how your podcasts work.

   My post was less about the distribution mechanisms or even the final destination of the video – rather it was more of an attempt to make sure producers (in this case, Realtors) understand that the two mediums have very different content requirements.

3. Greg Swann | Feb 28, 2007 | Reply

   1. What Mike said. Video is video at that point, but the podcast format is familiar and widely adaptable.

   2. The first sale for a listing is not any buyer but the seller. Before I get a chance to strut my marketing stuff for buyers, I have to convince the seller to let me. Offering a podcast virtual tour may not be all the useful for now, at least with respect to people watching it outside the home from their mobile phones. But if it’s one more thing I’m offering that competing would-be listing agents can’t match, my chances of getting that listing are that much more secure. We do a lot of things that wow the seller as much as the buyer.

4. Steve | Mar 1, 2007 | Reply

   Foxtons Estate Agents in the UK has been producing Video Podcasts (Vodcasts) for a few months now along side the traditional Podcasts and RSS feeds.

   These vodcasts are produced dynamically for EVERY new home and buyers can subscribe to get the lastest vodcasts directly via iTunes, for example, and then transfer then onto their video iPod to watch on the way to work.

   We have found that these Vodcasts are around 4x as popular as the Podcasts, but RSS is still by far the most popular and we expect it to stay this way.

   http://www.foxtons.co.uk/buy/feeds.html

5. Ribin | Mar 1, 2007 | Reply

   see http://doted.info

6. Condo Blog | Mar 1, 2007 | Reply

   Couldnt agree with you guys more. We got about 20 movies shot here : http://boston.condodomain.com/condocasts.php

   Still searching for the ultimate in video hosting & syndication. Looking to use Brightcove.com (over here in Cambridge).

7. Incredible Agent | Mar 1, 2007 | Reply

   Podcasting and video are inevitably going to replace the virtual tour. The more cool tools you can add to your arsenal the better the chance of landing a listing. That’s a no brainer. The real question becomes; Where will the agents go to create these cool tools? Who will end up being the service providers? The faster those companies come to market and iron out their business models, the faster these tools will be adopted by the agents.

8. John Schroeder | Mar 1, 2007 | Reply

   Using Video to sell homes is an incredible tool. We all know the benefits. I agree with earlier comments about a steady stream of all of an agents or an offices listings being annoying. Maybe somebody will come out with a searchable pool of video listings. I don’t know the technology behind it but I would think a large real estate office with hundreds/thousands of listings could develop this.

   On the podcasting front: I’m not sure how many agents will dedicate the time and resources to produce engaging content on a regular basis. Maybe an office could/will.

9. Tony - bienesraicesvideo.com | Mar 2, 2007 | Reply

   We have over 350 real estate videos online (the majority are available in both flash and MP4 formats). John Schroeder hits the nail on the head when he wonders about how many agents will dedicate the time to produce such content on a regular basis.

   Though growing in popularity, real estate video will need at least two things before really taking off:

   - sizable enough audiences focused on real estate that make the cost-per-lead on par with non-video advertising methods (our audience is *just* getting to that point at 3500/day with our top videos running at about $0.09 cost-per-viewer and generating 3-4 leads per week interested enough to call or email about the property)

   - tangible data that the use of real estate video contributes to less time on market, higher sales price, or another such metric

   Tony

10. ForSaleByLocals | Mar 5, 2007 | Reply

    Apologies for misspelling your name in the initial version of the post and therefore in the above trackback – it was 3am when I published the first version, realized the error and fixed it in the post immediately. Unfortunately, the trackback was sent as-is.

11. Nathan Lowry | Mar 5, 2007 | Reply

    I completely agree that Real Estate Video is here to stay. A recent conference on new real estate technology, called the Luxury Real Estate Tech Exchange, addressed this new way to show off houses. Many brokers have already started using virtual tours, but they seem to think that video tours are the better option.
    Virtual tours and other awesome ways to look at homes are available at http://www.LuxuryRealEstate.com. Check it out!

12. hayathp | Mar 7, 2007 | Reply

    This site have good description.Here the good description below.Video podcasting, on the other hand, is a slightly different animal. The biggest difference, for me anyway, is that it is content that should be delivered and/or received regularly.
    webvideotraffic

13. John L. Wake | Mar 9, 2007 | Reply

    I’ve did 4 videos of listings and decided to refocus on better still photos in the future.

    I like the way video promotes me as well as the house because I’m the one giving the home tour.

    One of the biggest limitations of video was that our MLS does not allow a link in the MLS (and IDX) to individual Realtor web pages and that’s where my video tours were. If the MLS allowed a link to videos in the MLS (and IDX) then we would be cooking with gas.

    But videos have other big problems. Videos are very explanatory/dry/technical, and they have a huge problem with window burn out that makes the rooms look dark and cavelike to me.

    Visually, videos just don’t have any “Wow” factor.

    A great still photo takes your breath away or at least has some romance to it. Still photos generate a ton more emotion than videos. And a good still photo can solve the window burn problem with a flash or flashes.

    I think videos can be great for outdoor lifestyle, scene-setting shots of neighborhoods, parks and activities.

    Here are some sold listings with videos to give you a taste of the window burn out in the interior shots .
    http://www.homesalenews.com/Listings/Engurasoff/4244_Marshall/Home.htm
    http://www.homesalenews.com/Listings/10364_voltaire_scottsdale/Home.htm

    Nevertheless, if you need a good videographer in Phoenix, give me a call.

14. Roell Vento | Mar 10, 2007 | Reply

    In any event, we are definitely on the forefront of the technology. As Realtors or in a business assisting realtors, we are pushing the boundries as to what the technology was meant for. Repurposing the technology and applying it to a real estate model will only take a few months (thats about 3 years in todays computing) before real estate offices across the world begin pushing the boundries of this technology.

    Me personally, I think that that this is the future of real estate feeds and the first companies quick to the market in providing a fresh product to supplying real estate podcast need will definitely grab the marketshare.

15. Lance Sonka | Mar 12, 2007 | Reply

    Why download video to players when cell phone video streaming will be live mid 2007?

    On2 Technology CEO announces new Flash codec to deliver fast, high quality video compression for cell phone usage.

    Theoretically, if the video is uploaded to any “popular” video site that uses flash 8 or 9 encoding, one would be able to view it on thier web enabled cell phone…

    Watch video interview here:

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4320014706488365949&hl=en

16. Richard Cook | Mar 13, 2007 | Reply

    I have to agree with you John about still photos having more emotional impact. Video is frustrating, What room was that? Quick, hit pause

    But I ask, is the buyer supposed to download all these different podcasts and then take them with them as they tour a neighborhood? And when they stumble across that home that they didn’t download a podcast of, what then? The objective is to give the buyer as much info as possible right then, like Greg says – http://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/BloodhoundBlog/?p=1139

    This is what I created the Knockbox for, to free the content – http://www.knockboxhome.com A buyer would not have to anticipate what they needed to bring. A new category has come along – http://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/BloodhoundBlog/?p=1067

    Not just for podcasts though, the Knockbox is a web server, it can deliver any content that you can download from the net and at greater speeds. A “Mega Hyper Local� site. How about content designed for a pipe this wide? We are using 802.11b cards now, but n is coming fast and we are looking into even faster solutions. Some might say that the user is not here yet, I have to disagree.

    Latest Pew research has found that 34% of internet users have logged on with a wireless internet connection either at home, at work, or someplace else.

    “27% of adult internet users have logged onto the internet using a wireless device at some place other than their home or place of employment and 88% of laptop users have at one time logged on using a home wireless network.”

    “One quarter (25%) of internet users say they have a cell phone that connects to the internet with a wireless connection. Among internet users with this capability on their cell phone, half (54%) have used it to get on the internet either at home, work, or someplace other than home or work. One in eight (13%) internet users have a PDA that can connect to the internet using a wireless network. Of these, most (82%) have used it to connect at home, work, or someplace other than home or work.�

    Only half of the 25% of internet capable cell user actually use it to access the internet? What I read here is that people would rather use their laptops, yeah big news, and when they own a PDA they are much more comfortable connecting with it instead of a cell phone. These numbers are a snapshot and can’t last, even curmudgeon John C. Dvorak would agree – http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2098484,00.asp

    Wifi will end up in many cell phones and the screen sizes will be more friendly. But, cellular network speeds are probably going to increase at a slower pace. The last time I checked 802.11 networks where magnitudes faster than cellular. Typing in a long URL with your keypad? That isn’t much fun. The address for each Knockbox is always the same, 10.0.1.1. Type it once and your history will remember it. The SSID of the network is always the address of the home, 1234 Main or 1235 Main. Which home were you interested in?

17. Joel Burslem | Mar 14, 2007 | Reply

    Richard – I love the Knockbox as a concept. But I disagree that WiFi will be widely available in cellphones.

    The main reason is that, unlike in Europe or Asia, the cell phone feature set is not controlled by consumer demand or the handset makers, but the US carriers.

    Right now in the US you have limited options to buy a handset – and most people get them heavily subsidized through their carrier. And I doubt very few of the carriers will be letting WiFi into their models to allow people to jump off their 3G networks and lucrative data charges.

    The only one who’s doing this right now is TMobile and surprise, they also own one of the biggest WiFi networks too.

    While I’d personally love to see WiFi on my phone, I doubt it’ll happen any time soon. The whole system of handset subsidies and consumer buying habits has to change first.

18. Richard Cook | Mar 16, 2007 | Reply

    You are correct that carriers are hung up on minutes and data charges, but how long can that last? I haven’t paid for overages on either of these since my car had a phone? Soon it will be either prepay or all-you-can-eat.

    You are also correct that widespread wifi phonage won’t happen anytime soon from TPTB. Slide over to phonescoop.com and you’ll discover 19 wifi phones. Last year it was 14 and the year before about 9. This grab from my newsreader is just the last month of Wifi announcements. Some of the most significant being the Blackberrys 8XX0 et al, carriers can’t ignore these.

    It seems that anything that runs on Win Mobile 6 is sporting wifi. I say VOIP phones will have to be dual use and the carriers will have to embrace them. Let the weaning begin – http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellphones/extinction-prediction-wifi-phones-dead-by-2012-240575.php

    To me, the cell phone is not my installed user base, it is the laptop. 975 million cell phones out there but only a fraction of those can access the internet and a fraction of those have wifi. But with laptops outselling desktops and wifi practically a standard config anymore. This is my mobile home buyer. :-[

    I made the Knockbox to be used with a wider range of devices, the only requirements being the wifi and the browser:

    Laptop and Notebook Computers
    WiFi capable cell phones (iPhone, Mylo, Helio, SDA, MDA, iPAQ, PPC, Blackberry 8820, etc.)
    Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs; Palm, Dell, GPS devices)
    Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPC: Origami, OQO, Q1)
    Portable gaming systems (Sony Play Station Portable)
    Personal Media Players (PMP; Archos 704) or ‘Tweeners like the Nokia N800

    As far as the Knockbox being a concept, it moved past that last June. They are installed in listings, have been since August and most subscribers are on to their second or third listing/Knockbox.

19. Cesar Fernandez | Apr 23, 2007 | Reply

    2007 is definitely the begining of a new era in Real Estate Marketing, and the Internet is once again the center of attention, this time the star is Real Estate Property Video Marketing. A new site adds itself to the list of innovation candidates in the field. Cyprus Property Video Portal and Romance belongs to the past.

20. Peggy Madsen, Realtor | Mar 17, 2008 | Reply

    I’m hoping not to date myself with this comment, but.. hang loose, guys. You really cannot make judgments and decisions about any of this while all the tech is constantly changing. And it will continue to change, as it has changed.

    Just think back to how recently you had dial-up. No wifi. No way to make videos or to view them.

    Right now, here in the U.S., the cost of delivery of your video is a huge factor — both for the customer and the Realtor.

    That’s where I win, a little, because I make my own videos for free. But distribution is not always free. And if virtually no one is watching (at this point in time) on cellular phones or iPods, then I have to consider a better use of my time and money.

    Addressing some of the problems others have mentioned above, with video…

    One mistake I’ve seen a lot of agents make is to use a video service company that turns your photos into “videos” — which look very amateurish in their lack of motion. Full motion is the best. Stills are better in a photo gallery or slideshow.

    On the issue of knowing what room is shown in a video — this seems easy: just superimpose a caption right on the video.

    On the issue of “window burn out” — there are ways to deal with it: you need to study video production a little and you’ll find out. One film technique I’ve seen is to put filter sheets on the windows (”sunglasses for windows”). What I do is to take separate clips of windows and walls, which is pretty elementary.

    Anyway, since I’ve been creating real estate videos for the Internet for many years, I’m glad to finally have some company, LOL. Misery loves company!

21. Leonor | Nov 15, 2009 | Reply

    I started Podcasting about a year ago and it is more exciting than blogging. I love podcasting maybe because i love music so much and radio programs when i was still a kid.

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