Videography is crucial in attracting potential buyers or tenants for commercial real estate in Kenya. As the digital landscape evolves, so do the strategies for showcasing properties to potential buyers or tenants. And that’s one reason you should embrace commercial real estate videography.
A high-quality video can significantly enhance the property’s marketability, whether it’s an office building, retail space, or industrial complex. Studies show that commercial real estate in Kenya is predicted to grow by 4.98% annually from 2024 through 2028.
In this blog, I will unveil ten tips to ensure your commercial real estate videography stands out. I have helped several commercial property owners search for buyers or tenants, and videography has helped them significantly.
10 Tips for Commercial Real Estate Videography
1. Plan your shots
An effective commercial real estate videography begins with careful planning. I always encourage property owners to develop a shot list and storyboard that outlines the property’s key features.
Creating a shot list will help you stay organized during the shoot and capture all the space’s essential aspects. For example, you should consider the property’s layout, unique selling points, and any areas requiring special attention, such as space and security features.
Planning your shots before shooting will help create a visually compelling video that effectively highlights the property’s most attractive features. In addition, shot planning ensures you won’t leave any important aspect of your commercial real estate features.
2. Utilize natural light
Natural light is one of the most powerful tools in a videographer’s arsenal. It adds warmth and depth to the footage, making the property appear more inviting and appealing.
When shooting commercial real estate videos, schedule your shoots when natural light is abundant. You can try shooting between 10 AM and 4 PM.
However, you should avoid shooting when the video shows the shadows. Alternatively, you can consider using reflectors or diffusers to soften harsh shadows.
During the shooting, you should position your camera to take advantage of the sunlight streaming through windows or skylights.
Natural light can help you to create stunning visuals that showcase the property in its best possible light.
3. Showcase the surrounding area
When marketing commercial properties, it’s essential to highlight the interior, surrounding area, and neighborhood. For example, for business people, location plays a vital role in their success, and they would want to know the amenities surrounding the property.
Therefore, you should include shots of nearby landmarks, parks, restaurants, and shops to give viewers a sense of the area’s character and appeal. In addition, ensure you describe the shots by naming the landmarks so potential clients can do further research.
I have gone through a discussion on Quora about the effect of location on commercial real estate. Most people agree that a good location can enable you to sell or rent your commercial property at a good rate.
The surrounding area helps you paint a more comprehensive picture of what it would be like to live or work in the space, helping to attract potential clients and tenants.
4. Use a stabilizer/ tripod
A smooth and steady footage is essential for creating professional-looking commercial real estate videos. On the other hand, a shaky camera can detract from the overall quality of the footage and make the property appear less appealing.
Therefore, before starting commercial real estate videography, you should invest in a high-quality tripod to keep your shots steady. A tripod will eliminate unwanted camera movement and create high-quality shots.
Therefore, a stabilizer will help you achieve smooth, cinematic shots whether you’re shooting handheld or using a drone. Additionally, consider using techniques such as panning and tracking shots to add visual interest and dynamism to your videos.
With a tripod, you can elevate the quality of your commercial real estate videography and create a more polished final product.
5. Focus on the details
Your attention to detail in commercial real estate videography will help you set your videos apart. You should highlight the architectural features, high-end finishes, and state-of-the-art amenities.
These features can help potential buyers or tenants envision themselves in the space. And you will get more inquiries about the property and finally close deals.
You should showcase the quality and craftsmanship of the space, demonstrating its value to prospective clients.
6. Incorporate aerial footage
The global drone market is predicted to grow by 2.26% annually from 2024 through 2028. This shows how people and brands are focused on making the best videos and photos with drones. And you shouldn’t be left out to showcase your commercial real estate videography with drone footage.
Aerial footage offers a unique perspective that showcases the property’s scale, layout, and surroundings in a way that ground-level shots cannot. In addition, drones can capture surroundings and breathtaking property views from above.
This aerial perspective is practical for highlighting large commercial properties, industrial complexes, or expansive outdoor spaces. In addition, aerial footage in commercial real estate videos provides viewers with a comprehensive understanding of the property’s layout.
7. Tell a story
Every property has a story; a compelling commercial real estate videography should convey that narrative to potential buyers or tenants. For example, highlight the property’s history and unique features.
With this information, potential customers can connect emotionally with the property. In addition, you can consider incorporating testimonials from previous tenants or owners. This will help to add authenticity and credibility to the narrative.
A compelling story about the property can help you engage viewers on a deeper level and motivate them to take action.
8. Keep your commercial real estate videography concise
The fast-paced digital world has one of the worst outcomes—a short attention span. In addition, there are so many distractions around every online user, and viewers are unlikely to watch long videos.
Therefore, you should keep your commercial real estate videos concise and to the point, focusing on the most essential aspects of the property. Studies show that the average watch time for an online video is 2.7 minutes. This data indicates that your commercial real estate videos should not exceed 3 minutes. Furthermore, ensure compelling introductions that hook the viewer throughout the video.
With short videos, you can maximize engagement and ensure viewers retain the most essential information about the property.
9. Invest in high-quality equipment
I must admit that I compromised quality during my first years in real estate videography and photography. This was due to financial constraints, but I learned the damage I was doing to my brand sooner. Therefore, I had to invest in high-quality equipment. And I really saw a huge improvement in engagement and overall return on investment.
Just like me, the quality of your equipment will significantly impact the overall look and feel of your commercial real estate videos. Therefore, you should invest in high-quality cameras, lenses, and audio equipment to ensure your videos are clear and professional.
In addition, you should pay attention to audio quality as well, as clear sound is essential for creating a seamless viewing experience. Additionally, consider investing in editing software and other post-production tools to enhance the visual appeal of your videos further.
If you invest in high-quality equipment, you can create videos that stand out from the competition and leave a lasting impression on viewers.
10. Edit professionally
The editing process is where your footage comes together to tell a cohesive and compelling story. You should use professional editing software to fine-tune your video, adding music, graphics, and text overlays where appropriate.
In addition, when editing, you should pay attention to pacing, transitions, and color grading to create a visually stunning final product. Professional video editing enhances overall quality and makes them more engaging and memorable for viewers.
You should not rush during the editing. Instead, polish your videos perfectly, ensuring they effectively showcase the property. This will help leave a positive impression on potential buyers or tenants.
Commercial Real Estate Videography: The Final Thoughts
Commercial real estate videography is a powerful tool for showcasing properties and attracting potential buyers or tenants. Therefore, follow the above tips to elevate your videography skills and create compelling videos.
Remember to plan your shots, utilize natural light, focus on details, and tell a captivating story to maximize the impact of your videos. With careful planning and attention to detail, your commercial real estate videos will stand out in a competitive market.
If you need help with drone videography and photography, our team of professionals with high-quality equipment can help bring your dream to reality. Reach us today for a conversation.
Commercial Real Estate Videography: FAQs
- How long should my commercial real estate video be?
Ideally, your video should be concise and engaging, typically 1 to 3 minutes. This duration allows you to effectively showcase the property’s highlights without overwhelming viewers with excessive details.
- Do I need special equipment to shoot commercial real estate videos?
While professional equipment can enhance the quality of your videos, you can achieve impressive results with consumer-grade cameras and basic accessories like tripods and stabilizers. However, investing in higher-quality equipment, such as DSLR cameras and drones, can elevate your videography capabilities further.
- How do I capture audio for my commercial real estate videos?
Clear audio is essential for creating professional-quality videos. Consider using external microphones, such as Lavalier or shotgun mics, to capture high-quality sound. Additionally, minimize background noise during filming and use editing software to enhance audio clarity during post-production.
- What should I include in my commercial real estate video?
Your video should showcase the property’s key features, including interior and exterior shots, unique amenities, and surrounding areas. Focus on highlighting what sets the property apart and its potential uses for prospective buyers or tenants.
- How do I market my commercial real estate videos effectively?
You should utilize various online platforms, such as social media, real estate websites, and video hosting platforms, to promote your videos to a wide audience. In addition, you can collaborate with real estate agents, brokers, and property owners to maximize exposure and reach potential buyers or tenants.
- How can I measure the effectiveness of my commercial real estate videos?
You can track metrics such as views, engagement, and inquiries from your videos to gauge their effectiveness. In addition, you should analyze feedback from viewers, clients, and real estate professionals to identify areas for improvement and refine your videography strategy accordingly.
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