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New real estate video marketing trends emerge daily: new social media platforms, new multimedia services, new kinds of content — and new apps. Regardless of the mobile device(s) you own, there are brand-spankin’-new apps added every day that you can download and instantly use to market to your audience on your real estate website and social channels. A fast-evolving segment of the app development industry is video recording.
New tools that allow for unique filters, quick editing, and loads of other interesting features make it simple for real estate agents to record Spielberg-approved video. Below are 10 of the latest and greatest video recording apps that can transform your real estate videos into masterpieces (well, very short masterpieces anyway).
The Ones You Probably Use or Have Heard About
Instagram (Free)
Let’s get the big players out of the way. Instagram added its video function in 2013, and it’s safe to say it’s a widely used feature among Instagrammers everywhere. In fact, there were 5 million Instagram videos published within its first 24 hours of operation. Use the app’s three-to-15-second length to highlight the main attributes of your listings and include them on your real estate website.
What’s made video even more appealing for the app’s users is the recent introduction of Hyperlapse: time-lapse videos for those who don’t have the $4,000 equipment necessary to create professional-looking lapse recordings.
While it’s unclear how agents can take advantage of this tool, it’s still worth playing around with to develop ideas for your real estate marketing. (Note: You need to download the separate Hyperlapse app to use it — the regular Instagram app doesn’t support it.)
iMovie ($4.99)
Apple’s native video editor now comes in an iPad version with great touch support. You can drag and drop to add clips, then swipe down to split them. Once you’ve selected your clips, iMovie also offers 8 themes, each with its own set of titles, transitions, and music. For video slideshows, use the Ken Burns effect to animate your photos. When you’re done, you can publish directly to your YouTube/Vimeo channel or Facebook page.
Splice (Free)
The only free iPhone offering on this list, Splice offers just about everything iMovie does, plus some more advanced features for mixing and synchronizing multiple audio tracks. Unfortunately, Splice doesn’t offer an iPhone 5 or iPad app, and the existing app hasn’t been updated since September 2011.
The Best-Reviewed Ones You Likely Don’t Know
Camera Plus ($1.99)
Now onto the lesser-known options. First up is Camera Plus, which offers several distinct features — chief of which is the AirSnap function. This allows users to connect two iOS devices: one to use as a remote control while the other device operates the app.
So if you want to get a shot of you and your buyers right after you’ve closed a deal, set up your iPad on a tripod and use your iPhone to snap the pic from several feet away. You could end up with some snazzy shots to add your real estate website homepage. And that’s not all. You can also:
- Paint over your photos with a brush tool
- Add vibrant or muted colors, depending on the mood
- Adjust sharpness of different aspects of your images
- Click the Pix’d button, which automatically beautifies photos for you
Magisto (Free)
Back when music videos aired on MTV, many viewers aspired to emulate the videos of their favorite musicians. Magisto is just about as close as many of these people will come to creating high-quality music videos. The app is unique in that, when you’re done recording video and upload it to the Magisto website, its algorithms influence the final product’s development.
The makers behind Magisto created Emotion Sense Technology, as they’ve branded it, which helps identify emotions of those in the video and, in turn, edits it accordingly to strike the right mood users desire — visually and audibly. While Magisto adds appropriate effects to your recording, you get to choose a song to play in your “movie.”
Bottom line: This app is ideal for real estate agents who want to tell stories about their clients and their enjoyable experiences working with them to find the home of their dreams.
FiLMiC Pro ($4.99)
When you’ve won a video app of the year award from two different esteemed organizations, it’s a crystal clear indication that app is pretty good. The “Pro” in its title may give some the impression this app is difficult to master. That’s not the case, though. A clean interface that aptly displays all of the app’s numerous functions — including 4-times zoom, audio metering, and three different shooting modes — makes recording real estate video on FiLMiC Pro a walk in the park.
he second you finish your mini film, you can share it on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Vimeo. Cinegenix, the app’s creator, even has an educational and entertaining blog that shows recording tips, advice for video gear to use, and use cases of its app in action.
Spark Camera ($1.99)
Last and most definitely not least is Spark Camera, a fantastic video recording app from award-winning global design firm Ideo.
The company’s Toy Lab, which developed the app, has even gone so far to call it “the first app we’ve built purposely for adults.” The app automatically edits clips together, has an easy-to-upload functionality for social media, and allows for musical soundtracks, making it an agent’s dream.
Real estate branding becomes painless and even enjoyable thanks to Spark Camera. No fuss, no muss — the app makes real estate video marketing uncomplicated.
Pinnacle Studio ($12.99)
Formerly Avid Studio, Pinnacle aims to justify its high price tag with the most advanced features and tools for video editing of any iPad app. Pinnacle offers montage templates, tons of transition effects, picture-in-picture modes, and advanced options for animated titles and graphics. With 1080p output and one-touch YouTube sharing, you’ll never have to leave the app.
Blux Movie ($0.99)
A companion to Blux’s terrific photo-editing app, Blux Movie for the iPhone and Blux Movie HD for the iPad let you add fun post-production effects like filters and split screen views to your videos. Yes, you have to record with Blux to edit with it, and you can’t do any cutting; but Blux is compatible with iMovie, which means you can add your flair and do your fine tuning elsewhere.
VidTrim (Free, 4.5/5 stars)
VidTrim is a fine option if you’re looking for the bare editing essentials. Trim video clips directly from your smartphone or tablet, then email or upload to YouTube. The Pro version ($2.84) adds filters and effects, grab stills, and compress your clips.
