Real estate video for agents is the fastest way to show people you know houses. A photo shows a room. A video shows you standing in it, pointing at the water heater, and telling a buyer what to look for. Here's how I do it. I make three kinds of video: listing videos, market updates, and what I call "we know houses" explainers. Most of them are shot on a phone. None of them need to be fancy. They need to be useful, clear and legal.
The short answer
Shoot vertical on your phone with good light and a cheap mic. Keep short-form videos under a minute and put the point in the first three seconds. Add captions to every video, since many people watch with the sound off. Put your brokerage name on screen. Use only photos and footage you have the right to use. Post short clips on Reels, Shorts and TikTok, and keep longer walk-throughs and explainers on YouTube.
Step by step
- Set up the phone. Clean the lens. Shoot vertical for short-form, horizontal for long YouTube walk-throughs. Lock exposure so the picture doesn't pump bright and dark as you walk.
- Fix the sound first. Bad sound loses people faster than a bad picture. A clip-on wireless mic is the best cheap upgrade you can buy.
- Use light you already have. Open blinds, turn on every light, and face the window, not away from it.
- Steady the shot. A small gimbal or just slow walking with elbows tucked. No fast swings.
- Write a three-line script. Hook, point, ask. "Here's the first thing I check in any basement. Look at the bottom of this wall. If you see white crust, water has been here. Want me to look at a house for you? Message me."
- Add captions. Use the app's auto-captions, then fix the mistakes. Wrong captions on a street name or price look sloppy.
- Put the brokerage name on screen. A real estate video is an ad. Keep the brokerage name readable on every frame or at least on the opening and closing cards. Check current Colorado rules at dre.colorado.gov.
- Post it where it fits, then answer every comment the same day.
The three kinds of video
| Type | Length | What goes in it |
|---|---|---|
| Listing video | 30-60 sec short; 2-5 min walk-through | Title card, best rooms in order, the feature buyers came for, end card with brokerage and contact |
| Market update | 30-60 sec | One number, what it means for buyers, what it means for sellers, one ask |
| "We know houses" explainer | 30-90 sec short; longer on YouTube | One part of a house: roof, sewer line, furnace, grading, foundation cracks, windows |
Listing videos. Walk the home in the order a buyer would: front door, main living space, kitchen, bedrooms, basement, yard. Show the feature buyers care about most early. If you're working from the listing photos, a slow push-in on each photo with a short caption works well. Only call it "just listed" when it really is new.
Market updates. One number per video. Say the area and the month. Then say what it means in plain words. Don't quote rates or payments; say "talk to a licensed loan officer for your real numbers."
"We know houses" explainers. This is where agents beat apps. Take your phone on a field trip through a vacant home you have permission to film, and teach. Show how to read the age on a water heater label. Show what a settled sidewalk tells you about drainage. Show what a buyer should open on a showing. These videos get saved and shared, and they build the trust that gets you hired.
YouTube vs short-form
- Short-form (Reels, Shorts, TikTok): reach new people fast. Vertical, under a minute, hook in the first three seconds.
- YouTube long-form: gets found in search for months or years. Full walk-throughs, neighborhood tours (homes and amenities only), and deeper explainers. Use the question people search as the title.
- Your website: embed the video on the matching page or blog post. A video next to the written answer helps people stay and read.
Music, photos and permission
- Music: popular songs often get muted or blocked on business accounts. Use royalty-free music, or a platform's commercial sound library.
- Photos: use photos from your own listings. Other brokers' listing photos are for search display, not for your videos or ads.
- Sellers: get the seller's OK before filming. Hide family photos, mail, medicine, alarm panels and anything that shows when the home is empty.
- People: get written permission before you use anyone's face, voice or name, including other agents and clients.
How to explain it to your client
When a seller asks why you want to film their home, tell them what it does for them.
"Most buyers see your home on their phone long before they walk in. A short video shows how the rooms connect, which photos can't do. I'll walk it the way a buyer would, show the best features first, and leave out anything personal. Before we film, we'll put away family photos and anything that shows your schedule. You'll see the video before it goes live."
Watch-outs
- Fair housing applies to video. Talk about the home, the lot, the updates and the commute in minutes. Never say who a home or area is "perfect for." See the HUD fair housing page.
- No safety or school ratings. Don't say "safe area" or "great schools" on camera.
- Don't make rooms look bigger than they are. Super-wide lenses and tricks that mislead buyers backfire at the showing.
- No fake "AI look." Overdone effects and robot voices make people scroll. Your real voice wins.
- Watch the background. Neighbors' faces, license plates and house numbers you don't need on camera.
- Don't post and vanish. The comments are where the leads are.
Further reading
- How We Market a Luxury Home in Colorado on kennaluxuryrealestate.com
- 3D Floor Plans and Renderings for Colorado Listings on kennarealestate.com
This is training for real estate agents. It isn't legal, tax or lending advice. Check with your managing broker.
Questions
Do I need a professional videographer?
Not for most videos. A phone, a cheap mic and good light cover market updates and explainers. A pro shoot is worth it for higher-priced listings.
Should I shoot vertical or horizontal?
Vertical for Reels, Shorts and TikTok. Horizontal for long YouTube walk-throughs.
Do I need captions?
Yes. Many people watch with the sound off, and captions help viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Can I use trending music?
Often not on a business account. Use royalty-free tracks or the platform's commercial library.
Can I make a video from another agent's listing photos?
No, not without permission. Use photos from your own listings.
How long should a listing video be?
Thirty to sixty seconds for short-form. Two to five minutes for a full walk-through on YouTube.
Brian Lee Burke is the founder of PadLeaders, a Colorado real estate broker licensed since 2003, team leader of The Kenna Group at Keller Williams DTC (formerly Kenna Real Estate Group) and the author of Mastering Real Estate and The Real Estate Playbook. More about Brian.