Reside’s Toby Martin explains why video tours have risen to prominence over the last 18 months.
When England went into its first national lockdown in March 2020, it prompted a significant change to our industry. For years, property agents have relied on glossy promotional photos and in-person viewings to sell or let properties, but our industry’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic has seen video technology become the most important piece of the property marketing jigsaw.
Shortly before that first lockdown, we rushed out to all of the properties we were marketing at the time and recorded walk-throughs using our iPhones. These were rudimentary, rather shaky videos – not very professional at all – but they proved to be highly effective. More than 50% of the properties let by Reside between March and September 2020 did not require an in-person viewing at the property. They were taken on the basis of the photographs, which remain very important, our floor plans and the video tour.
The most stress-free letting experience I have had. The video tour options meant we could stay safe during the whole process.
– Emily Goodyear, Google Review
Whilst our professional photographs allowed tenants to see a property at its finest and created the initial interest from the online listing, the video tour created an extra element of trust with the prospective tenant. An unedited, recently recorded video gives a true, trustworthy portrayal of the property in question, and allows the tenant to proceed with confidence without the need to visit the property in person.
A year down the line, we have worked hard to improve our videos by investing in more advanced video equipment. Our videos are now more professional and higher definition, but they retain the homemade quality that allows tenants to trust what they see on the screen. And, as we record them in-house, we don’t need to charge our landlords an extra penny.
Every property is now listed online with a full video tour, and they continue to allow overseas, isolating and infirm tenants, or just those who can’t get away from work, to experience the property from the comfort of their own home.
Reside is an award-winning independent letting agent in Bath. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss any aspect of letting or managing your property; we would love to hear from you.
Toby holds a Level 3 ARLA Propertymark qualification and runs the 'engine room' at Reside, making sure that properties are perfectly-presented and that they are let quickly at a good rent. When not working, Toby is happiest when enjoying a day's cricket.
