AutoReel vs Howards: which is right for NZ agents?

AutoReel and Howards both turn listing photographs into video. AutoReel is a self-serve platform with an editor that gives you creative control. Howards is a service that makes the creative decisions for you and delivers a finished video within 24 hours.

The useful question is whether you want to produce the video or order it. Here is how the two workflows differ for a New Zealand agent or office admin.

What AutoReel is

AutoReel is a New York-based platform for making property videos from photos. Its workflow includes US listing-portal imports, alongside photo uploads. It also offers photo editing and virtual staging.

The video tools combine automatic production with settings you can adjust and a Studio timeline editor for further changes. That makes it relevant to agents and media businesses who want control over both the source photos and the finished edit.

This comparison follows the provider’s published workflow. It compares what you do in the software with what you hand over when ordering from us.

What making a video in AutoReel involves

AutoReel’s help guide describes the process from project setup to branding. Some controls are optional, so you do not have to make a custom choice for every setting.

1. 1.Create and name a project, then upload or import your listing photographs.
2. 2.Choose which photos to include and drag them into the order you want.
3. 3.Select landscape or portrait. Adjust scene crops where you want to change the default framing.
4. 4.Keep the default Auto camera motion, or choose a movement for individual photos.
5. 5.Review the video settings and render the base video.
6. 6.Add branding through the available intro and outro templates, logos, profile information, music, voiceovers or avatars.

Further changes can happen in Studio, with controls for intros, outros, trimming, music and text. The base video is made before those additional edits.

Each setting you choose to adjust is another creative decision. Those controls are useful when you want them. Our service approach is for agents who have always ordered video and would rather leave those decisions with the producer.

What ordering from Howards involves

Confirm the vendor wants video, send us the listing photos and receive the finished video within 24 hours. We choose the shots, the order, the movement and the music. AI-assisted production with human quality control.

Through the dashboard, submit the request, upload the photos and pay at checkout. By email, send a Dropbox, Google Drive or other private folder link to contact@howards.ai; we invoice after delivery, payable within 7 days.

Either you or your office admin can place the order. See example videos and pricing before deciding which format fits the campaign.

Side by side

When AutoReel is the better fit

If you enjoy editing and want to decide how each video looks and sounds, AutoReel is worth considering. You can use the automatic settings where they suit you and adjust the parts you want to control.

It is also relevant if you want virtual staging and photo edits in the same tool, or if you want a video in minutes. Agents and media businesses making many videos may prefer to keep production inside their own workflow.

Choose it for those controls if you expect to use them. Having an editor available is a benefit when editing is work you want to do.

When Howards is the better fit

If your preferred workflow is to send photos and get a video back, we handle the production. You do not have to choose camera moves, work through templates or finish the video in an editor.

An office admin can order without taking on the creative work. The email route needs no account and allows you to send a private folder link, then pay the invoice after delivery.

For NZ agents, our GST-inclusive prices and human quality control are part of the service. You can include the video in the vendor’s marketing package or fund it yourself when the vendor says no.

Also compare: PropertyVideos.ai vs Howards.