Video tours have become increasingly important when marketing a property online. This is not just as a result of the restrictions imposed by Covid 19, but a longer term trend among a tech-savvy student audience.
Only 6% of landlord/agent properties have video content
Despite this, only a small proportion of the properties advertised by landlords and agents include video. Including a video tour is simple to do and will help your properties stand out from the competition on AFS
It is free and easy to upload videos to YouTube.
You can include a link your video tour from YouTube to your AFS property ad by logging into your AFS Account, selecting edit property and choosing the video tour option.
If you do not have a YouTube account is simple to do, you will just need to log in via your Google account (if you don’t have one follow these steps ), You can upload your video to YouTube from your PC and your phone. This is a really simple how to guide https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-upload-a-video-to-youtube?r=US&IR=T
All you need then is the link to your video in YouTube to add to your property. Here is an example of one of the videos an AFS landlord has produced https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maviYYgMuIs
Tops tips
1 Light is pretty much everything
Natural light is the best and this is one of the most important things to pay attention to when filming as good light will make all of the difference. The key points are
- Pick a time of day when there will be good natural light
- Open the curtains when filming
- Turn on all the lights in the property
2 Declutter
Present the property in the best possible way by making sure the rooms are tidy and look presentable. This can be a challenge with existing tenants, but the effort taken is worth it. It will make your video look better and increase the chance of a quick, successful let.
3 Smartphones are fine
Not everyone wants to invest in equipment or pay a professional. Most smartphones should be up to the task. Our top tip here is to shoot the video in landscape mode. This will present the property well and avoid the annoying black borders. Other key tips are;
· Try not to use the zoom function as it will pixilate the video
- Keep your fingers well away from the lens
· Stand with your back against the wall to help keep your hand steady
- Consider purchasing a basic tripod
4 How about a free expert?
Most students are pretty handy with a smartphone, why not ask (or incentivise!) one of your current tenants to make the video. This will have a double advantage of adding a narration to the video and providing you with a video testimonial from a current tenant. It also enables you to get the video without having to travel to the property.
