Key Takeaways
- Preparation and Presentation Are Crucial - Plan your route ahead of time, stage the property, and use natural lighting to make the home look its best. These steps ensure the video feels professional and inviting, making a stronger impression on prospective renters.
- Keep It Simple, Clear, and Engaging - Use landscape mode for a realistic perspective, film with slow, steady movements, and keep the video under three minutes. Focus on showcasing key features and creating a smooth viewing experience that holds the viewer’s attention.
- Use Video to Build Connection and Boost Visibility - A well-crafted video tour does more than show space, it tells a story. Adding light background music, responding quickly to inquiries, and sharing the video across platforms can help generate more interest and faster lease-ups.
Video tours provide a safe, convenient way to showcase rental properties without requiring physical visits. For landlords looking to widen their reach and boost interest, video tours are now essential marketing tools.
Unlike traditional showings, virtual tours allow prospective tenants to view a property anytime, from anywhere. This 24/7 accessibility removes scheduling limitations and accelerates the decision-making process.
Best of all, you don’t need fancy equipment to get started. A good smartphone and some careful planning are enough to create an engaging, professional-looking video. Once completed, the tour can be shared across listing platforms and social media to amplify your rental’s visibility.
In this post, we at OKC Homes 4 You will explain how to make a video tour that attracts and converts renters!
Stage the Property Before Filming
Before hitting record, take time to prepare your rental for the camera. Clean thoroughly and remove any clutter. Staging your property helps highlight its strengths and allows viewers to picture themselves living there.
If possible, consider hiring professional cleaners for a deep clean. You may also consult a decorator for tips on arranging furniture to make the space look more inviting. The goal is to present a tidy, comfortable home that’s ready for move-in. A well-staged rental reflects professionalism and effort, qualities that matter to discerning tenants.
Plan Your Route Before Filming
Preparation ensures a smoother filming process and helps avoid time-consuming reshoots. Once the space is clean and staged, walk through the property and identify the best path for your tour. Mapping out a route keeps your shots organized, leading the viewer through the home in a way that makes sense.
Before filming, take care of small logistics:
- Open all doors to avoid fumbling with handles on camera.
- Start with exterior shots.
- Move steadily through each room, pausing to let viewers take in the layout.
- Highlight your rental’s best features early in the video to immediately capture attention.
Use Natural Light to Your Advantage
Natural lighting adds warmth, clarity, and appeal to any room. Aim to film during the day when sunlight is abundant. Pull back curtains and open blinds to let in as much daylight as possible.
Morning light, in particular, casts soft shadows. Avoid artificial lighting unless necessary, as it can create harsh tones or misrepresent the property's atmosphere.
Choose Landscape Mode for Realism
Always shoot your video in landscape orientation. This horizontal format offers a wider view, which more accurately reflects the scale and layout of your rental unit.
Portrait mode can make rooms look cramped or distort their actual proportions. Landscape mode, on the other hand, creates a cinematic experience that’s easy to watch on computers, TVs, and mobile devices alike. Since you’re showcasing a living space, the goal is to offer visual clarity and a sense of openness, and landscape format delivers that best.
Keep Your Tour Brief and Engaging
While it’s tempting to include every detail, lengthy videos can lose a viewer’s attention quickly. Aim to keep your tour under three minutes. Focus on the highlights: key rooms, standout features, and the overall flow of the space.
Short videos are also easier for viewers to rewatch, helping them revisit features that caught their interest. Think of your video as a teaser, designed to intrigue and invite further inquiry.
Respond to Viewer Inquiries Promptly
After sharing your video tour, be prepared to answer follow-up questions. Interested viewers may want more information or request an in-person showing.
Welcoming inquiries shows that you care about your property and potential tenants. Whether it's a question about square footage or a request for more visuals, take the time to respond politely and promptly. Engaged communication often leads to quicker rentals and better tenant relationships down the line.
Use Slow Scanning for Better Detail
Adopt a slow scan technique when filming each room. A good method is to position yourself in a corner and pan slowly across the space. This gives prospective renters a clearer view of the room's layout and size. This filming approach allows potential tenants to absorb details, making your property easier to visualize as their future home.
Add Subtle Background Music
The right music can elevate your video tour by setting the tone and creating an emotional connection. However, it’s important to choose carefully. Avoid loud or popular tracks that may distract from the content.
Instead, opt for soft, royalty-free instrumental music that complements the pace of your tour. Keep the volume low, letting the visuals remain front and center. The background music should enhance, not overpower the viewer’s experience. And always ensure you’re using legally approved audio to avoid copyright issues.
Tell a Story Through Your Video
Beyond showing square footage and floor-plans, strive to tell a story. When renting out a property, help prospective tenants imagine what it would be like to live in the space.
You can briefly mention the property's background, highlight lifestyle features, or describe how different areas of the home can be used. For instance, frame a sunlit nook as the perfect reading corner, or a spacious kitchen as ideal for hosting.
The goal is to move beyond showing rooms to create an emotional connection that makes viewers think, the space feels like home.
Bottom Line
A video tour brings your rental listing to life, helping it stand out and attract serious tenants faster. Easy to create and share, it adds depth beyond photos and can significantly reduce vacancy time. Ready to elevate your rental marketing? Contact our property management experts today!
