Doing a home tour with your phone can be really effective if you plan it out a little. Whether it’s for selling/renting, showing to family/friends, or making content for social media, here are some tips to make it smooth and professional:
📱 Prep Your Phone
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Clean your lens – fingerprints blur video fast.
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Stabilize – use a gimbal or tripod if you have one, otherwise hold your phone with two hands and move slowly.
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Set resolution – record in at least 1080p; 4K is even better if your phone supports it.
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Lighting – turn on all the lights in the house, open curtains, and film during the day for natural light.
🎬 Filming Techniques
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Plan your route
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Start outside → front door → living areas → kitchen → bedrooms → bathrooms → backyard/garage.
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Walk naturally but slowly; avoid jerky movements.
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Angles
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Hold the phone at chest height for a natural perspective.
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Use wide shots to capture whole rooms; then a few close-ups of details (e.g., appliances, finishes).
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Movement
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Pan slowly left-to-right in each room.
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Walk forward smoothly into spaces to give a “flow” feeling.
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Narration or captions
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If speaking, describe key features as you go (“This is the master bedroom with a walk-in closet…”).
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If you don’t want to talk, you can add captions later with editing apps.
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✂️ Editing & Polishing
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Use free apps like CapCut, iMovie, or InShot to trim clips, add music, or overlay text.
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Keep the tour under 5 minutes (or shorter for social media).
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Add a simple intro shot (e.g., “Welcome to my home tour”).
📡 Sharing
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For real estate: upload to YouTube, Zillow, or Realtor apps.
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For social: TikTok/Instagram Reels work best with short, punchy edits.
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For private sharing: upload unlisted on YouTube or share via Google Drive.
🎥 Step-by-Step Filming Script (Full Home Tour)
(For showing to buyers, renters, or family/friends)
1. Exterior / Entrance
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Stand a few steps back from the house, film the whole exterior.
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Walk toward the front door while saying:
“Welcome to [your address or ‘our home’]. Let’s go inside.”
2. Entryway / Living Room
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Pan slowly left to right.
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Say something like:
“This is the entryway that opens into a bright living room with [feature: big windows, fireplace, etc.].”
3. Kitchen
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Walk into the kitchen, pause, and pan around.
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Highlight details:
“We’ve got stainless steel appliances and lots of counter space.”
4. Bedrooms
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Show each one briefly.
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Example:
“Here’s the master bedroom, with an en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet.”
5. Bathrooms
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Just a slow pan; mention updates if any:
“Fully renovated bathroom with modern fixtures.”
6. Backyard / Extra Spaces
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Walk out and film the outdoor space.
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Wrap up with:
“And that’s the full tour — thanks for watching!”
📱 Social Media Style Guide (Short Clips)
(For TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts)
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Clip 1 (Exterior) → Quick 3–5 seconds of the front. Add text: “Home Tour ✨”
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Clip 2 (Living Area) → Wide shot of living room with upbeat music.
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Clip 3 (Kitchen) → Show stove/oven close-up, then pull back to wide shot. Add text overlay: “Dream kitchen 👩🍳”
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Clip 4 (Bedroom/Bathroom) → Pan across, add captions like “Cozy vibes” or “Freshly remodeled.”
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Clip 5 (Backyard/Patio) → End with outdoor shot. Overlay text: “Would you live here?” and add a call to action (comment, like, share).
🎶 Pro tip: Use trending audio tracks for more reach.
📐 Keep each clip 3–7 seconds; total length 30–60 seconds.
📱 Recommended Apps for Home / Virtual Tours
Here are apps people use for real estate-style tours, 360° walkthroughs, or creative video editing:
| App | What it’s good for | Notes / trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Zillow 3D Home | Create interactive 3D / panoramic home tours using a smartphone + generate floor plans. | Works with supported phone or 360° camera; free tool. |
| Sphere – 3D Real Estate Tours | Lets you capture and build a full HD 3D tour just from your phone, with guidance in the app. | Free trial, then in-app purchases. Good for users without a 360° camera. |
| Momenzo | Tailored for real estate: you follow prompts, it helps automate video editing. | Good if you want something fast and “done for you.” |
| Kuula | Lets you make and share 360° virtual tours (works via mobile too) | More of the “tour + sharing / embedding” side than the walkthrough capture side. |
| Magicplan | ||
| CapCut / general video editors | While not specialized for real estate, they are super handy for cutting, transitions, adding captions, music, etc. (Many people use CapCut for quick walkthroughs. | Pair one of the above “tour capture” apps with CapCut (or InShot, iMovie) for polish.
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✅ What to Look for in a Good Tour App
When you choose the app, think about these features:
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Ability to capture 360° or panoramic views (so people can look around)
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Easy stitching / processing (you don’t want to have to manually align everything)
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Sharing/output options (embedding, links, exportable video, embed in website)
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Support for your phone (some need newer iOS / Android or even 360° camera hardware)
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Editing tools (text overlays, transitions, music)
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Cost (free, one-time, subscription, in-app purchases)