How to film your property on your phone.
You don't need professional gear. With these tips, what you shoot on your phone becomes a video that looks magazine-ready. Save or print this guide and keep it handy on filming day.
Prep the property
A video can't show what doesn't look good in person. 20 minutes of prep is worth more than any edit.
- Clean and clear surfaces: kitchen, bathrooms and nightstands with nothing on them. Less stuff = rooms that look bigger.
- Hide personal items: family photos, clothes, used towels, toothbrushes, trash cans and cables.
- Turn on every light and open curtains and blinds. A bright home feels warm and spacious.
- Open interior doors so you can move from room to room without cutting the shot.
- Outside: move cars out of the driveway, pick up toys and hoses and, if you can, water the lawn first.
- No one in the frame: no people, no pets. And watch the mirrors: make sure they don't reflect you.
Set up your phone
Two minutes of setup that make a real difference in the final result.
- Clean the lens with a soft cloth. It's the most common mistake and it ruins all the footage.
- Shoot vertically (9:16), in 4K if your phone supports it.
- 30 or 60 frames per second. 60 fps gives me smoother motion and lets me do slow motion.
- Turn on airplane mode so a call doesn't cut your best shot. Check your battery and free storage.
- Lock focus and exposure: press and hold on the screen (on iPhone you'll see “AE/AF Lock”). That way the brightness doesn't change as you walk.
- No digital zoom. If you need something closer, walk closer. The ultra wide (0.5x) works great in small rooms.
- On iPhone: if colors look off when you share, turn off “HDR Video” in Settings › Camera › Record Video.
How to move the camera
This is the difference between a home video and one that feels professional.
- Slow, slower than you think. I can always speed it up in the edit; shaky footage can't be fixed.
- Walk with your knees slightly bent and your elbows tucked in to absorb your steps.
- One move per shot. Don't push in, turn and tilt up in the same shot.
Push in
Walk straight into the space, slowly. Great for entering the living room or bedrooms.
Slide
Move sideways while facing forward. Shows off kitchens, counters and façades.
Reveal
Start behind a wall or door frame and slowly move out to reveal the space.
Detail
Get close to finishes, fixtures, lighting or textures. Short, close-up shots.
Top view: the gold triangle is you with the phone, and the arrow is the move.
Use the light
Light sells. A well-lit property looks more expensive.
- Interiors: shoot during the day, with natural light and every light on.
- Exteriors and façade: the best light is in the morning or at sunset (“golden hour”). Avoid harsh midday sun.
- Bonus: also film the façade at dusk with every light on. It's a shot that sells a lot.
Shot types and how long they should be
Shoot extra: it's always better to have shots to spare than to come up short.
| Shot | What it's for | Length | How many |
|---|---|---|---|
| Façade / wide exterior | First impression | 8–10 s | 2–3 |
| Entrance or arrival | Bring the viewer inside | 8–10 s | 1–2 |
| Wide shot of each room | Show size and layout | 6–8 s | 2 per room |
| Reveal | Wow moment: view, terrace, pool | 6–8 s | 1–2 |
| Details | Finishes, lighting, materials | 3–5 s | 5–10 total |
| Drone (if you have one) | Location and surroundings | 10–15 s | 2–3 |
If you're on camera
For agent-led reels, where you're the face of the property. Audio and framing are what people notice most.
- Audio matters most. Use a wireless lavalier mic. If you don't have one, stay close to the phone, in a room with no echo and no background music.
- Look at the lens, not the screen. That way it feels like you're talking straight to the viewer.
- Light in front of you. A window in front of you lights your face; behind you, it leaves you backlit.
- Solid clothing, no thin stripes or big logos. Neutral colors look best.
- Talk a little slower and with energy. Record each line twice: I'll pick the best one.
- Also film the property on its own (10 to 15 shots without you) to cover the cuts between lines.
How an agent-led reel is built (45 to 90 s)
The hook
One line that stops the scroll. “This home in Cumbres has the kitchen everyone wants.”
Introduce yourself
Who you are and where you are. “I'm Ana from X Realty, and I'm showing you this 3-bedroom home.”
Guided tour
Walk through and present 3 to 5 highlights, pointing out details with your hand.
Close and call to action
Price or next step. “Message me to book a showing, the link is in my bio.”
“Looking for a home with a backyard? Check this one out. I'm Ana from X Realty. Walk in and you've got an open living and dining area with tons of natural light… the kitchen is brand new, with an island and seating for four… upstairs, three bedrooms, and the primary has its own bathroom… and the best part: this backyard. It's listed at $485,000. Message me to book your showing.”
Shot list
Check it off as you film. Shoot 2 or 3 takes per room so I have options to choose from.
Exterior
Interior
If you film construction updates
For builders and developers documenting their project.
- Film from the same spots on every visit (mark them) so the progress shows.
- At the same time of day, so the light looks similar.
- Wide shots of the whole site and close-ups of work in progress: machinery, structure, finishes.
- A fixed timelapse: leave your phone on a tripod pointed at the site for an hour.
- Safety first: hard hat and vest, and respect restricted areas.
How to send me your footage
What you filmed is gold: make sure it arrives in its original quality.
- Don't send it over WhatsApp: it compresses videos and they lose a lot of quality.
- Upload it to Google Drive, Dropbox or WeTransfer and share the link with me.
- Send everything, even if you think a shot came out wrong. I'll pick the best.
- Add the property details if you want text in the video: price, square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, location and your logo.
Mistakes I see most
Avoid these and your video will already be ahead of most.
For reels, everything vertical from the start.
Shaky footage can't be fixed in the edit.
It loses quality. Walk toward the space instead.
Rooms look small and cold.
Under 5 seconds is almost unusable.
Blurry image with flares. Always clean it.
If you talk to camera, audio matters more than the image.
Look at the lens to connect with your viewer.
Send me your footage and I'll handle the rest
Color, pacing, music and transitions: I turn your shots into the video that sells your property.
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