Podcast Summary

Podcast: YouTube Creators Hub
Episode: The YouTube Strategy Selling Mansions, Castles & Penthouses | Phil Wells
Host: Dusty Porter
Date: December 5, 2025
Guest: Phil Wells (Philip Wells Real Estate, YouTube Creator)

Episode Overview

This episode features a deep-dive interview with Phil Wells, a real estate agent who, in less than two years, transformed his business by producing cinematic YouTube tours of luxury properties—castles, penthouses, villas—and grew to over 150,000 monthly views. Phil and Dusty discuss the creative strategies, business model, and practical challenges behind building a global real estate presence through YouTube, as well as the content and marketing insights any creator can apply.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How Phil Revolutionized Real Estate Content on YouTube

• Phil started with the traditional real estate video format and found it uninspiring and unsuccessful.
• He pivoted to cinematic, visually stunning property tours, featuring unique, often international listings such as castles.
• Phil emphasized the importance of making content that excites both him and his viewers to stand out from the typical “agent in front of a house” videos.
  • Quote:
    “I realized that when I watch YouTube, I want something really interesting from the get-go... what would really grab me, what interests me, what makes me like, whoa, I just need to see that?” — Phil (03:16)

2. Learning Videography From Scratch

• Phil was a novice in videography and relied on a friend with modest experience to begin creating high-quality content.
• The process was a significant learning curve, involving new equipment, travel, and figuring things out on the job.
  • Quote:
    “I had a friend who did, who lived in Chicago… I called him up… if I can get us into a castle in Scotland or France, would you do this trip?... So it was a real learning experience.” — Phil (04:36)

3. From Local to Global Real Estate Business

• The initial impact was slow—videos built a pipeline rather than instant commissions, but they quickly elevated Phil's profile.
• Many viewers assumed he was directly representing luxury international listings, boosting his reputation and creating real business opportunities.
• Phil learned to embrace and convert perception into business, even when promoting other agents’ listings.
  • Quote:
    “Everything I posted, even though it was advertising other agents’ listings, they all thought… instantly, they’d say, you’re selling this. And then I realized, what am I doing here? If they’re saying, you’re selling this… great, introduce me to the friend.” — Phil (07:04)

4. Evolving the Business Model

• Started with referral agreements (typically 20–25% of the commission) for leads passed to other agents.
• Eventually, property owners began inviting Phil to feature their listings, giving him exclusive listings in return for his content.
• This allowed Phil to flip the referral model and use agents at the destination for local showings while he focused on content creation and marketing.
  • Quote:
    “Taking on my own listings has been kind of a game changer… instead of just getting a small referral, I can sort of flip it and pay a referral to someone who’s doing the local showings.” — Phil (09:34)

5. Costs and ROI of Luxury Real Estate Content Creation

• Each video trip can cost around $10,000 (equipment, travel, crew), not including opportunity costs.
• While the costs are high, the commissions on luxury sales are significant, even though international commissions are lower than the U.S.
• Phil leverages content to win listings even in New York, not just abroad.
  • Quote:
    “There’s a lot you have to put out to get these things out, and it didn’t lead to immediate impacts… But one deal pays for a lot of videos.” — Phil (14:13)

6. Importance of Niching Down

• Niching into luxury and unique properties was essential to differentiate his channel and achieve above-average performance.
• Success isn’t strictly tied to property price—the “wow factor” and retention matter most.
• Retention is driven by variety (showing different areas and features), tight editing, and focusing on what the audience wants.
  • Quote:
    “It might not be so much the price… for me, it’s really retention and keeping people [engaged].” — Phil (17:13)

7. Content and Retention Strategies

• Move quickly between property features, avoid stagnation, and make use of walking shots and reveals.
• Always ensure an interesting, visually engaging backdrop.
• Notable Tip: End videos or sections in the most spectacular spot (view, feature) to leave a lasting impression.
  • Quote:
    “You always want to end… focusing on what the person is looking at, because that’s important. That’s like your set, if you’re in theater.” — Phil (21:41)

8. Hooks and Video Packaging

• Hooks must be immediate, cinematic, and tease the most interesting features—akin to a movie trailer.
• Show both stunning drone shots and Phil interacting with the space to create a “guided tour” feel.
• Thumbnails must feature the best photo, high contrast, bold color, and price; sometimes the location, but only if it adds appeal.
  • Quote:
    “People want to know, there’s an established format, and I think that I’m swimming upstream if I’m trying to go against it.” — Phil (28:24)
  • Quote:
    “I’m looking at [CTR] from the second it’s uploaded… I might change things up, add the location or not, depending on what will drive curiosity.” — Phil (30:36)

9. Monetization and Business Impact

• Phil’s channel now delivers a steady baseline of about $1,000/month in AdSense, sometimes more for breakout videos.
• Big-ticket sales, not ad revenue or sponsorships, are the true monetization engine.
• The channel increases his authority, brings in high-value leads and listings, and is starting to directly convert to sales.
  • Quote:
    “YouTube… I can count on about a thousand bucks a month for the back catalog. And then if I release one that has a big spike, I might get a little bit more. But that’s kind of what I can… it’s kind of nice, because that’s sort of a steady baseline.” — Phil (34:57)

10. Time Management & Delegation

• Phil delegates everything except the creative and client-facing aspects (finding properties, trip planning, scripting, presenting).
• Batch filming, delegating editing, and focusing on ‘fun’ work are crucial to sustainability.
  • Quote:
    “If you can find the work that you’re doing fun, then that really helps… if it feels too much like work, or a grind, I’m not sure you’re going to keep doing it.” — Phil (37:19)

11. Advice for Aspiring Creators

• Push through imposter syndrome—reach out, pitch ideas, pursue collaborations.
• Don’t wait for perfection; 85% perfect is 100%—publish and learn.
• Other agents, even at the top, are just people trying to get exposure and will consider your pitch.
  • Quote:
    “Everyone is just a person like me. And you reach out to them, see what they say… just get out of your head and go do it.” — Phil (41:20)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Creating Unique Content:
  “I thought, you know, how could I get into a castle? How could I help that agent promote a castle internationally? And that’s kind of what sent me down the rabbit hole.” — Phil (03:58)

• On Business Perception:
  “Everyone thought that it was mine… I realized, what am I doing here? If they’re saying, you’re selling this… introduce me to the friend.” — Phil (07:04)

• On Retention:
  “The property has to excite me… for me, it’s really retention… keeping people interested for longer than 10 minutes.” — Phil (17:13)

• On Publishing:
  “Get to 85% perfect… if you tried to perfect this thing, you wouldn’t release any videos.” — Phil (25:24)

• On Thumbnails and Titles:
  “There’s an established format, and I think that I’m swimming upstream if I’m trying to go against it.” — Phil (28:24)

• On Time Management:
  “Try to be a creator that is net creating more than you’re consuming… I delegate out the things that aren’t fun.” — Phil (36:31)

• On Confidence:
  “Just reach out. The worst thing that can happen is they say no, and have confidence in the product you’re going to produce… just go and do it.” — Phil (41:20)

Segment Highlights & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------------|--------------------| | Early Format & Inspiration | 02:58 – 04:10 | | Learning Videography | 04:32 – 05:38 | | Business Impact & Perception | 06:21 – 08:11 | | Business Model Explained | 08:54 – 10:57 | | Costs, ROI, International Differences | 11:08 – 15:04 | | Niching Down & Content Strategy | 16:19 – 18:48 | | Retention & Visual Tactics | 20:31 – 22:21 | | Hooks & Packaging Approach | 23:18 – 26:02 | | Thumbnails/Desc & CTR Testing | 28:11 – 31:55 | | Monetization & Channel Revenue | 32:19 – 35:25 | | Productivity & Delegation | 36:31 – 38:28 | | Final Advice | 39:19 – 41:47 |

Summary Takeaways

• Niche Deep: Standing out means targeting a specific, passionate niche with high production value and unique subject matter.
• Retention Is King: Keeping each part of a video visually and narratively stimulating keeps viewers engaged and signals algorithmic success.
• Packaging Matters: Invest time in thumbnails and titles that follow established genre norms but maximize curiosity.
• Business Alignment: Video content that generates real business (e.g., luxury listings) far outweighs ad revenue; treat your channel as a lead magnet and authority builder.
• Delegate & Systematize: Focus energy where you offer the most value; outsource the rest.
• Confidence & Action: Don’t overthink; reach out, experiment, publish often, and iterate.

This episode is a goldmine for YouTube creators in real estate and beyond, packed with actionable advice on content strategy, business development, and creator mindset.