Light, weather and when to shoot
Grey and cold from November to March; interiors with lamps on. Spring and fall are the exterior seasons; a Newton street in October is worth the trip. Condos face one way — shoot when the light is in.
What sells here, and what buyers want to see
Back Bay, the South End and Beacon Hill sell the building, the floor and the outdoor space; Somerville, Cambridge and Dorchester sell triple-deckers and the walk to the T; Newton, Brookline, Wellesley and Lexington sell the town and the schools. Buyers ask about the roof, the boiler, lead paint and the assessments.
The clips to make
- Condos: the condo guide — corner dollies and a view push.
- Triple-deckers: façade glide, then one unit properly per the multifamily guide.
- Old houses: staircase climb and the older home guide condition clips.
Rules worth checking
Massachusetts has no general seller disclosure form; federal lead-paint disclosure applies to pre-1978 homes, and Title 5 applies to private septic outside the sewered core. Condo associations restrict common-area photography. Airspace near Logan and Hanscom restricts drones over most of the metro.
Disclosure, drone and privacy rules change and differ by MLS and municipality; confirm the current version with your broker before you rely on anything here.
Questions
How do I show a Back Bay condo's ceiling height?
A tilt up from the bay window to the medallion. It is the detail buyers are paying for.
Should the triple-decker video show all three units?
Exterior, common entrance, the owner's unit properly, the others briefly with tenant agreement. Investors want the building's condition first.
Read next
- Real Estate Video in Massachusetts: Boston Neighbourhoods, the Cape and Old HousesListing video for Massachusetts agents: Boston condos and triple-deckers, commuter suburbs, Cape Cod and the islands, historic housing stock, the lead-paint and Title 5 rules, and shooting through four seasons.
- How to Make a Condo Listing Video That Shows Space, Light and the ViewHow to shoot a condo or apartment listing video from photos: the moves that make small rooms feel bigger, how to lead with the view, and what to show of the building.
- Multifamily and Investment Property Video: One Building, Many UnitsListing video for duplexes, fourplexes and apartment buildings: what to show investors, how to handle occupied units, and how to build one video from a model unit plus the building.