Video Tours vs. Still Photos: What Sells Homes Faster in 2025?

dawnsusan
Jul 7
2 min read

In today’s fast-paced real estate market, agents are constantly asking: Should I invest in video, or are professional photos still king?

The short answer? You need both. But the right balance — and the right style — can make or break a listing.

Still Photos: Your Listing’s First Impression

Photos are the first thing buyers see on MLS sites, Zillow.com, or Realtor.com. Great photography:

Stops the scroll
Sparks interest
Gets more clicks

In fact, listings with high-quality photos get up to 118% more online views than those with low-quality images.

Buyers are visual. If your photos are dark, blurry, or poorly composed, most buyers won’t even click.

Video Tours: The Engagement Booster

According to Photoup.net, Real Estate video is an essential marketing tool. Videos on social media generate 1200% more shares than those with images and text combined. And 95% of of a message is remembered when seen in a video compared to 10% recall when read in text. Knowing this, video tours and reels are no longer optional — they’re essential for standing out.

Buyers want to feel the space, not just see it. Video helps:

Showcase flow and layout
Build emotional connection
Reach remote buyers who can’t tour in person

And video isn’t just for luxury homes anymore — short, simple walkthroughs boost engagement on all types of listings.

Which One Sells Homes Faster?

Photos attract the first click
Videos create the emotional “yes”

Together, they build trust, visibility, and connection — which leads to faster offers.

How We Can Help

At FiveMedia, we offer fast-turnaround real estate photography and short-form video designed for both MLS and social media. Based in Upstate South Carolina, we help agents stand out in a crowded market — without overpaying for media packages that miss the mark.