Light, weather and when to shoot
Grey and cold from November to March; interiors with lamps on carry a winter listing, and exteriors get re-shot in May. Lake views are best in the morning. Summer is the exterior season; a leafy North Shore street in June is worth the trip.
What sells here, and what buyers want to see
Lincoln Park, Lakeview and the West Loop sell the building, the exposure and the walk; the neighbourhoods sell two-flats and bungalows; the North Shore, Oak Park, Hinsdale and Naperville sell the town, the schools and the train. Buyers ask about the assessments, the parking and the basement.
The clips to make
- Condos: the condo guide — corner dollies and a view push to the lake or the skyline.
- Two-flats: a façade glide, then one unit properly per the multifamily guide.
- Suburbs: a station-and-street clip, then front-door approach and slide down into the basement.
Rules worth checking
Illinois's residential real property disclosure and radon pamphlet apply. Condo boards restrict common-area photography; ask first. Drone flight over the city is restricted airspace near O'Hare, Midway and downtown — lakefront aerials need a licensed pilot who knows the map, and most listings use ground-level moves.
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 condo's lake view in January?
A view push to the window on a clear morning — winter light on the lake is sharp. Caption the exposure.
Do suburban buyers want the station clip?
Yes — the town is the choice and the train is why. Ten seconds of the station and the main street before the house.
Read next
- Real Estate Video in Illinois: Chicago Neighbourhoods, Suburbs and DownstateListing video for Illinois agents: Chicago condos, two-flats and bungalows, suburban commuter towns, downstate lots and farms, hard winter light, and the state's property disclosure and radon rules.
- 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.