I did my first test video tours for 2 of our listings this past week. I am using my biz partners Canon HD camcorder, and using a video editing program to put the tour together. This is essentially a walk through video, vs. a "virtual" tour (which is your listing photos stitched together, usually to music.
Most of the listings and potential listings have had a very positive response to it. But the video part is very time intensive.
Do you all think it is worth the extra time for a "walk through" Hi Def video, vs just a "virtual" tour?
Would the average client be able to tell the difference? I think ultimately, we plan to give all listings a virtual tour, and the more upscale homes a video tour...good or bad idea?

I'm going to do a video on the next few listings I get. The reason is not so much virtual tour vs. video, but to help SEO for my website featuring the listings. I do believe a video though would be better then a virtual tour. Plus you can use the video in more places I think. If the listing commission and the house merits it then why not do both?

How about a video with commentary? You could be the Billy Mays of the Real Estate Video industry!

If you are simply deciding based on image/video quality I do not think many would care either way but it could be a selling point on landing a listing. The video in HD would take alot of bandwith to download or stream.

Greg-thx for the input. I have been around and around on the subject -- I think the HD side of things will help to differentiate us between other agents that may be using virtual tour slideshows, but where the rubber meets the road, unless I am selling $1 mil + homes, I think std def video is fine. I have been using Wellcomemat for hosting the HD video, as they don't limit file size. Ultimately, we will be producing 2 versions, 1 HD for Wellcomemat and "selling it", and 1 std def for putting up on youtube, and syndicating to other sites via tubemogul. I am at the point where I need to make a training manual (for myself!) as to the process to follow.

Yeah that would be a good idea! It sounds complicating and just pray that they do not change their control panel or something. Don't you have your own website hosting package though? Or is the blog on wordpress?

I just noticed I am not very far from you.