Advice Needed: Property Video Website Viable?

pbuckley

Hi everyone

I'm thinking about starting a website that allows private sellers/ landlords to showcase their properties using videos. Basically I'd like landlords/ sellers to shoot the video themselves, upload them to my server and I'll host the videos with the property details on a webpage that they can use to then advertise through other avenues. The first-level service is entirely free.

I've consulted a focus group, and these are some of their views:

• Why video? Good photographs or 360 tours work just as well.
• Potential buyers would want to see the property in real life anyway
• The security of the property might be compromised
• It's too much hassle to expect sellers to shoot the videos themselves.

I was thinking that a professional 360 virtual tour shoot will cost upwards of 250 pounds, it's not that hard for sellers/ landlords to shoot the videos themselves (I'm preparing a step-by-step tutorial) and save a lot of money in the process. Before abandoning the idea totally, I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Peter

choosewisely

What about the bandwidth required to host these videos - you're going to need the landlords/vendors to know how to resize their video to minimize filesize and download times (and your bandwidth costs) aren't you?

pbuckley

Thx for your reply.

We are going to let users upload the file without any modifications.

Astaroth

If you are not providing anything other than a video streaming server then why limit the proposal simply to landlords?

My main concerns would be
1) How many people have the equipment to make electronic videos?
2) How much bandwidth are you going to require?

I would certainly be looking to limit file sizes/ length both for the terms of your bandwidth use and almost as importantly as if they dont "understand" the internet well and upload a 1 GB video that lasts only 5 minutes they will get very disappointed about both the streaming quality and speed and therefore potentially not "upgrade" to one of your higher packages.

Are you intending to run "proper" streaming servers or simply a file server?

What are the added services people can pay for?

Hizz

Dependant on the area that you are located within, I think that for the higher end of the market this could be a very good facility. However, the rental market is a highly competitive market and property can move very quickly - very oftn before th agent has chance to add to their rental portfolio listings or have time to advertise.

You would need to have a very quick turnaround from taking pictures to displaying.

Unless the landlord(s) are self managing, there is also the matter of providing a full service covering landlord/tennant agreements, management etc. You my be able to sub contract this aspect out.

Have you considered linking with busineses already established in the rental market that may not offer this service but wnt to offer clients added value?

pbuckley

Sorry for the late reply...thanks for your comments. Ill just go through the issues...

If you are not providing anything other than a video streaming server then why limit the proposal simply to landlords?

We have plans to expand the service in the future but currently its commercial applications are limited, especially for user generated content.

How many people have the equipment to make electronic videos?
Most digicams have video capabilities.

How much bandwidth are you going to require?
Probably in excess of 100GB, but that's assuming you get >200,000 views

Are you intending to run "proper" streaming servers or simply a file server?
File server in the beginning

What are the added services people can pay for?
Video Editing, noise elimination, soundtrack, larger videos...

the rental market is a highly competitive market and property can move very quickly - very oftn before th agent has chance to add to their rental portfolio listings or have time to advertise.
thank you i wasnt aware of that.

service covering landlord/tennant agreements, management etc. You my be able to sub contract this aspect out.
There are already big players out there.

Have you considered linking with busineses already established in the rental market that may not offer this service but wnt to offer clients added value?
Yes, but they may be looking for a professional video production team, which we are not.