Lights, Camera, Action! Real Estate Video Ideas Galore
In today’s ultra-competitive market, staying top-of-mind isn’t just about bus benches and post cards. You need online content that leave an impression with anyone in your market. And the best content for real estate agents is real estate videos. Getting stage fright already?
Fear not. We’re here to be your guiding star on this cinematic journey. When it comes to real estate videos, there are SO many options it’s tough to know where to start but as you read this blog post, you’ll discover that a) it’s all about just getting started and b) it’s never too late to get going.
So grab your popcorn, squeeze into your comfiest director’s chair, and let’s dive right in – here’s our script:
- Planning out your Real Estate Videos
- Real Estate Video Ideas Galore
- Editing Tools for Real Estate Videos
- Real Estate Video Accounts for Inspiration
- Optimizing your Video Production
Planning out your Real Estate Videos
First and foremost if you’re not regularly making video content, don’t overcomplicate things or get caught up in the pursuit of flawless production value. It’s easy to talk yourself out of posting videos because you’re not 100% happy with minor details like how your voice sounds or how you appear on camera. But even the realtors that are considered “the best” at creating video content are still extremely critical of their own work.
So ignore the self talk and focus on just building the habit of video creation. For most agents making this a regular activity is a daunting task especially as the results are slow in the early days. Consistency is key in content creation.
And when planning your real estate video content, it’s crucial to engage your audience with a variety of captivating topics. To achieve this, follow the golden rule of a 60-30-10 split: 60% real estate-related content, 30% personal content, and 10% flexible content that allows for some creative exploration. By following this formula, you can create a dynamic mix of videos that cater to different aspects of your audience’s interests and needs.
Remember to cater video length to different platforms. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook favor shorter-form videos ranging from 25 seconds to 1.5 minutes. However, LinkedIn allows for longer, more informational videos that can range up to 3 minutes. YouTube likes even longer videos that are 10+ minutes. By considering the optimal video length for each platform, you’ll maximize engagement and ensure that your content is well-suited to the viewing habits of your target audience.
By embracing a well-rounded mix of real estate-related, personal, and flexible content, you’ll build a balanced portfolio of videos that establishes your industry authority, fosters community engagement, and enhances the overall user experience. So, grab your camera, let your creativity soar, and embark on a video journey that will captivate your audience and promote your services in a subtle and authentic way. Lights, camera, action – it’s time to make your real estate video dreams a reality!
Real Estate Video Ideas Galore
When considering real estate video content, agents should aim for a balanced mix that covers a range of categories to engage different aspects of their audience’s interests and needs. Here’s a video that goes through some ideas .
Real Estate Walk Through Video (aka Property Tour): Show off properties you’re selling or collaborate with other agents to feature their listings in video tours.
Because the real estate walk through video is such a popular option (and you’ve all seen them before right?), check out this tutorial on walk through videos from a professional videographer:
Target Platforms: Real Estate Walk Through Videos are great for all platforms. For Instagram Reels and Tiktok just focus on a few eye-catching shots which are tightly edited to match catchy/trending music (this will maximize watch time!)
Market Insights (ex: August Market Report): Regular updates about the real estate market give you authority and keep your audience informed. Try KCM RealTalk for some talking points and scripts here.
Here’s a great example of a market update from the Chamberlain Real Estate Group:
Target Platforms: Market reports are great for YouTube (and LinkedIn) because you’ll get more time to provide details. Though you can shorten into just highlights and post on Instagram Reels or Tiktok.
Behind-the-Scenes: Showing the day-to-day workings of your job makes you more relatable and trustworthy.
Here’s a “day in the life” video (a popular type of Behind-the-Scenes video) from Chloe de Verrier:
Local Spotlights: Interviews with local businesses or highlights of community events foster a sense of community engagement.
Here’s a really well put-together restaurant review from Jess Thomas:
Target Platforms: Usually local business content (ex: visiting a restaurant and meeting the owner) tends to be longer AND can gain traffic over time as people search for the business so it’s ideal for YouTube. Though you can always chop up a few highlights and post on Instagram Reels or Tiktok.
Comedic Takes: Light humor can make your content more engaging and shareable, reaching a wider audience as a result. This could include acting out a scene (ex: “Gen Z Buyers be like…”), or using relating real estate to popular memes OR just posting a reaction video to another funny video.
Target Platforms: Humorous real estate video ideas are best for Instagram Reels or Tiktok unless you’re going for more of highly produced skit (which is an advanced level video that will take time and resources)
Pro Tips: Show off your expertise in real estate, investing, or home improvement with video explainers. There’s a wide range of topics you can cover. You may want to try and make it a habit towards the end of each week to document something that happened that could be positioned as a “tip” for potential clients.
Target Platforms: Short home improvement tips are great for Instagram Reels or Tiktok…but when it comes to home buying, selling, and investing tips, you could take longer (3+ minutes) which would make the content a better fit for YouTube or LinkedIn.
And those are just a few ideas. Here’s a whole list of real estate video ideas you can consider:
- Testimonials: Real stories from satisfied clients boost your credibility.
- Transaction Highlights: Showing successful transactions subtly promotes your effectiveness as an agent.
- How-Tos and Quick Answers: Answering common questions and providing ‘Pro Tips’ positions you as an expert.
- “About Me” or “Meet the Team”: Introduce yourself or your team and infuse it with personality so people can get to know you on a deeper level.
- Live Comparisons: Partner with out-of-market agents to compare real estate markets and engage with a live audience.
- Live Q&A: Live sessions allow real-time interaction with prospects and can make you seem more accessible and responsive.
- Neighborhood Tours: Create drive-by videos to give a tour of different neighborhoods, ideally using a dashboard camera.
- Community Involvement: Feature community events you hosted or participated in.
- Home Improvement Tips: Share DIY ideas and quick fixes that can help increase property value.
Editing Tools for Real Estate Videos
Lights, camera, editing! Once you’ve captured the perfect shots for your real estate videos, it’s time to bring them to life through the power of editing. But with a multitude of options available, which tools can help unleash your creative genius without requiring an advanced degree? After getting recommendations from dozens of real estate agents creating their own video content, here are some suggestions:
CapCut: One editing tool that garnered overwhelming praise from real estate agents is CapCut. This user-friendly mobile app is touted for its ease of use and versatility, making it an ideal choice for creating captivating real estate reels and immersive home tours. With a wide range of filters, effects, and editing options at your fingertips, CapCut empowers agents to polish their videos and make them shine. Plus, its mobile nature allows for on-the-go edits, giving agents the flexibility they need amidst their busy schedules.
Here’s a CapCut tutorial from Cory who runs the Real Estate Development YouTube channel (and is a veteran in the industry):
Adobe Premiere Pro: Some agents with a knack for precision and a desire for professional-grade results prefer software like Adobe Premiere Pro. While these editing powerhouses offer advanced features and limitless possibilities, it’s important to note that they come with a steeper learning curve. If you’re willing to invest time and effort into mastering these industry-standard tools, you’ll have access to a rich selection of editing capabilities that will take your real estate videos to the next level of excellence.
An alternative to Adobe Premiere Pro that some agents suggested is DaVinci Resolve.
TikTok or Instagram: Wait wha? Isn’t that just where you post the video? Well yes, but for real estate videos intended for social media platforms, many creators opt to use the built-in editing tools provided by the platform itself. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok offer a range of video editing features, making it convenient to create and share content directly within the app. Additionally, utilizing these native tools might give your videos a visibility boost as the algorithms tend to favor native content over videos created using third-party apps. So, if you’re looking to maximize your reach and engagement on social media, don’t overlook the power of these built-in editing tools.
Other notable editing tools frequently mentioned by agents include InShot, Kinemaster, Adobe Premiere Rush, Splice, PowerDirector, and Momenzo. These applications offer various editing functionalities, allowing you to experiment and find the perfect fit for your editing needs. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, exploring these tools can unleash your creativity and bring your real estate videos to life in a way that captivates your audience.
Real Estate Video Accounts for Inspiration
Beyond the tools themselves there’s a lot of value in observing and getting inspiration from other real estate agents that are really using real estate video to it’s highest potential. So if you want to learn from the best realtors and brands using video in their real estate marketing here’ are some accounts to checkout’s a few must-sees:
- Taya DiCarlo
- Karin Carr
- Chris Kwon
- Angel Przybylski
- Tatiana Londono
- Drunk on Social
- Business Video School
- BAM Media
- Tom Ferry
And while inspo is certainly, well inspirational, there is also a treasure trove of tutorials from experienced videographers and lesser-known real estate video creators on YouTube. Here are a few channels that provide the best actionable tips for your real estate video production:
So, go forth with inspo, tips and tactics from the pros…and create!
Taking your Real Estate Videos to the Next Level
There are so many small decisions that can turn an “OK” real estate video into an Ah-mazing video. So, let’s explore the secrets to producing videos that will leave your audience in awe.
Optimizing your Video Production
As you venture into the world of real estate videos, it’s important to remember that perfection isn’t the goal. The most important step is simply to start making videos…but once you get in this habit you should look at some production basics like good lighting and a microphone for clearer audio.
Adequate lighting can make a world of difference in the overall quality of your videos, so find a well-lit space or invest in affordable lighting options like a simple ring light.
Also, your audio is important if you’re dropping knowledge in your videos. Consider using an external microphone instead of relying solely on your phone, camera or laptop’s built-in mic.
Once those basics are covered, dive into the editing of your video. This is where you or your editor may include b-roll, text overlays, and other engaging audiovisual effects to keep your audience captivated throughout. And don’t forget to include a strong call-to-action encouraging viewers to subscribe, comment OR contact you for more info.
Remember, real estate videos should be a balance of polish and simplicity. Allow for some imperfections along the way if it means you maintain consistency.
Hiring Professionals to Create Real Estate Videos
While the advent of smartphones and accessible video editing tools has made it easier than ever for real estate agents to create their own videos, sometimes, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. As a real estate agent, your time is precious, and learning the ins and outs of video production may not be your forte. That’s where hiring professionals comes in. Here are some of the professionals you may consider hiring to help with your real estate video production:
- Professional videographer: A good videographer is both a technician and a storyteller. And there are loads of videographers that specialize in real estate content. These professionals know how to capture the essence of a property, highlighting its unique features and crafting a narrative that resonates with potential buyers and impresses future sellers.
- Editors: While many videographers also can edit, it is sometimes cost effective to find less expensive remote editing help. Upwork and Fiverr are great sources to find editors that can cost a fraction of what your videographer may charge. When hiring offshore, make sure to read reviews, see plenty of work samples, and ask for all video editing files in case tweaks are needed later (sometimes contractors can go MIA)
- Social Media Planner: In the context of real estate video content is responsible for strategizing what content is needed at different times, organizing all the elements of each social media piece, and posting for maximum engagement. It’s worth mentioning that some brokerages offer social media design tech help too so ask about in-house resources before hiring outside.
Also while the time saving is an important component to working with these experts, keep in mind that when you work with professionals, you tap into a vast pool of creative talent. It’s their job to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and techniques so they can bring a wealth of knowledge and fresh perspectives…which inevitably can improve your overall marketing and branding.
Other Real Estate Video Tips:
- Accessibility and User Experience: Think about video format (e.g., vertical for Reels, horizontal for YouTube), length, and platforms where you’ll post the content.
- Consider adding features like captions to make your videos more accessible.
- Start small: 25-90 second videos are great for Instagram, TikTok and Facebook so try that before longer format videos on YouTube and LinkedIn
- Diversify Content: Use a 60-30-10 split for real estate-related, personal, and miscellaneous content.
- Prioritize Engagement: Always reply to comments and thank new followers to foster relationships.
- Add Captions: Use captions or subtitles to make your videos more accessible and engaging.
- Structure Matters: Use a clear intro and outro, and consider “storyboarding” for better content planning.
- Don’t Isolate Video: Incorporate video as part of a broader marketing strategy that includes other avenues like door knocking and open houses.
- Test and Adapt: Experiment with different types of video content and adjust based on feedback and performance metrics.
The verdict from top agents is clear: real estate videos are an exceptional tool to stay relevant and engage with your audience.
Especially in this age of digital storytelling, video content is perfectly positioned to captivate a real estate agent’s target audience. However, many agents are actively creating TONS of video content so it’s harder than ever to standout. Hopefully these ideas help you leverage real estate video in creative ways that help your business cut through the noise. Are you ready? Let’s goooo!
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