Light, weather and when to shoot
Noon light is flat and white; the first hour and the last are the exterior windows all year. Summer heat makes early morning the only workable time outside. January to March is when the seasonal buyers are in town and the exteriors are cleanest.
What sells here, and what buyers want to see
Scottsdale and Paradise Valley sell the view, the pool and the architecture; Gilbert, Chandler and Queen Creek sell new construction, schools and the community; Sun City and the 55+ communities sell single-level living and the clubhouse. Buyers ask about the roof, the HVAC and the pool equipment.
The clips to make
- Pool glide with the mountains behind; backyard reveal to the covered patio at dusk.
- View push to Camelback or the McDowells.
- 55+ communities: a tracking walk through the single-level plan; a clip of the clubhouse with HOA permission.
Rules worth checking
Arizona's seller property disclosure statement applies to most sales. HOAs and 55+ communities govern amenity photography and sometimes exterior signage. Airspace near Sky Harbor, Luke and the smaller airports restricts drones; use a licensed pilot for the Scottsdale view lots.
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
Dusk or morning for the patio clip?
Dusk, with the patio lights on — it is when the yard is used and when it looks best. Keep it a separate clip from the daylight set.
Seasonal buyers are not here until January. What should the video cover?
The full walk-through, the yard at dusk, the community amenities and the view. Many will visit once, with a shortlist made from video.
Read next
- Real Estate Video in Arizona and the Desert SouthwestListing video for Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico agents: desert light, pools and outdoor living, mountain views, retirement and seasonal buyers, and the drone shots that show the setting.
- How to Make a Pool Glide Real Estate VideoA pool glide moves along the edge of the water with the house and patio beyond. Water in the foreground, the property behind: it is the shot every luxury listing reel opens with, and it needs only three photos along one side of the pool.
- Luxury Listing Video: Pace, Moves and RestraintHow to make a luxury real estate video from photos that reads as expensive: slower pacing, longer clips, reveal and drone moves, and the restraint that separates it from a standard listing reel.