Digital Cameras, Camcorders And Other Applications Of Technology
I want advice on what sort of digital camera device I should look to purchase for creating palatable online viewings for a property marketing website.
Without exceeding a reasoned budget what specs should I look for in using the appropriate technology ( D Cameras, camcorders) to market properties to prospective buyers and tenants online.
I have found that in renting properties abroad, the best medium of advertising is via internet property booking sites. I would want to employ the same idea in the optimal manner. Registering my property my properties with the websites that return the high volume results on keyword searches on Google (and other leading web databases) then from those high traffic sites provide a customarily provided WEB LINK to my own website - to razzle dazzle them further.
Virtual tours, needless to say is a must. I find it utterly unimaginative that msot people find it hard to employ the same mechanisms used by the professional real estate salespersons. The use of these technologies are far too ubiquitous and reasonably priced for me not to do so.
Circumventing the property management company to find my prospective tenants, sellers or buyers can readily be achieved by devising an appealing website and a web traffiking diverting plan.
Anyone care to share any innovative application of technology to their property management & marketing?
Don't go too crazy. Monitors only display a fraction of the dots per inch of a high resolution image, I believe it is 72 dots per inch. The most important feature to any imaging device you buy is the angle of view. Getting good pictures of interiors calls for wide angle lenses, video cameras and digital cameras are notorious for having just the opposite views.
This one may be a no-brainer, but I bought a 3 mega-pixel digital camera for documenting damage done by uncaring tenants.
Hey,
A camcorder words really, really well for filming a house before and after the tenant. A slow walk though (5 minutes of tape), standing in the middle of the room and slowly turning in a circle, gets about 100% of the house. I have also done the same think with rehabs (before and after); those are nice to watch!!!
My experiences.
I have a Canon from 2000. Just over 1mp so pretty low end these days.
Pluses
+ Almost everything I need to see comes out if I just point and shoot.
+ I have a large memory card so I shot a lot of pictures. Easy to upload and hold on the computer.
+ Very compact so very easy to carry with me. Works when I am not sure what I might be doing so I can just take it along.
Minuses
- Early model so not great with the battery life. Shot a lot of shots in dim light (building site) and you will chew up the battery. Normally not a real issue but sometimes I run out so I carry a spare.
- I find that stills do not give a sense of the property in many cases. You spend too much time trying to put in comments how things link together.
- A better wide angle might help the above and would just be good in general
- The zoom is limited on this model so sometimes I can not get the details I want along the roof line or something similar
- Old model so significant pauses when I push the button. Normal for most digitalis
- After 4 years it is starting to break. My use and not the camera. Time for an upgrade so I will be able to address some of the negatives
I have considered a camcorder. I have viewed a few properties that an investor filmed. Definitely gives a good idea of what the place looks like. Leaves large files so tough for some people to use still (network and file size).
I am thinking of getting a better still camera. I might even go with a large format (SLR style) for some other reasons unrelated to RE usage. I do really want to get a wide angle capability and a much longer zoom capability.
I do a lot of shots for deals I am promoting to other investors. For the most part they have always were happy with the shots but maybe if I could present bigger picture better they would be happier.
John
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