Light, weather and when to shoot
Hard sun from mid-morning; the last hour before sunset on the hills is the exterior. Summer heat hazes aerials; spring is green and the best exterior season. Lake water goes to glare at noon.
What sells here, and what buyers want to see
Travis Heights, Zilker, Hyde Park and Mueller sell the neighbourhood, the walk and the design; West Lake Hills, Steiner Ranch and Lakeway sell the view and the schools; Lake Travis sells the dock and the boat. Tech buyers want the office, the outdoor space and the commute.
The clips to make
- Central: interior reveal to show flow on a small lot; backyard reveal to the deck.
- Hills: view push to the Hill Country; rise over roof from a licensed pilot's stills.
- Lakes: backyard reveal down to the dock; drone fly-over out over the water.
Rules worth checking
Austin sales use the Texas seller's disclosure notice. Lake Travis levels vary by year — say whether the dock is on the water now, and never imply a lake level the photos do not show. The hills west of the city are wildfire-interface; the wildfire guide applies. Airspace near the airport and downtown 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 lake is low this year. How do I handle it?
Shoot it as it is and say so in the caption. A buyer who finds the dock on dry land after a full-lake video will not trust anything else in the listing.
Do Austin buyers expect a home-office clip?
Often — a short dolly into the office with the door closed behind the camera says the house works for remote work.
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.
- Waterfront Listing Video: Showing the Water Without Overselling ItHow to make a video for a lakefront, riverfront or oceanfront home: the moves that show the water and the access, when to shoot, and how to keep the video honest about what the property actually has.
- Listing Video in a Wildfire Area: Showing Defensible Space and HardeningHow to video a home in a wildfire-prone area: defensible space, roofing and vents, access roads and water sources as features, where hazard-zone facts belong, and what the video must not gloss over.