FREE WHITE PAPER ON VOICE-OVER NARRATION

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Permalink Reply by Ko Maruyama on March 6, 2011 at 10:54pm

These are actually some good topics Paul. I don't think they're shameless self-promotion at all.

I have no idea what REAL ESTATE video is like. Of course, I haven't been in the market for a house since the days of VHS, so maybe my view is a little outdated.

what you really need is something like a podcast!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Strikwerda on March 7, 2011 at 6:58am

Thanks for your comment, Ko. A real estate video is sometimes called a virtual house tour. Here's an example, narrated by yours truly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soMsJEwU1bY

 

These tours help home buyers preselect a property, making the actual visit with the realtor more productive.Unfortunately, lots of these tours are done on the cheap and -in my opinion- they do more harm than good. That's why I wrote my White Paper.

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Permalink Reply by Ko Maruyama on March 7, 2011 at 10:53pm

 

Unfortunately, with the advent of cheaper cameras and less "know-how", the deterioration of quality videos has been gaining momentum.

 

I know that in the 00's we saw it with desktop animation.  Broadcasters were just "knocking stuff out" because it was cheap.  Now, they are slowly coming back to quality.

 

I hope that you can see a reversal in "quantity over quality" trend as well.

 

Nice FAIRFIELD video.  "Built in 1917?  It's a NEW HOUSE huh?"(I grew up in late 18th cent house)

 

those cross dissolves are a little fast for my taste - but it could be a youtube compression thing? 

 

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Here in Los Angeles; so many people think they can be VO talent easily.  "HEY! I TALK GOOD".   I worked as a sound assistant, watching some of Hollywood's top talent. They make it look easy. It's not easy.  

Thanks for the posts.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Strikwerda on March 8, 2011 at 6:31am

Hi Ko:

 

Shelley Cryan of Spartina Studios is the videographer I work with for these house tours. She shoots the footage and writes the script. I record it in my home studio and send it back to her.I happen to have a laptop with a slow video card that messes up some videos, but it could also be the YouTube compression...

I agree with with you: too many people want to believe -or are made to believe- that a voice-over career is a way to earn some easy money. That's why I put this video together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHWMHJVnSMs

Have a great day, Ko!

Paul

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Bill Mecca on March 8, 2011 at 10:12pm

It's a tough nut to crack, talking to realtors I know, profit margins are so thin and turn around needs to be fast (unless it's a multi-million dollar home) they'll deal with taking a few pictures and maybe turning it into a slideshow. (having problems watching videos on this laptop so I haven't seen the one you linked to, will try to find time to do so tomorrow)

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Permalink Reply by Paul Strikwerda on March 9, 2011 at 6:53am

Hi Bill:

 

It's no secret that realtors always seemt to complain about costs and razor thin profit margins. Show me a client who doesn't! That's exactly why realtors should consider using video. Nearly 90% of househunters look online for listings, and a well-produced video doesn't have to break the bank. It's less than the cost of leasing or owning a Jaguar, Mercedes or BMW.

 

I find it interesting that television networks are producing house hunter-, house flipper- and my first home-type of shows because there's a huge audience for that. Yet, when it comes to advertising property, real estate agents still prefer using the more traditional media. Is an Open House sign and a sad balloon really the way to attract business?

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Permalink Reply by Bill Mecca on March 9, 2011 at 10:08pm

you're right Paul, it's gonna take some time to educate them. ;-)  a couple I spoke to, tell me that those who do use video, use a service, the name of which I cannot remember, and it wasn't but a couple hundred bucks.  In order to do that the videographer would need to "systemize" it, or make it more cookie cutter so it could be done with as little post production as possible. 

 

the one you linked to was quite nice and not the usual fare (of course your voiceover helped with that). But I would imagine even splitting the 6% commission with the buyer's agent and taking out the brokers' cut, would still be a nice chunk of change on that property. ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Paul Strikwerda on March 9, 2011 at 11:02pm

If only that last part of your response were true... I have a special virtual home tour voice-over rate. Otherwise, production cost would skyrocket.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Mecca on March 10, 2011 at 7:13pm

Paul, actually I meant to the seller's agent. ;-)

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