A relatively obscure yet potentially profitable side gig for homeowners is renting out their property for photoshoots. Productions are always on the lookout for homes that have a distinctive character, and if you’re lucky enough to own a property with unique features or an interesting vibe, photographers or organizations might pay significant daily fees to use your home as a backdrop for photo, television, or even film shoots.
Keep in mind that this gig often comes with a few inconveniences. The people renting your home probably won’t want you looking over their shoulder after they’ve paid for access, so you’ll need to stay elsewhere. And big productions run the risk of damaging your home, even if they’re likely insured. Whether you’re a young Millennial homeowner with a picturesque bungalow or a retiree in a mid-century Craftsman looking to build up your savings account, here are some things to know about this potential moneymaker.
Register Your Home
If you’re serious about renting your home out for location shoots, and you strongly believe that it will be in demand, you’ll want to register your home with a location agency or on an online location marketplace. These organizations cater to photo and film productions that are looking to rent a location, and can help present your home in a way that’s accurate and appealing.
If you have a sizable plot of land, make sure to note that in your profile, as this can make your home more attractive for outdoor shoots. If you’re not sure how big your lot is, have it surveyed. Resist the temptation to guess, as it can be hard to accurately estimate even lots that are only a half-acre in size.
Gather Information About the Project
Before you commit to renting your place, find out as much as you can about the planned project. How many crew members will be on your property? What areas will they be accessing? How much lighting or electrical equipment will they be bringing into the home? What noise levels do they anticipate? Are there pyrotechnics or other dangerous effects involved?
Getting answers to these questions can help you assess the risk to your home and whether the rental fee is worth the trouble. If the production plans on doing something that makes you uncomfortable, you can often negotiate to limit certain activities.
Make Sure You Fully Crunch the Numbers
Be sure your rental fee is definitely greater than the expenses you’ll incur during your displacement. You won’t be able to stay (or live) in your home during the rental period. This means you’ll need to clear out for the day at a minimum, or even stay in a hotel, a temporary rental, or with family or friends. If you’re staying in a hotel, that means you’ll also need to pay for all your meals, since you won’t be able to cook. Where you stay may also affect your work commute or availability.
Take Photos and Video of Your Home
Recording images of your home before you rent it will make it much easier to detect any potential damage. Also, the photography crew may dramatically change the look and layout of your home, and having a visual record of how it looked when you left can make it much easier to get it back to its original appearance.
Review All Insurance Coverage
This includes your own homeowners’ insurance and the production company’s insurance. You want to confirm that there’s a policy in place to cover any potential problems, including issues like fire or injury to a crew member.
Start by contacting your insurance provider and explaining the situation. In addition, ask for a paper copy of the production company’s insurance policy, and carefully review it. If you’re a young Gen Z renter who only has renters insurance, find out if it covers potential damage to your apartment, or if you’ll be personally liable.
Remove or Lock Up Valuable Items
If you’re renting your place out for a large shoot, dozens of crew members could be moving in and out of your home, and theft is a possibility. If you have valuable items, remove them from the home before the rental period starts, or secure them if you have a safe or strongbox. If you have larger valuable items like artwork or furniture, consider moving them to an out-of-the-way location in the home if you don’t want to relocate them. If you must keep them in place, confirm that they’re insured for their full value.
Notify Your Neighbors
Renting out your home as a location can cause friction with your neighbors, especially if it’s for a lengthy, big-budget production. These productions work long hours, involve many people and vehicles, and can generate a ton of noise and traffic. Surveys have shown that there are few things that annoy people more than noisy neighbors.
If you’re hosting one of these productions, it’s polite to notify your neighbors ahead of time what they can expect. This simple courtesy can help avoid a lot of potential bad feelings from inconvenienced neighbors.
Build a Portfolio
If you see renting your home for a photo shoot as a long-term cash-generating gig, it’ll pay dividends in the long run to build up a portfolio. Ask each production that uses your property for sample photos or footage, and compile them on a website for your home. Select images that showcase unique aspects of your home, and show the different ways the property can be used. Approach it like you would if you were putting together a listing to sell your home; you want to show it in its best light, in a way that will appeal to the most likely renters.
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