Agents have been warned about the use of Periscope, the hotter-than-hot new live broadcasting service offered by Twitter.
The live video streaming app lets people comment in real time on what they are seeing, also in real time.
The warning covers other similar apps including Meerkat – although the hugely growing Periscope looks to have become easily the Goliath in the race.
One agent, Thomas Morris, has been using Periscope to show prospective purchasers around homes in live virtual open house days – news covered by the industry press including Eye and also the BBC.
But Tim Hammond, CEO of Agent Centric which has a competitive new video service for UK agents called VOX, claimed that live streaming technology could have damaging consequences.
He said that the agent’s Periscope tour would only be available to that agent’s Twitter followers, and only if they happened to be available at the time.
He said: “The video is not going to go to many of the right people.”
He also said some of an agent’s Twitter followers are likely to be competitors, who might contribute to the live discussion by pointing out a home in the same area on their own books.
Hammond said another issue with Periscope is that it often attracts abusive live Tweets, including those from unscrupulous competitors.
Other problems, said Hammond, are that live streamed videos are uncontrolled, so if an agent makes a mistake such as tripping up or saying something they later wish they had not, they could become a laughing stock; also each property has a different wifi signal, which could fail, leading to embarrassment.
VOX, being promoted in the UK by estate agency trainer Richard Rawlings, allows agents to send recorded video messages to their client base, including property videos.
Simon Bradbury, of Thomas Morris, which has offices in the Cambridgeshire area, told Eye, that comparing Vox with Periscope was similar to likening radio to a mobile phone.
He said: “I have a lot of respect for Richard Rawlings and what he has done for the industry, but the two things are completely different.
“It is apples and pears. One is about broadcasting, while the other is about social media.
“We have now done four open house events using Periscope and all have attracted good viewings.
“I do agree there are challenges with Periscope and Richard is right to point out that there is potential for abuse. I won’t tell you the words, but I experienced this on one of our viewings, and was able to block it immediately. In other words, the threat is there, but it is completely manageable.
“A pre-recorded video is fine, and it does allow you to stage the property a lot better.
“However, the whole point of Periscope is its authenticity, and that is the hook in today’s social media world.”
https://www.propertyindustryeye.com/new-video-service-agents-set-launch/
Comments (15)
“He said that the agent’s Periscope tour would only be available to that agent’s Twitter followers, and only if they happened to be available at the time”
That isn’t quite true, I am looking for any off the wall test of Rummage4 right now. I am not following Thomas Morris but found their periscope tour with ease, that said the bit about timing is right, the session was expired.
Yes Periscope streams only lasts 24hours. Its restricted to Twitter, and hence missing out on the majority of their audience! The vast majority of an agent’s buyer enquiries come through their website, the portals, referrals, their registered buyers and vendors email lists, and perhaps a few from facebook. Actually Twitter comes a very long way down (probably bottom) of where an agent generates enquiries from, so why use a tool that is so restricted when VOX works with all of the above.
When submitting an offer will an agent have an obligation to make the seller aware that the buyer had not viewed the property and that they had in fact viewed by Persicope? Surely a buyer would then need to view after the point of offer being agreed and the sale exchanging?
Yes, that’s why with VOX the agent just does a property ‘preview’ on video to encourage buyers to schedule a ‘real’ viewing. Buyers can then book these viewings via the video message they receive on their phone or email.
Yes but what if someone can’t make an open day and wants to put in an offer on the basis of the video viewing?
Surely the agent would have a duty of care to advise that the applicant has not actually been to the property as surely this will devalue their offer? Personally if it were my property I would rather someone had seen it and the area and be totally satisfied.
I assume that a buyer will want to view before exchange, would there offer be subject to a viewing? What if they offer, then view a few weeks later and the other interested parties that bid had bought another property?
It also allows a complete stranger to view the contents of your home prior to helping themselves!
As a former Police Officer the need for your agent to do thorough vetting prior to property attendance is essential if not critical. Accompanied viewings only. You won’t eliminate all worry or threat but this is shear stupidity aligned with technology coupled with an ignorance of how volatile and putrid the criminal elements that exist in our society truly are.
Video viewings look great but really you cannot capture the spirit of a home in a video.
Nothing like a good bit of scaremongering!
Most properties have floor plans and a number of internal pictures, whats the difference?
I remember when the internet took off with internal pictures apparently ever house in Britain was going to be broken into!
I am also ex-plod. So….. you don’t do viewings / accompanied viewings showing the layout and making you the perps alibi for dna on the premises ??
We believe in the power of video, it’s personal and engaging! However in our opinion Periscope has it’s drawbacks: especially the fact it only really works in portrait view: as agents know property images work much better in landscape!With VOX you can film a preview of the property which can be send out to potentially hundreds of interested buyers, which they can watch again and again whenever they want – and all you need is their email address. (you cna also share vox on social media, add to your property listing on the portals and your own website – so you maximise coverage). We try to promote “Property Previews” http://agentvox.co.uk/products/ as opposed to a full open house video: a little sneak peek to capture the buyer’s attention and prompt real viewings! As its all about encouraging more ‘real’ viewings rather than replacing with some kind of virtual viewing.
I said to PeeBee a number of months ago about a story which i found interesting. It was about Vox
I don’t usual plug stories (normally rip a hole in them) – But this is a very very good concept.
Very versatile, numerous possibilities and very clever, i encourage people to check it out.
Only gripe is service little iffy (think to do with the age of individuals there), price is more than american counter part by some margin.
But very clever especially if you are looking to build real relationships and you can see when emails are not only opened but read and how many times, great for mail shots as well.
Quick response. Actually VOX is priced cheaper than our US counterparts (who are actually our partners) as the US quoted price is for if you buy annually upfront and there are extras for agency branding and templates. VOX also gives you unlimited subscribers whereas US version does not. eg based on if you have 2,500 to 5,000 subscribers in your email list then the US version would cost you $109 a month (£72.66) whereas VOX is just £49 a month. Also with VOX you get over 60 UK centric agency scripts for creating your videos.
Hot or Not?
After watching the BBC story i would say NOT
Very amateurish and the guy looked lost. Its one of those things that ‘Could’ be a good idea but anything else than 100% preparation and commitment you look awful. Nice idea but should have done at least a couple of dozen dry runs so he did not look like it was all new to him.
its got its place but its niche.
How about some new articles this week? It’s almost all been about some companies that are afraid of some competition? What did people say when the digital cameras starting rolling out or better yet.. When people started buying GoPros? Periscope video stay online for 24 hours and you can download them to your phone and then you could upload them to your website, but it’s only for iPhone for now at least
<<<<< is yearning for the rolodex and sticky-on photos. We are de-personalising our business and tools such as these are surely playing into the hands of remote selling online. Our aim must be to strive to maintain the property business being what it has always been … a people business. Discuss.
Absolutely right! Agency is wholly a people business and video, especially personal video messaging, is far more personal than a plain email when you cant actually be with the client in person. In fact check out Richard Rawlings’ personal video reply to Paulinthelow’s comment on this site at http://vid.us/6qgot9. Have a great day.