Light, weather and when to shoot
Tropical sun is overhead by ten; shoot pools, docks and balconies in the first two hours of light. Summer afternoons bring storms almost daily. Winter is the clearest season and the busiest. Expose balcony clips for the outside so the water does not blow out.
What sells here, and what buyers want to see
Brickell, Edgewater and Miami Beach condos sell on the view, the amenities and the floor; buyers ask about the building's reserves and assessments. Coral Gables and Coconut Grove sell character and canopy; the canal-front neighbourhoods sell the dock and the bridge clearance. International buyers want the full walk-through in one video.
The clips to make
- Balcony pull-back from the bay into the unit; view push to the ocean.
- Waterfront homes: pool glide with the canal behind; rise over roof to the water.
- A clip of the building's lobby and amenities, with the board's permission.
- Aerial pass along the shoreline from a licensed pilot's stills — airspace near the airports and downtown is restricted.
Rules worth checking
Condo boards often restrict photography in common areas and require notice; ask first. Flood zones and elevation apply to almost every waterfront lot — keep the water line in the establishing shot, and put the elevation certificate and insurance facts in the documents. Florida's disclosure rules and the hurricane-region guide cover the storm features buyers ask about.
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
My buyer is in Bogotá. What should the video cover?
Everything: the unit room by room, the building, the view at the hour it is best, and the parking. They may offer from the video.
Should I show the building's amenities?
One clip after the unit, with the board's permission. In Miami the pool deck and the gym are part of what the buyer is paying for.
Read next
- Real Estate Video in Florida: Light, Water and the Buyer Who Is Not There YetHow Florida listing agents use video: shooting in hard sun and afternoon storms, leading with pools and water, and selling to out-of-state and seasonal buyers who decide from a screen.
- 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.
- 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.