You've ordered a full-motion video property tour either from Real Estate Video Pros or another film crew, now it's time to get the house ready for shooting. The film crew will know to take plenty of shots and utilize angles that compliment the property, but if the property is not in showcase condition when they arrive there will not be much they can do to make an impressive tour. That's why you should keep these tips in mind when preparing for a property tour shoot.

• Prepare your property for a 24/7 open house: Thanks to today's video hosting services and high speed Internet connections, property tours can be seen around the world at anytime by a multitude of potential clients. That's why it is very important to take extra care when grooming your property into showcase condition, so that you won't waste time and money on re-shoots. Standard rules for your typical open house should apply, but with even more attention to detail. Make sure to clean the house, un-clutter important rooms, manage the yard, keep family and pets clear of the film crew and anything else you need to do to make your property ready.
• Have a plan: If you were showing your property to prospective clients, how would you organize a tour? Make sure to inform your film crew so that they shoot and edit the property tour in a manner that fits best with your Real Estate intuition. Make sure to point out any special amenities that you want to be included in the tour. Go over the tour in your head the night before and write down your ideas on a list for the film crew to use.



• Communicate with your film crew: Don't be shy when giving instructions to your film crew. They are there to do one thing: shoot your property. More than anyone they want to get it done right the first time. Make sure to inform them of the property's location, any time sensitive events and certain things they should be mindful of (such as pets or expensive furniture). Don't be vague, be as specific as possible. Make sure you give them your proposed plan from the previous tip, and be able to answer any questions they may have. Ultimately the film crew will decide what shots turned out best in the final product, but a little direction on your part as the agent never hurts.
• Lighting: Double check all the lighting in the house and make sure everything works. Video is sensitive to light and your house should be lit up the best it can be when it comes time for the shoot. Replace any burnt out bulbs or broken switches so that your house does not look like a gloomy abode.
• Prepare early: Don't get stuck doing everything at the last minute. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare your property so that you can address anything expected and unexpected that may come along. Check the weather too so that you schedule your shoot on a sunny day.