10 Tips for Creating a YouTube Video for Your VRBO Listing
Learn tips for filming your vacation rental to make the most of the new YouTube video feature on VRBO.
.jpg) If your VRBO listing has 16 photos and you've read all the guidelines and instructions for uploading a YouTube™ video to your listing, you might be wondering how to get started with the actual video. Whether you're braving it yourself or hiring professional help, give some thought to what you'd like to feature and how you'd like to feature it before you press record.
Here are some tips for creating the best video possible:
1. Don't use a video from 1981. Using a video that looks like it was taken in the silent film era might end up scaring away renters. Or if it doesn't show the deck you've built or the new furniture you've purchased, you could confuse renters that see one thing in your photos and another in your video.
2. Use a tripod to balance your camera and prevent shaking. Don't make your potential guests feel like they're watching the Blair Witch Project. You can even place tennis balls on the bottom of your tripod as you walk around your home.
3. Stage the home just as you would when taking still photos, and be sure to remove any clutter. No one wants to see your mail on the table or your keys on the kitchen counter. And yes, your husband counts as clutter too. Make sure he's not watching TV while you're trying to shoot the living room.
4. Feature rooms or areas that you wouldn't necessarily include in your limited number of photos. A standard bathroom or laundry area might not be spectacular enough to include in your 16 photos, but maybe a glimpse of your jumbo-load washing machine will be just enough to turn a prospective renter into a confirmed guest.
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 5. Shoot your video at the best time of day. While you might feel like the dead of night adds a bit of romance to your footage, it could spook some renters. Make sure your video is well-lit and your furnishings and amenities are easy to see.
6. Narrate your video to answer some common questions you receive from travelers. Don't put them to sleep with the history of your appliances or the great deals you found on linens. Your narration can be a good opportunity, not only to explain the layout of your home or the proximity to the beach, lake or mountains, but also for your renters to get to know you as an owner.
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7. If you prefer not to narrate, select background music that is appropriate for your target renters and doesn't distract from the footage of your home. Some owners choose to use classical, elevator-type music, and others have found a song that is appropriate for their area. No matter who your renters are, avoid any urges to use hard-core rap or heavy metal and stick to mellow, soothing tunes.
8. Keep it under 3 minutes. No one wants to watch a full feature-length documentary on your vacation home.
 9. Create a slide show using additional pictures if you aren't able to get a video of your vacation home just yet. Some owners will even open the kitchen cabinets to show all the items they stock for their guests. Now's your chance to feature that impeccable linen closet or your favorite shower curtain.
10. Hire a professional videographer to capture the beauty of your home. If all else fails, there are people out there that do this for a living. This relatively small investment is probably worth it because a professional will likely do a far better job than you will.
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What tips do you have for other owners shooting videos of their own vacation homes?
"Duck when ever you are filming near a mirror..potential renters don't want to see you in the video tour!" -Jane
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