Light, weather and when to shoot
Humid and hazy by nine most of the year; exteriors at first light, interiors after. Storms in summer afternoons and in hurricane season. Winter is the clearest season for exteriors.
What sells here, and what buyers want to see
The Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land, Cypress and Pearland sell new construction, community amenities, schools and the pool; the Heights, Montrose and West University sell character and the walk. Buyers ask about flood history, elevation, the roof and the age of the HVAC.
The clips to make
- Front-door approach that shows the grade; tilt down from the porch to the drainage.
- Backyard reveal to the covered patio and pool; pool glide.
- A community clip for the master-planned suburbs.
Rules worth checking
Texas's seller's disclosure notice asks directly about flooding, and Houston buyers read that line first; the flood-zone guide covers showing elevation and mitigation as features. Houston has no zoning, so what is next door matters — the establishing shot should be honest about it. Airspace near the airports restricts drones.
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
The house did not flood in the last big storm. Can the video say so?
The disclosure says so; the caption can point to it. The video shows the elevation and the drainage, which is the evidence.
Should the video show what is next door?
The establishing shot should not hide it. Without zoning, buyers want to see the block; a façade glide from across the street does it honestly.
Read next
- Real Estate Video in Texas: Big Lots, Bright Sun and Buyers Comparing SuburbsListing video for Texas agents: showing lot size and outdoor space, shooting in hard light, covering new-build communities, and helping relocating buyers compare suburbs they have never visited.
- Listing Video for a Home in a Flood Zone: Honest Without AlarmingHow to make a listing video for a property in a flood zone: what the video should and should not show, where flood facts belong, and how to present elevation and mitigation as the features they are.
- Listing Video in Hurricane Country: Storm Features, Season and HonestyHow to make a listing video for a home in a hurricane region: impact windows, shutters, roof straps and generators as features, when in the season to shoot, and where the storm history and insurance facts belong.