I have been reading up on how agents and landlords film short walkthrough videos with just a phone. The common advice in the reviews I went through is that a tripod with a Bluetooth remote beats shooting handheld, mainly for steady framing and for starting the recording from the doorway instead of walking back to the camera. Most of the complaints I found were about remotes dropping the connection, not about the legs. I wrote up my notes on what to look for in a phone tripod with remote for this kind of filming. For those of you who film your own listings: do you shoot vertical or horizontal, and what tripod height works best in small rooms?
For listing walkthroughs, I'd go with the tripod and Bluetooth remote over handheld — the stability makes a huge difference in how professional the video feels. Handheld footage, even with stabilization, tends to look shaky and rushed. A lightweight phone tripod with a Bluetooth remote lets you set the shot, step out of frame, and walk the space naturally. Film horizontal, not vertical — it fits MLS, YouTube, and most listing platforms better, and you can always crop a vertical cut for social. For small rooms, keep the tripod around chest height so the framing stays natural. One tip: walk slowly and pause in each room so the camera can settle. Viewers decide in seconds whether a listing feels worth touring in person, and steady footage helps.