Choose the package the listing needs
Start from the property and the buyer, not from a menu. Here is how to decide what goes in, what to leave out, and what changes the cost.
Buy the formats that answer the buyer's questions
Every buyer looking at a listing is trying to answer a short list of questions: what it looks like, how big it is, how the rooms connect, where it is and what surrounds it. A good package answers the questions that matter for this property and skips the ones that do not. A downtown condo buyer wants the layout and the view from the window, not a drone shot of a roof. An acreage buyer wants the land, the access and the outbuildings before they care about the bathroom tile.
So the first step is not picking a tier. It is looking at the property and asking what a buyer from out of town would need to see before booking a showing. The formats follow from that.
What different listings usually need
| Property | Core | Add when | Usually skip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condo or apartment | Interior photos, floor plan | 3D tour for out-of-town buyers; aerial or elevated shot if the view or location sells it | Aerial video |
| Townhouse | Interior and exterior photos, floor plan | 3D tour; aerial if the complex has notable grounds or location | Twilight unless there is a strong exterior |
| Detached house in town | Interior and exterior photos, a few aerials, floor plan | Twilight for a stand-out lead photo; short social video | Long video |
| View or waterfront home | Photos, aerials, floor plan, twilight | Aerial video; 360° aerial panorama; 3D tour | Nothing essential |
| Acreage, farm or rural | Aerials with labelled features, photos, floor plan | Aerial video along the access and boundaries; a map if acreage and layout matter | FPV |
| Luxury or unique | All of the above, planned as one production | FPV fly-through, agent-led video, printed book | Rarely anything |
| Rental unit | Interior photos, floor plan | 3D tour to cut down showings | Aerials unless the building sells it |
The building blocks
- Ground photography: interiors and exteriors, sized for MLS, web and print.
- Aerial photography: low obliques, context views and a top-down view where the lot shape matters.
- Aerial and ground video: a short film for the listing, with a vertical cut if needed.
- Twilight: a handful of dusk images, ground and air, on a separate short visit.
- 3D virtual tour: branded and unbranded links, and 360° aerial panoramas if wanted.
- Floor plan: per level, with the measurement method stated.
- Social video: vertical reels and, where it suits the home, an FPV fly-through.
What drives the cost
| Factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Size and number of rooms | More rooms mean more photos, more scans and more to edit. |
| Number of formats | Each format adds capture and editing time, though combining them in one visit saves repeat travel. |
| Separate visits | Twilight needs a second trip at dusk. A shoot split across days costs more than one. |
| Travel and access | Remote properties, ferries, islands and rough access add time. |
| Airspace | Properties in controlled airspace or near aerodromes may need authorization and more planning. |
| Editing requests | Virtual staging, labels and lot lines, and custom titles take extra time. |
| Usage rights | Broader rights, such as builder or developer marketing beyond the listing, are agreed up front. |
| Language | Bilingual or French versions of titles and captions add editing time. |
Five questions before you order
Who is the likely buyer?
Local family, relocating professional, investor, retiree. Distant buyers lean on tours and floor plans; local buyers lean on photos and location.
What sells this property?
Name the top three features. If one is the land, the water or the view, you need the drone.
What could put a buyer off?
An awkward layout is better explained by a floor plan than discovered at a showing. Do not hide it; show it clearly.
Where will it be marketed?
MLS only, your website, social, print, a launch event. Each needs different sizes, versions and branding.
When does it go live?
Work back from the listing date, allowing for weather, a twilight evening and your review.
Package mistakes we see
Buying the biggest package by default
The seller pays for formats that add nothing to this listing.
Adding the drone after the fact
Photos are done, then someone asks for aerials, and a second visit is booked on a different day with different light.
Forgetting the unbranded versions
The MLS field needs unbranded tour and video links.
Language rules missed
In Québec, commercial advertising is generally required to be in French under the Charter of the French language.
Questions
What should a real estate listing package include?
At minimum, good interior and exterior photos and a floor plan. Add aerials when the lot, the view or the location sells the property, a 3D tour for distant buyers, and twilight or video for listings that need to stand out. Choose by the property, not by a tier name.
Is drone photography worth it for every listing?
No. It earns its place for houses with land, water, views or a notable location. For an interior condo unit, the money is better spent on a floor plan or tour.
Do I need a 3D tour and a video?
They do different jobs. A tour lets buyers explore the layout at their own pace; a video tells a short story and works better on social. Many listings need one, not both.
How far ahead should I book listing photos?
Early enough to allow for weather and a backup date, particularly if aerials or twilight are included. Book as soon as the listing date and staging date are set.
Can I add aerials after the photos are done?
Yes, but it means a second visit and different light. Deciding at the start is cheaper and gives a consistent set.
Why don't you list package prices?
Because the cost depends on the property, the formats, the travel and the airspace. The online order shows the options for your address before you commit.
Do listing photos need to be in French in Québec?
Photos do not, but text on them, video titles and captions used in advertising generally need to be in French under the Charter of the French language. Check your brokerage's policy.
Tell us about your Vancouver site.
An address and what you need is enough to start. We reply with the price, who will fly it and when.