Interested in hosting a paid commercial shoot at your house?
We would love to discuss adding your home to our Residential Location Library.
Who We Are
Established in 2016, Subdivision is a women-owned and operated location agency that provides location services for print and commercial video shoots. Austin is home to a robust production economy and, in recent years, has become a sought-after destination for out-of-town productions. As the need for locations grows, we aim to help connect clients excited to work in the Austin market with top-notch locations. Subdivision manages shoots all over Austin (in parks, downtown, on ranches, etc.) but we specialize in homes.
What We Do:
Subdivision represents property owners interested in hosting commercial shoots at their private residences. We facilitate and guide communication between property owners and production companies. We oversee contracts, insurance, payment, and coordination between property owners and production companies. We vet projects before presenting them to you and understand how a production’s footprint will impact your home; with this knowledge, we secure the best possible day rate. Hosting a shoot is fun but can be overwhelming; we make the process straightforward, transparent, and safe for your property.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What types of homes do you look for? We're constantly searching for a diverse range of homes—modern, bungalow, condo, suburban, you name it. Fancy isn't a requirement. The key is having a decent amount of space. If you have a closed-concept house that's under 1500 square feet, it may not comfortably accommodate a production crew (typically at least 30 people).
How do I join? Is there a fee? Joining our library involves no firm commitment, just an openness to host a shoot if it works for you. There is no fee to add your home to our residential library.
The first step in the process of working with us is setting up a time for us to drop by and take some photos of your house. This typically takes about 60 minutes. Because the photos resulting from this visit will represent your house to prospective clients, we recommend scheduling after a housekeeper visit :)
When a production rents a home, the general expectation is that it will have use of the entire home for the duration of the shoot. This includes restrooms and bedrooms (even small ones). Non-filming rooms can be used as a place to store equipment or property owner items that have been moved, wardrobe racks, hair and makeup, or an area for the client to sit and/or take calls. This includes garages, which are almost always used in some way by productions.
If there are any areas of your home you would not allow a production to use, please let us know at our initial scout, and we will not photograph those areas. Moving furniture and personal belongings is very common during shoots; if there is anything in your home that cannot be moved or that requires special attention when being moved, please let us know at our initial scout.
After we organize and edit the photos from our initial scouting visit, your home will officially enter our location library. When a production company contacts us looking for locations, we will share images of your home if it seems like a good fit. If your home is selected as a potential location, we will reach out to you to discuss the project details and the rate.
Why should I work with a location agency? As an individual property owner without ties to the production industry, marketing your home for commercial shoots can be daunting. Subdivision connects directly with clients, agencies, and industry contacts, bringing opportunities directly to you.
Navigating the complexities of working with companies and freelance managers can be overwhelming without industry familiarity. At Subdivision, we handle production negotiations, rate discussions, and maintain boundaries on your behalf. We understand the demands of homeowners with pets, children, and busy schedules, making your house our priority when collaborating.Ensuring our property owners feel confident and comfortable hosting shoots is paramount. We secure competitive day rates, maintain transparency throughout shoots, and promptly address any questions or concerns.
How do you determine my home's day rate and what can I expect? The rate we can secure for any location is determined by the budget of a given project. Therefore, we typically determine your day rate on a job-by-job basis. As a general rule, the larger the job (more people and more equipment), the higher the day rate. For an estimate based on photos of your house, feel free to inquire. Payment is made in full on the shoot's first day.
How will hosting a shoot impact my neighborhood? If you have ever driven by a house being used by a production or known someone who has hosted one, you know that even if filming is contained to your private property, they have a way of spilling into neighborhoods. This is especially true for commercials, which bring far more large vehicles (generators, restrooms, motorhomes) that spill into the neighborhood in a larger way than stills or smaller video shoots.
If there are any parking restrictions in your neighborhood, if you live in an HOA, or if you have any concerns at all about parking in your neighborhood, please let us know about this upfront. These factors could impact the suitability of your home for certain jobs. Production companies expect to park work trucks in driveways or on public streets and assume that residential locations can accommodate approximately 30 crew cars parked on neighborhood streets. If this poses an issue, alternative arrangements can be made but they need to be addressed upfront.
How long do production companies typically book homes for? A standard production day is typically 12-14 hours in duration, with start times for shoots often as early as 6 AM. In the event of multi-day shoots, very early start times, or very late end times, a hotel/displacement fee is often part of the package we negotiate for you.
What do timelines look like? Timelines vary based on projects, typically involving 1-3 weeks between initial contact and the shoot's start. Expect 1-3 home scouts, with one often preceding booking confirmation.
How often can I expect my house to be booked? We often receive inquiries about booking frequency. It varies based on project types and specific home requirements. Your home may be booked within a month or take up to a year. While hosting shoots can be lucrative, we recommend not relying on it as a stable income source.
Can I turn down a shoot at my house? Yes, you can decline shoot opportunities that don't suit your schedule or preferences.
What oversight do you provide? The production company or Subdivision will provide a location agreement (signed between the production company and property owner) that lays out expectations and liability to give property owners peace of mind. No shoot moves ahead without a certificate of insurance provided by the production company listing you/your property as additionally insured. We will always email you a copy for your records prior to the first shoot date.
On shoot days, you can expect a representative of Subdivision on-site for the duration of the shoot in the role of a location manager. The location manager is the first to arrive and the last to leave and your primary contact during the production itself. We take leaving a location in the same or better condition than it was found very seriously. When we arrive, before photos are taken that are then used at the end of a shoot to ensure everything goes back to the way it was found.
Can I be home during production? For a multitude of reasons, the top two being liability and lack of space, you should expect to be away from your home for the duration of a shoot. If you foresee any issues with being out of the house for a full day, please let us know this upfront.
Can I restrict areas of my home? When a production rents a home, the general expectation is that it will have use of the entire home for the duration of the shoot. This includes restrooms and bedrooms (even small ones). Non-filming rooms can be used as a place to store equipment or property owner items that have been moved, wardrobe racks, hair and makeup, or an area for the client to sit and/or take calls. This includes garages, which are almost always used in some way by productions. If there are any areas of your home you would not allow a production to use, please let us know at our initial scout, and we will not photograph those areas. Moving furniture and personal belongings is very common during shoots; if there is anything in your home that cannot be moved or that requires special attention when being moved, please let us know at our initial scout.
What if I have pets? We kindly ask that you make arrangements for pets to be out of the house during shoots. If your pets need to stay at home, please ensure they are kept in a non-disruptive area that won’t interfere with the production. If pets become disruptive, we may need to ask you to remove them from the premises as soon as possible. Additionally, we appreciate your help in picking up any pet waste from the yard before the crew arrives. If you have any concerns about pets, please let us know when you respond to this email.
How will my house be left after a shoot? We take leaving a location in the same or better condition than it was found very seriously. When we arrive, before photos are taken that are then used at the end of a shoot to ensure everything goes back to the way it was found.
At the end of a shoot, if you are available, it is ideal if you can join us for a walkthrough of the property to ensure everything looks good. If this isn’t possible we ask property owners to do a thorough walkthrough when they get home (or the next morning) and reach out to us with any concerns within 24 hours. In the unlikely event that your home incurs any damage during a shoot, the production company is liable. We will work with you to ensure any repairs that might be required take place quickly. While damage does occur, it is usually very minor (a broken light bulb, a wall scuff, etc.) and easily remedied. The vast majority of our shoots go off without a hitch!