Light, weather and when to shoot
Grey much of the winter; the clearest views come after a front passes. Spring and October are the exterior seasons; fall on the hills is the city's best light. Summer haze by afternoon.
What sells here, and what buyers want to see
Squirrel Hill, Shadyside and Point Breeze sell the older house and the walk; Lawrenceville and the Strip sell the renovated rowhouse; Mt. Lebanon and Upper St. Clair sell schools and the older suburb; the hills sell the view. Buyers ask about the roof, the basement, the slope and the parking.
The clips to make
- Balcony pull-back from the river or skyline view.
- Front-door approach that shows the grade and the retaining wall.
- Squirrel Hill and Shadyside houses: a staircase climb and the basement and roof clips from the older home guide.
Rules worth checking
Pennsylvania's seller's property disclosure statement applies. Hillside stability and drainage belong in the documents, not the video — but the video should not hide the slope. Airspace near the airport restricts drones west of the city; the river valleys and the hills are flyable with a licensed pilot in places.
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 steep lot without scaring buyers?
Show it plainly with the approach clip; the buyers who want a Pittsburgh hillside know what one is. Hiding it costs the sale at the showing.
Is the view worth waiting for a clear day?
Yes — the day after a front is the day. Shoot the house any day and the view on that one.
Read next
- Real Estate Video in Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Rowhouses, Pittsburgh Hills and the Main LineListing video for Pennsylvania agents: Philadelphia rowhouses and the Main Line, Pittsburgh's hills and views, the Poconos and Lancaster County, older housing stock, four seasons, and the seller's property disclosure statement.
- Listing Video for an Older Home: Character, Condition and Not Hiding EitherHow to video a historic or older home: showing original features with the right moves, being straightforward about condition, the systems buyers ask about, and where inspection facts belong.
- Real Estate Video in West Virginia: Mountains, Rivers and the Eastern PanhandleListing video for West Virginia agents: the Eastern Panhandle's DC commuters, Morgantown and Charleston, mountain and river properties, hollows and slopes, four seasons and fall colour, and disclosure practice.