Real Estate Film

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WesleyWesley

Member
My parents have put their house on the market for sale, and the realtor put together a pretty terrible compilation of photos to show the house online. My mom asked me if I could do her a favor and make a short film (1-2 minutes) displaying the house. I'm just wondering if anyone has done anything like this and if there is any technique(s) i should use while showing the different rooms.

not exactly the most exciting project but i would like it to come out nice, and i do plan on posting it when i finish it this week. but any suggestions or tips would be appreciated
 
If you have the tools, the best ones I've seen have lots of sliders and steadicam work (not big walkthroughs of the rooms, usually just cool 90 degree turns). I'd also try to focus on the rooms that have the most natural light available.
 
I like that suggestion of focusing on the rooms with a lot of available natural light. I was thinking of a few 90 degree turns around the rooms plus a few close ups and maybe zoom out of a few shots.
 
Big trend at the moment here, on a reality/game-type renovation-based tv show is DSLR shallow-DOF type close-ups of significant features with it mounted on a slider and a slow-average paced slide.
I've also seen on Grand Designs 180-jib shots of rooms, as well as huge crane shots coming in from a top-down wide of the house to a close up of the presenter at the door (for example). What equipment have you got?
 
At the moment my equipment only really consists of my HMC150 and a tripod, i might be able to get my hands on a glidecam this week though.
 
My family have been buying houses in the area and I have been helping them to look around. I research a lot at night time and see houses at day time.
Most of the time we are looking for,
first impression of the exterior (and what size is the house), second is how the interior maintenance, then how the rooms lay out. We also look for how old the heat system is (oil or gas), and how is the electric box (new install will be great), what kind of utility meter are they automatic will be a plus. Is it basement finished ?, the roof has no leak, is the house near transportation, supermarket,school ? What is the price?
So you got bunch of shot you got to cover already. A lot of sun light, slow pan definitely make it nice. Early morning or evening, has that beam of light going through the window look great.
I live in nyc so room aren't so big, it is hard to get a good angle to 'show' the room is big. Don't know where you live but wide angle lens will come in handle if that happens.
At post, adding text at lower third will clear up a lot of buyer questions. save your time and their. oh oh don't forget to tag the contact info on.

Don't forget the Art department... You might have to spend some prep time making room look better than it is. Neat and Clean are very important.
 
I'm starting to get into this now.

I did one as a trial for a friend of the family and they loved it.

I'm not that happy with it, I would like something a bit more fluid.

I know it's miles above what they could do though, and I think I might see business from it.

Used a zaza slider and a glidecam hd1000.

I've since gotten a tokina 11-16, which should help me out on the next one. I also need to balance the glidecam better.

 
Those are really good suggestions, I was thinking so much about the film aspect of it I almost forgot what other information should be included. fortunately i do have a .4x wide angle for tighter shots.

and Homestar_kevin that video was pretty close to what i am looking to acheive. A slider and glidecam would be very helpful but i will have to make due without either for now as they would like the video done relatively soon.
 
Yeah, you should be fine.

It didn't take long to do, just spend an hour or two walking through it and you'll see the shots. If you're familiar with the house, it should be an easier process.

Highlight the features and amenities in the video with different types of shots.


You have a tripod?

Do pans, left to right, right to left, up and down, get some variety in there.

Mix it all together, link at the listing info in there and you should have more than enough for a piece that is nicer than anything a realtor could ever do
 
Yeah fortunately i do have a tripod, unfortunately it isnt a very good one so longer panning shots can be difficult but its not too bad. thanks again for your input
 
It may just be worth it to you to get a fluid head tripod, so you can do smooth pans. If you think you may want to do any video at all in the future, it's an essential tool. I did a real estate video for this expensive house, and all I did was pan with a fluid head tripod, and zoom into or out of something cool in the room. Or I just stayed wide, and did a gentle, slow pan. If something looks good - shoot it! Sometimes a cathedral ceiling is an awesome feature, that you may neglect to shoot. If the outside looks nice - shoot it! Or frame the shot to show just the house, of the next yard over looks bad.

Here's the video I made, using a soundtrack I recorded of the owner's friend playing/singing on the piano in the house:
 
If you just want a basic good looking real estate video, sit down and watch HGTV one afternoon. Mimic the shots they have and go for it. It's a pretty basic thing, side pans and top to bottom if you just have a tripod. You can zoom on a few shots but don't get too over complicated with it. Watch your natural light and try to have something (like a ceiling fan) in the room moving so people can tell it's a video and not those crappy moving still things. Good luck and post it when you're done.
 
Real estate videos are tough. The best advice I can give is, you have to give the space a personality. Shoot it like it's a person and reveal what the space is all about.

 
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