Online videos: A good idea?

Question

I made a video introducing my house for a prospective resident who lives overseas (http://www.aiyouliliang.com/129w/index.htm). ,  introducing the area around the house, the layout of the house, and a few common house chores that they are expected to complete and how to do them (i.e. garbage, snow removal, grass cutting, keeping basement humidity correct...)

1) In the future, is it a good idea to post a video for prospective tenants and ask them to watch it first before showing?

2) What should be changed in the video to improve it?  (i.e. added, deleted, blah blah...)

Would Appreciate your advice and picking your brains as I am quite new at this!

Thanks,

Jonathon

Kevin Dole · Answer

It's my impression that very few people will buy or rent a property without seeing it in person.  So I suggest that the purpose behind most property marketing is to motivate people to take the time and make the effort to visit, see the place in person and, of course, to meet you, the agent or seller.  Isn't this precisely what a movie trailer is meant to do?  Hook your curiosity, intrigue you?  But if a trailer explains the whole story in detail, why see the movie?  And if a video provides a leisurely walk-through, perhaps it negates the reason to visit in person... and foils the opportunity to meet you face to face.  So I suggest that, regardless of whether a video is about you, or about a property you represent, make it fun, entertaining, and brief.  Famed director Billy Wilder was asked how to make a good film.  His reply, "Never bore."