New video walkthrough (just giving some ideas for those renting their homes)

I host events and productions in my commercially zoned work/live condo in Los Angeles. I receive multiple requests for site tours from various potential guests, but because I also use this for work (and have a three year old), it’s not always in ‘show’ condition.

So to stem the tide of site tour requests, I try to keep up to date with video ‘walkthroughs’. I just uploaded my latest here: https://youtu.be/VQwAI-4OoNw

Keep in mind that, despite being a photographer myself (stills only), this was shot on an iPhone with no lighting, steadicam, nothing.

I shot it in one take with no script, so please excuse the stuttering or weird pauses while I select my next words.

I redecorate a LOT. I mean, a LOT. Most recently, a guest’s assistant placed a hot iron face down on our old rug, destroying it. The guest was EXTREMELY cool though and she paid me $500 on the spot, so I picked up a rug that I felt was more vibrant.

Then I noticed that I could get a discount on matching rugs and I decided to get a new stair runner and then another smaller rug.

…then the throw pillows didn’t quite match up and I got a few new ones with some red…then I won a vintage sofa from an auction and a big 12 x 18 rug for upstairs and pretty soon, everything looked completely different.

So I took all new pictures and a new video walkthrough.

Couple of quick notes:

  1. Yes, I know that I sound EXACTLY like Mister Peanut Butter from the Bojack Horseman cartoon :smiley:

  2. Yes, I am going to make a podcast and a Youtube series soon! Since the community events program was ended by Peerspace (and I stand by their decision to do so), I’ve been looking for ways to keep helping the community

  3. EVERYTHING is voice controlled. The thermostat, blinds, every single light, the alarms, everything. It’s so insanely useful during productions, events, everything.

  4. Last time I posted a walkthrough, it caused a ridiculous amount of controversy from other hosts who feel that we should accommodate EVERY site tour request. Sorry, but I can’t do that. I have a business to run, other work to conduct and I have a family. It’s perfect for a commercial space, not at all perfect for ones’ home, as I personally want my home to be deep cleaned before anyone sets foot inside.

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Hi Deacon,

Thanks for addressing this, I was just thinking about it today. My space is also commercial Live/Work and I run into similar issues, especially given that almost a third of site visits fail to show up on time or give advanced notice of cancellation. What is your protocol for sending video links as I understand that cannot be done yet through the apps messenger?

Regards,

Marc

Hi Marc!
I actually link it via Youtube right in my listing description.

My personal belief is that site tours are not needed 98% of the time. Most of the time they say that it looks like the photos and then stand there confused, or they try to convince me to book outside of peerspace, or ask for a discount, or weirdly have a meeting in the middle of my home, with no intention of leaving.

If a guest is truly interested in a popular space, their concern is going to be to lock that space down before someone else gets it. Instead, most of the time site tours are used as ‘time wasters’ to avoid spending money or avoid making a firm commitment.

I personally do not take them very seriously and will only show my space right before another booking, in order to ensure that the space is perfectly clean.

If I was working (I’m a photographer), or cooking food, or even if my toddler was here, I couldn’t show the space, as it wouldn’t be an accurate portrayal. It’s part of the reason why I don’t take site tours seriously - they’re doing a site tour to ensure the accuracy of the photos, but the photos are only accurate right before a booking.

So I created the video walk through to stem the tide of site tour requests, because I unfortunately can’t accommodate them all.

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