Light, weather and when to shoot
West of the mountains, overcast most of the year is even interior light; the mountain view appears on the clear days and the exterior should wait for one. Summer is the exterior season and the one buyers picture. Spokane and the dry side have four seasons and hard summer light — shoot early.
What sells here, and what buyers want to see
Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond and Sammamish sell the view, the schools and the commute to the campuses; Seattle's neighbourhoods sell character and the view. Bainbridge, Whidbey and the San Juans sell the water, the ferry and the beach. Spokane sells neighbourhoods and lots; Tri-Cities sells sun and newer construction.
The clips to make
- View push to the Sound, the lake or Rainier on a clear day.
- Backyard reveal to a covered deck — outdoor rooms here have roofs.
- Islands: balcony pull-back from the water; a clip of the beach stairs and the ferry.
- Drone fly-over of a wooded lot from a licensed pilot's stills — airspace near Sea-Tac and the bases is restricted.
Rules worth checking
Washington requires a seller disclosure statement on residential sales. Shoreline rules under the Shoreline Management Act limit bulkheads and docks — say what the frontage covers. Tech buyers read the permit history; the video should match the condition the documents describe.
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 mountain view only shows on clear days. Should I wait?
Yes, for the view clip — and caption that the view is weather-dependent. Shoot the rest of the house on any day.
How do I show island access?
A clip of the ferry landing and the drive to the house, with the crossing time in the caption. It is the first practical question.
Read next
- Real Estate Video in the Pacific Northwest: Grey Light, Green ViewsListing video for Seattle, Portland and PNW agents: shooting in overcast light, showing trees, water and mountain views, covered outdoor spaces, and the tech buyer who researches everything online.
- Real Estate Video in Oregon: Portland, Bend, the Coast and the ValleyListing video for Oregon agents: Portland's neighbourhoods and suburbs, Bend's high-desert growth, the coast, the Willamette Valley's farms and wine country, grey and dry seasons, and the state's disclosure statement.
- 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.