New construction video
New construction video: spec homes, model homes and the rendering problem
New construction has a problem resale does not: for the first months, the home in the ad does not exist yet. What you can show, and how you label it, matters more here than anywhere else in listing video.
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Renderings are not listing photos
A rendering is an artist's picture of a plan. A listing photo is a record of a building. Buyers, appraisers and MLSs treat them differently, and so should your video.
- Many MLSs allow renderings for to-be-built or under-construction listings only if they are labelled as renderings, and some require a real photo once the home is complete. Rules differ, so check yours.
- Federal and state advertising rules against misleading claims apply to a builder's marketing as much as to an agent's. A film that mixes renderings and photos without saying which is which invites a complaint.
- Renderings often show upgrades the base price does not include. Say so: "Rendering shows optional finishes."
You can upload a rendering to Property Video Generator as an image, and it will get a camera move like any photo. But our labels are built for photo edits and staging, not renderings. If you use renderings, put "Artist rendering" in the narration line or caption over those shots, and keep them in a separate film from real photos where you can.
Three stages, three films
| Stage | What you have | What to make |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-sale, nothing built | Renderings, floor plans, the lot | A short labelled rendering film, or no film. Lead with the location and the plan, not fake rooms. |
| Spec home, finished | Real photos of the actual home | A normal listing film. This is where photo-based video is strongest. |
| Model home in a community | Photos of the model, often with upgrades and decor | A community film. Say it is the model and that finishes vary by home. |
Spec homes are the easy case: a finished, empty, well lit house. Empty rooms can look cold on video. Virtual staging helps, and Property Video Generator labels staged rooms "Virtually staged" on screen. Two or three staged rooms is plenty; buyers want to see the real finishes in the rest.
Keeping the builder's brand
Builders care about consistency across a community: same logo, same fonts, same colours on every home. Set those once in the brand kit, upload the builder's brand font on a paid plan (TTF, OTF or WOFF2), and every film uses them. A sales team can share one brand kit with editor seats on Pro or Studio.
The MLS cut stays unbranded either way. Many MLSs do not allow builder or agent branding in the virtual tour field, and ours removes the contact card and logo for that cut.
A community with 12 spec homes
A builder in suburban Phoenix finishes 12 spec homes across three floor plans over a quarter. Each finished home gets its own listing film from 15 to 20 photos. The three plans share amenity photos (the pool, the trail, the clubhouse) at the end of each film. On Studio that is 12 of the month's 40 listings, with plenty left for the resale side.
Where we do not fit: progress videos of framing and drywall, or a time-lapse of the build. Those need video footage, which we do not accept. And there is no MLS or builder CRM integration; each home is uploaded as a listing.
Make a film for a finished spec home
Upload real photos of the home, add the brand kit, render every cut.
Questions
Questions agents ask.
Can I use renderings in a listing video?
You can, but label every rendering shot clearly as an artist rendering, keep them apart from real photos where possible, and check your MLS rules, which differ on renderings for to-be-built homes.
Should I virtually stage a spec home?
A few key rooms, yes. Property Video Generator labels staged rooms on screen automatically. Leave kitchens and bathrooms real; buyers are judging the finishes.
Can a builder's team share one brand?
Yes. Brand kit, fonts and listings are shared across the team, with owner, editor and viewer roles. Pro includes 2 seats and Studio 5.
Can I show construction progress?
Not as video. If you have progress photos you can make a film from them, but it will be a sequence of stills with camera moves, not footage.
Your next listing deserves a film.
Upload the photos from a real listing and watch the film before you pay anything. 2 free listings a month, no card.