passive income renting home to filming crews

Did you know that the entertainment industry has created room for almost anyone to earn passive income by renting their homes to film crews? Film crews for movies, series, and music video are constantly looking for ideal shooting spaces to rent out. What they are looking for depends on the content or the scene, and location scouts identify ideal spaces for filming and shooting. Platforms like Set Scouter connect home owners with film crews and help you earn money by renting to them. Considering you are not required to do much, this is an idea that can earn you excellent passive income as a beginner.

How to make passive through renting to a filming crew? You can earn passive income by renting out your home to film crews for scene filming or photo-shoots. Film crews search for ideal spaces or locations to shoot certain scenes of the movie and pay for the service. Whether you own an apartment, mansion, condo etc. you can make money passively by renting your space for a particular period of time.

According to Scout Setter’s FAQ page on getting paid as a homeowner, an average home on the platform is rented for $1,500 for a 12 hour day (source). Depending on the space, you can earn $6,000 per month just by renting your space out one day per week! And the best part is “You do not have to pay to list, or accept productions. You will receive 100% of your location rental because we are paid a service fee by the production company” (source).

A lot goes into renting your house to film crews and this guide details this. This guide is specifically curated for beginners and amateurs looking to understand how to make passive income through renting their space to film crews and photographers. We uncover various aspects related to film sets, and how you can earn passive income through them. We also highlight various ways you get noticed by film crews and what to expect when a film crew says yes. So let’s dive right in!

Passive Income Renting to Film Crews

There are many ways of earning passive income from renting your home to film crews. We are going to highlight two main ways – with photo-shoots and filming.

1. Photo Shoots

Film crews can rent your home pay you very well for a quick photo-shoot without actual filming. Some location scouts pay up to $500 for a quick exterior shot or more for a couple of shots. This is a lucrative way of making money passively since you are not required to do much during the entire process. Photo-shoots can earn you more money if the shoot involves big-name actors or if the project is a major. Renting your space for photo-shoots could offer you a chance to meet big-name celebrities and see the work that goes on during the shoot.

2. Filming

Location scouts identify ideal spaces for film crews to shoot TV shows, movies, commercials, music videos, interviews etc. and pay you depending on the size of the project. The bigger the project, the more money you can make. Filming takes more time than photo-shoots and involves many people. Your compensation depends on the project – you can earn over $1,500 for a small photo-shoot with ten people for a couple of hours, to over $10,000 for music videos with 100 people or more (source). Better yet, you get an opportunity to brush shoulders with famous actors or even become an extra in the shoot.

What Are Scouters Looking For?

Film companies use location scouts to identify ideal places for their film. Most scouts like Set Scouter have a long list of locations that crews can film in and also connect them with the homeowners. Generally, scouts look for all types of homes including family homes, apartments, buildings, warehouses, garages and gardens etc. depending on the type and size of the project. Some of the common aspects that scouts look for in a location include the amount of space available, location accessibility, security, parking, and cleanliness, interior design etc. Learn more about how you can stage your home here.

How Do I Know If My Home Is The Right Fit?

Any home can be an ideal location so long as it fits a particular scene. Your house plays a part in showcasing the character traits of the shoot, so scouts never look for the same thing. However, there are a few common considerations that favour some homes and locations over others.

Homes with peculiar architectural designs, retro theme or character are in-demand compared to those with common designs. Locations with large spaces are also popular since they offer enough room for the crew and their equipment. Your house also needs to have large windows and a lot of natural light for the best shots. Parking space is also key considering that the crews use many vans and cars to transport their crew and equipment. Shooting a TV commercial, for example, requires approx. 8 or more trucks and up to 10 vans (source).

Who is Involved in the Selection Process?

Location Scouters are the link between you and the film crew. They search for various locations where filming can be done and showcase them to film crews to choose the most ideal ones. There are many location Scouters out there, but as a beginner, one of the best sites to sign up to get started quickly is Set Scouter.

Peer-to-Peer Platforms for Beginners

This is one of the most popular location scouting sites available online. Set Scouter is a full-service marketplace for location owners and film producers. It is an ideal platform for beginners because it is easy to use and boasts thousands of users globally. There are thousands of unique film-friendly homes and locations ranging from modern high-end kitchens or cosy family rooms to simple, common houses. Some of the top cities with listed locations include New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Miami, Austin, Chicago etc.

Set Scouter allows you to scout locations easily, fast and safely. You can browse listings for free and get all the details about the property, talk directly to homeowners, and book the location on the spot. After you identify the perfect space, the site allows you to book it online. Set Scouter then handles everything from there including taking care of payments, overtime fees, and security deposits. Another places where you can rent your property is LocationsHub.

How To Register Your Home For Filming

There are a few steps that you should follow if you intend to register your home for filming in order to make passive income from this gig.

1. Registering

You can register your home and interest online on location scout sites like Set Scouter. If you have existing photos, it’s good to send them with the expression of interest. This allows site administrators to have your property in mind in case a suitable job is available. For example, if your home has a nice pool and a client comes searching for a nice pool, they are straight in the mix.

2. Inspecting The Property

You can register your home and interest online on location scout sites like Set Scouter. If you have existing photos, it’s good to send them with the expression of interest. This allows site administrators to have your property in mind in case a suitable job is available. For example, if your home has a nice pool and a client comes searching for a nice pool, they are straight in the mix.

3. The Contract

Once a suitable project comes up and your house is selected as a shoot location, you are required to sign a location agreement. The agreement is meant to protect the interests of both parties (the property owner and the production company). The contract gives the production company access to your property and states that any footage shot therein belongs to the company. It also details payment methods and amounts, including the company’s responsibilities to repair any damage (if any) during the shoot. The agreement also covers your home with insurance, details the amount of time the project will take and the activities that will take place.

4. The Job

Once a suitable project comes up and your house is selected as a shoot location, you are required to sign a location agreement. The agreement is meant to protect the interests of both parties (the property owner and the production company). The contract gives the production company access to your property and states that any footage shot therein belongs to the company. It also details payment methods and amounts, including the company’s responsibilities to repair any damage (if any) during the shoot. The agreement also covers your home with insurance, details the amount of time the project will take and the activities that will take place.

5. Getting Paid

Payments are done after the project is completed but some clients put a down payment as surety before the shoot begins. There are various modes of payment and you can choose the most convenient one for you. The amount of money you make depends on the type and size of the project.

Other Considerations

Here are some things to consider when renting your home out to a filming crew for passive income.

Get Permission

If you live in a rented house, it is important that you notify your landlord and get permission if it is allowed on the platform you are using or legal in your area. This will allow you to shoot with peace of mind.

Notify Your Neighbors

Before filming, you should notify your neighbours and community board. This allows them not to be alarmed when there’s tons of activity taking place in your building. Sometimes, location Scouters write resident letters beforehand informing them about the project details like the day & duration of the shoot and the nature of the scenes.

Damages & Cleaning Fees

This depends on the platform you are working with but Set Scouter only works with fully-insured productions and the standard coverage is $2 million minimum ($1 million in special circumstances). In addition, they collect a security deposit which is held until the shoot wraps and you confirm that there is no damage or overtime (source). A cleaning fee is not included, but you are invited to include it in your listing cost.

How Passive is Renting Your Home to Crews?

Making money through renting your home for film sets is extremely passive! You are not required to do much during the entire project because the crew does most of the work. Activities like arranging your house for the shoot and organizing it after the shoot are done by the crew. During big projects, for example, some crews even rent a hotel room for you and your family for the duration of the shoot.

Scalability

This is not necessarily a highly scalable source of passive income. You are not required to do anything or to have another person doing anything for you except the film crew. Although it’s not highly scalable, making money by renting your home to film crews offers you high levels of flexibility.

Start-Up Costs

Considering that the crew carries everything they with them, this idea requires little to no startup costs whatsoever. The only minor costs that attach are the costs of listing your property of location scout sites, most of which are free!

Difficulty

This idea is extremely easy to do! You don’t require any form of skills to be eligible and most of the tasks are done on your behalf by the production company. This makes it an easy way of earning passive income, which is an ideal project for beginners and amateurs alike.

Time

This idea takes varying time periods. Photoshoots, for instance, can take a few hours. Other big projects like films and commercials require more time – approximately 10 hours or more or even days for a megaproject. With high flexibility levels, you can engage in other activities as this one runs.

Risk

Renting your house to film crews is not a risky idea especially if you work with professionals throughout the project and a solid peer-to-peer platform. There are risky concerns about damage to your property. Make sure you are insured in case it happens. So, generally, this is a low risk idea that can be done by anyone with a home and requires almost no startup costs.

Seasonality

You can make money through renting your home to film crews all year round. The boom in the entertainment industry provides many opportunities for homeowners to make passive income easily. Better yet, you can keep doing this frequently as long as your location is ideal and a hotspot for film shooting.

Return on Investment

This idea offers you a very high ROI compared to other passive income generation ideas. You require very little capital to start and can earn thousands of dollars monthly from a couple film sets. Although it might take time for your property to be noticed, you can make excellent passive income once it gets regularly chosen by production companies.

Related Questions

How do I keep production companies coming back? Like many businesses, renting your home to production companies requires a lot of professionalism when dealing with your clients. If you establish a great rapport and treat your clients’ right, there are high chances that they will come back when a project comes up. Also, ensure that you keep your property clean and attractive to attract more clients in the future.

How can I improve my house’s visibility on location scouter websites? To keep your property visible and make it a hotspot for production companies, you should ensure that you post HD photos, keep the property clean and update the photos regularly. Make sure there is lots of clear space inside and parking available on premise.