Okay, so here's the thing like everyone; I used to be that real estate agent who thought a few decent photos were enough. But was I wrong. Last month, I had two similar listings in the same neighborhood. Same price range, similar square footage, both decent properties. For the first one, I did my usual routine: hired a photographer, took some nice shots, wrote up a description, and called it a day. It sat on the market for six weeks.

For the second property? I decided to try something different and got a video made. Not because I'm some tech genius - honestly, I barely know how to use Instagram Stories properly - but because my nephew kept telling me "Uncle Mike, nobody looks at photos anymore."

The video listing on Reeltor got three showings in the first weekend. Three! The photo-only listing? Nothing.

What Changed My Mind About Video

Here's what I've learned from actually using Reeltor 

When someone's scrolling through listings at 11 PM in their pajamas, they don't want to click through 20 photos and try to piece together the layout in their head. They want to see the flow of the house, get a feel for the space, and figure out if it's worth their Saturday morning.

I had one buyer tell me she ruled out five properties just from their videos because she could see the kitchen was too small for her family. Saved everyone time.

The Stuff That Actually Works

After doing this for about eight months now, here's what I've noticed gets people excited:

Walking tours beat everything else. Those fancy drone shots look cool, but honestly? Most buyers care more about whether they can fit their couch in the living room than getting an aerial view of the roof.

Show the weird stuff. I started including the quirky details - like the built-in breakfast nook or the basement workshop - and those are often what people remember. One house sold because the buyer fell in love with this tiny reading alcove that I almost didn't include.

Keep it real. I stopped trying to make every video look like an TV show. Sometimes the lighting isn't perfect, sometimes you can hear a dog barking next door. That's life, and buyers appreciate the honesty.

Finding Someone to Actually Make These Videos

This was my biggest headache initially. I tried working with a wedding videographer once, then a commercial video company.

I eventually found this platform called Reeltor that connects you with people who actually understand real estate. The videographer I work with now gets it - she knows to highlight storage space and natural light, not just make everything look cinematic.

What I Wish Someone Had Told Me

Look, I'm not saying video is some magic solution that'll sell every house in a week. I still have listings that sit, video or no video. But here's what I've definitely noticed:

My listings get shared more on social media. Buyers remember my properties better when they're looking at multiple houses. And honestly? I feel more confident when I'm competing against other agents who are still stuck in the photo-only world.

The biggest surprise has been how much it's helped with out-of-town buyers. I sold a house last month to a family relocating from Seattle who put in an offer after just watching the video. They said it felt like they'd already toured the place.

The Bottom Line

If you're still on the fence about adding video to your listings, my advice is just try it. Start with one property on Reeltor and see what happens.

Just don't expect miracles overnight. Like most things in real estate, it's about consistency and getting a little bit better each time. And if you're like me and don't want to figure out all the technical stuff yourself, there are people out there who can help make it happen.