How Do I Make Real Estate Reels or Listing Videos? A Phone-Only Method for Agents

What do I need to get started?

You don't need a camera, lights, or paid software to start. Get the basics right first.

What settings should I use?

• Hold the phone vertically. Reels are 9:16. Horizontal clips get cropped.
• Use the highest quality your phone offers at 30 frames per second. Switch to 60 only for clips you plan to slow down.
• Turn on the grid. Keep door frames and walls straight in the frame.
• Lock exposure and focus. Press and hold on the screen so the brightness doesn’t jump as you move.
• Hold the phone at chest height, level, not tilted up or down.
• Turn on do-not-disturb. A call ends your recording.

How do I prepare the home?

The same way as for photos. Video hides less than photos do, because the camera moves past everything. Turn on every light, open the blinds, turn off fans and televisions, and clear the surfaces. Our room-by-room prep checklist covers it.

Film at the time of day the home looks best. See the best time to photograph a San Diego listing. If the photographer is coming, film right after they finish, while the home is ready.

What should I film?

Film each of these as its own clip, five to eight seconds long. You will trim them later.

1. The front of the home, walking slowly toward the door
2. The door opening into the entry
3. The main living space, moving forward into the room
4. The kitchen, moving along the island or the counter
5. One kitchen detail: the range, the sink, the view from the window
6. The dining area
7. The primary bedroom, from the doorway moving in
8. The primary bathroom
9. One or two other rooms worth showing
10. Out the back door to the yard
11. The best outdoor feature: pool, view, patio
12. A final wide shot, standing still

How should I move the camera?

• Slowly. Half the speed that feels natural.
• In one direction per clip. Forward, or sideways. Don’t pan around the room.
• With your whole body. Hold your elbows in and walk heel to toe.
• Start before the action and end after it. Record a second of stillness on each end.
• Through doorways. Moving into a room shows its depth.
• Never backward into furniture.

If your clips are shaky, slow down first. If they are still shaky, a gimbal fixes it.

Film more than you think you need. Two takes of every clip costs you a minute in the home and saves a return trip. Check each clip on the screen before you leave the room, and look at the edges of the frame for cords, bins, and your own shadow.

How do I edit it?

1. Pick your ten to fifteen best clips
2. Trim each one to two to four seconds, keeping the smoothest part
3. Put them in walking order, with the strongest clip first
4. Add one line of text on the first frame: what it is and where
5. Add music from the app’s library for your account type
6. Add the address or the open house time at the end
7. Watch it once with the sound off. Most people will

Aim for 20 to 45 seconds. For hooks, captions, and what to post across the life of a listing, see Instagram Reels for real estate agents.

When should I use professional media instead?

Phone clips are right for social posts where you want to feel present and quick. Use professional media when the clip represents the listing itself.

Don't fly your own drone for a listing unless you hold an FAA Part 107 certificate. See whether you need a licensed drone pilot. Our prices are on the pricing page, and video vs photos covers what is worth paying for.

What are the common mistakes?

• Filming horizontally
• Moving too fast
• Lights off and blinds closed
• Clips that are too long
• Your reflection in mirrors and windows
• No text on the first frame
• Music that gets the post muted
• Showing family photos, valuables, or anything the seller didn’t agree to
• Text that promises how fast the home will sell

Frequently asked questions

Can I make a listing video with my phone?

Yes. Film vertically in short, slow, steady clips with all the lights on, then edit ten to fifteen clips together in walking order.

How long should a real estate Reel be?

Between 20 and 45 seconds for most listings, and under a minute for a full tour.

Do I need a gimbal?

No, but it helps. Slow, deliberate movement with your elbows in gets you most of the way. A gimbal smooths the rest.

What app should I use to edit Reels?

The editor inside Instagram is enough to start. Free editing apps add more control over trimming and text.

Can I use listing photos in a Reel?

Yes. A sequence of photos or a photo-to-video works well, and your photography license normally covers social media for that listing.