If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video has to be worth at least a million.

This isn’t just the “digital age” we’re living in. More specifically, this is the age of video. From YouTube to Instagram to TikTok, consumers just can’t get enough.

Video is a particularly useful medium for the real estate industry. Because 97 percent of all homebuyers use the internet to search for a home, real estate videos give agents the greatest chance of introducing themselves, sharing market updates, and broadcasting their listings to the largest audience possible.

It gives them the opportunity to establish their brand and advertise their services far more effectively than the “old school” marketing methods such as riders, newspaper ads, or radio spots.

From entertaining and engaging videos to awe-inspiring drone footage, each type of real estate video serves a unique purpose in capturing potential clients’ attention. In this article, we’ll delve into the seven common types of videos that every agent should consider including in their real estate marketing ideas.

1. The “Just for Fun” Video (That’s Not Actually Just for Fun)

✅ The Purpose:

  • To make potential clients laugh
  • To showcase your personality and the fun side of your brand
  • To advertise your business (even if it’s done somewhat covertly)

✏️ Take Note:

Homebuyers and sellers want to work with agents they like as people. So feel free to show off your personality and your sense of humor.

When they’re done well, videos like this don’t end with just a laugh. They show that you’re fun, which can go a long way in establishing trust and a lasting connection.

Keep in mind though, humor can be a double-edged sword. What you think is funny could turn some potential clients off. So make sure your humorous real estate videos don’t alienate or annoy anyone.

For example, here’s a funny and clever real estate video from Kentucky REALTOR® Brad Simmons:

2. Real Estate Videos That Introduce You & Your Business

✅ The Purpose:

  • To give consumers an idea of what it’s like to work with you
  • To show what you’re like as a person

✏️ Take Note:

Agents use these videos to introduce themselves and their teams, share client testimonials, and explain their values, interests, and why they work in real estate. These kinds of real estate videos are more feel-good than educational. They’re meant to show that the agent is someone you’d want to work with on the basis of their personality and work ethic.

Southern California Realtor® Chuck Costigan does a great job introducing himself in this video:

3. For Listings: The Real Estate Drone Video

✅ The Purpose:

  • To provide a sense of spatial orientation and context in terms of the size of the property and where it’s located
  • To give potential buyers a better sense of what the entire property “feels” like
  • To showcase the home’s curb appeal
  • To supplement a solid listing description with visually compelling video footage that has the potential to increase interest and engagement

✏️ Take Note:

Real estate drone videos not only provide a delightful and immersive experience for potential buyers, but they also help your listing create a lasting impression that stands out from the competition. With captivating aerial shots, you can showcase the entire property, highlighting its size, layout, and surrounding features in a way they couldn’t experience otherwise.

Start with “establishing shots” that capture the property from above to set the stage. Then, focus on key features like the backyard, a pool, or a scenic view. Highlight nearby amenities and attractions to give buyers a complete picture.

(Remember to comply with local regulations and hire a licensed drone operator for safety and legal purposes.)

Take this real estate drone video taken by the Detroit Drone Squad for Yeokum Homes, for example. It does an excellent job of capturing all the right shots, “setting the scene,” and giving potential buyers an immersive experience of the entire property.

 

And check out this example from the Sandri Gentry Team. They creatively blend a virtual tour of the interior with high-quality drone videos, all with an inviting, personal touch that makes it feel like an in-person walkthrough.

 

 

4. Also for Listings: The Video of the Interior

✅ The Purpose:

  • To help buyers peek inside your listing from the comfort of their own home

✏️ Take Note:

Listing videos give consumers a much better idea of what a house looks and feels like than even the best listing photos can. They also give agents the opportunity to quickly describe their listings’ important features as consumers are taken on a video tour.

For example, here’s a high-quality listing video from Emily Kellenberger, a top-producing agent in Santa Barbara, CA:

5. Real Estate Videos That Emphasize Your Unique Selling Proposition

✅ The Purpose:

  • To share your abilities, credentials, and way of doing business
  • To show how you’re different (and better) than your competitors

✏️ Take Note:

Unlike the introductory video, which shares what the agent is like to work with and as a person, informational videos are more of a sales pitch. They address an agent’s:

  • Abilities and talents
  • Industry experience and other credentials
  • Honed, tried-and-true method for buying/selling homes
  • Unique and notable attributes, especially compared to other agents in the market

Of all of the types of videos we’re exploring in this article, this could be the type that’s most geared toward generating real estate leads.

There are two great examples to check out here.

First, Los Angeles-area Realtor® Greg Geilman gives information about himself and his business in this video:

 

And second, this example from Vancouver, British Columbia Realtor® Phil LeGree is another great example of how a real estate video can showcase your unique selling proposition:

 

6. Market Updates

✅ The Purpose:

  • To give information about housing market trends in the agent’s market

✏️ Take Note:

Consumers are almost always interested to know if now is the right time to buy or sell their home. You can be the agent who answers their questions by releasing monthly or quarterly market update videos. You could share information about trends in home sales, home prices, mortgage rates and other facts and figures.

Agents can also use market update videos to impress potential clients with their knowledge of the local market and the real estate industry in general. “Knowledge is power” – show potential clients that you have it!

For an inspiring example of this type of real estate video, check out this March 2023 summary of the Seattle area’s market produced by broker Zach McDonald:

7. Community Spotlight Videos

✅ The Purpose:

  • To introduce buyers to your neighborhood or city

✏️ Take Note:

Every real estate agent has the ability to be a tour guide for their local market. You know why people should want to live in your community. So put your reasons on video and post them online for potential clients to see!

Real estate videos that showcase the local community are particularly valuable in markets with many out-of-state or out-of-country buyers.

Community videos should address the local economy, the quality of schools and parks, shopping and dining options, culture (e.g., fairs, festivals, museums), weather… anything that makes residents enjoy living there. Skip local tourist attractions, unless they affect day-to-day life. For example, no one ever moved to Seattle for the Space Needle, right?

In his video, REALTOR® Richard Silver offers a prime example of how to show buyers a virtual tour of a community: