Budgeting for Real Estate Media: What Top Agents Invest in Alaska
If you talk to top agents in Anchorage, Eagle River, or the Kenai Peninsula, you’ll notice something quickly:
They don’t treat real estate media as a random expense.
They treat it as a tool—and they budget for it on purpose.
Not just “photos for every listing,” but:
When to add drone
When video is worth it
When 3D tours or floor plans make sense
How much they’re comfortable investing at different price points
This isn’t about spending the most money.
It’s about spending the right money on the right listing.
Let’s walk through how smart Alaska agents think about media budgets—and how you can build your own simple system.
Step 1: Stop Thinking in “Price Per Shoot.” Start Thinking in “Price Per Strategy.”
A lot of agents ask:
“How much is photos?”
“How much is video?”
“How much is drone?”
Fair questions—but top agents ask slightly different ones:
“What does this listing actually need to shine?”
“What will help buyers understand and fall in love with this home?”
“What media mix fits this price point and this seller’s expectations?”
Same budget conversation, just more intentional.
Most of the top producers I’ve worked with basically run three “tiers” in their head:
Foundation Media – what they use on almost everything
Stand-Out Media – what they add on most mid–upper listings
Flagship Media – what they use for special or higher-end properties
Let’s break those down in Alaska terms.
Tier 1: Foundation Media (Used on Almost Every Listing)
This is the “non-negotiable” layer.
If the home is going on the MLS, this is the bare minimum for serious agents.
What’s usually in this tier:
✅ Professional Interior & Exterior Photos
That’s it. But “just photos” doesn’t mean basic:
Bright, clean images
The right angles to make rooms feel open
Thoughtful sequencing (how buyers will click through)
Honest colors (snow, wood tones, and paint can get weird if edited poorly)
Where Alaska agents use Tier 1:
Lower-price-point homes where the seller’s budget is tight
Condos and smaller properties with simple layouts
Land or lots where drone isn’t necessary or allowed
Top agents don’t skip professional photos, even on “cheap” listings, because:
Every listing represents their brand
Their next seller is probably looking at their current marketing
Good media creates leverage in listing presentations later
If your budget is extremely tight, your first rule should be:
“I never list a property without professional photos. Ever.”
Tier 2: Stand-Out Media (Most Mid–Upper Listings)
This is where top agents in Alaska start to separate themselves from the pack.
For most mid-range homes in Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla, Palmer, and Kenai, Tier 2 is the sweet spot.
What’s usually in this tier:
✅ Professional Photos
✅ Drone Photos (when appropriate)
✅ Floor Plan or basic layout graphic
Why this combo?
Photos = Feel
They show light, finishes, and the emotional side.
Drone = Context
In Alaska, buyers care a lot about:
Space between neighbors
Trees, greenbelt, or open space
Driveway/parking situation
How far the house sits from the road
One or two smartly chosen drone angles can answer all of that.
Floor Plan = Clarity
Floor plans help buyers understand:
Room relationships
Size and flow
Stairs, hallways, and key spaces
They cut down on the “Oh, this isn’t what I thought” showings.
Where Tier 2 makes sense:
Typical family homes with good yards or surroundings
Any listing where buyers are likely to ask, “How is this laid out?”
Homes where your seller is expecting “good marketing,” not the bare minimum
If you want a practical rule, a lot of agents think something like:
“Once I’m above X price point in my market, or if the home has a real yard/view/lot story, I default to photos + drone + floor plan.”
You can decide what “X” is for your business.
Tier 3: Flagship Media (Special, Higher-Profile, or Higher-Price Listings)
This is where top agents really lean in.
We’re talking about:
Higher-end homes
Properties with story (custom builds, big views, unique features)
Listings you know you’ll use in future listing presentations as examples
What’s usually in this tier:
✅ Professional Photos
✅ Drone Photos (and sometimes drone video)
✅ Floor Plan
✅ Walkthrough Video and/or 3D Virtual Tour
✅ Social-media-ready media (short clips, vertical segments, etc.)
Why spend more here?
Because these listings:
Often have more to show off
Attract more demanding buyers
Come with sellers who expect (and remember) premium marketing
Become your “portfolio pieces” to win future business
Top agents don’t look at it as:
“Ugh, I have to spend more.”
They look at it as:
“This is a listing that can bring me more listings.”
And they budget accordingly.
How Top Agents Decide What to Spend (Without Overthinking It)
Most experienced agents I’ve seen are not doing complex spreadsheets.
Instead, they use simple rules like:
Price Band Rules
Below $200: Photos only
$255–$150: Photos + drone + floor plan
Above $699: Full package with video and/or 3D
“Story” Rules
If the lot, view, or surroundings are a selling point → add drone
If the layout is unique or multi-level → add floor plan
If the buyer pool is relocation-heavy or higher-end → add video and/or 3D
Brand Rules
“My listings always have at least ___.”
“I always use full media on certain neighborhoods / price ranges / property types.”
The key is consistency.
You want your media approach to feel intentional, not random.
Where DMD Fits into That Budget Conversation
Let’s be honest: the real question in the back of your mind is usually:
“If I spend more on this shoot, will it actually help me?”
Here’s how top agents think about that with a media partner like
DMD Real Estate Photography Alaska:
1. They Plan Ahead
Instead of starting from zero each time, they:
Talk through their go-to packages with us
Build those into their listing process
Know roughly what each tier costs before they even take the listing
That makes it easier to set expectations with sellers and to price accordingly.
2. They Lean on Our Experience
We see a lot of properties. We know what tends to work.
It’s normal to hear things like:
“This one’s in Anchorage, decent view, but small yard—what would you recommend?”
or
“It’s on the Kenai, river nearby, older home but gorgeous setting. Should we add video?”
We’re happy to weigh in so you’re not guessing.
3. They Use Media as a Listing Presentation Tool
Top agents don’t just show sold numbers in listing appointments.
They show media:
“Here’s how we photographed and marketed this home.”
“Here’s a video we did for a similar property.”
“Here’s a floor plan we used so buyers understood the layout before scheduling showings.”
That’s how you turn your media budget into a persuasion tool.
Talking About Media Budget with Sellers (Without Making It Awkward)
Sellers don’t need a breakdown of your cost per package.
They need to know you have a plan.
You might say something like:
“For your home, my standard marketing includes professional photos and drone, plus a floor plan so buyers really understand the layout. For properties like yours in this price range, that’s what’s working best right now in Alaska.”
or, for a premium listing:
“Because your home has such a great setting and unique layout, I’d like to invest in full media—photos, drone, a walkthrough video, and a floor plan. That helps us show both the emotion and the details to buyers, especially those moving in from out of state.”
You don’t have to talk about what it costs you.
You talk about what it does for them.
A Simple Way to Build Your Own Media Budget “System”
If you want to formalize this a bit, here’s a simple exercise:
Pick three price bands you commonly work in.
For each band, decide your default media package:
Always photos
When to add drone
When to add floor plans
When to add video / 3D
Write it down and treat it as part of your listing process.
Share it with your media partner (that’s us 😉) so we’re on the same page.
Suddenly, “What should I spend?” becomes:
“I already know what I do for a listing like this.”
That’s how top agents think.
Ready to Build a Smarter Media Plan for Your Alaska Listings?
If you’re a Realtor in Anchorage, Eagle River, Mat-Su, Wasilla, Palmer, or the Kenai Peninsula, and you’re ready to:
Stop guessing what to order
Build a consistent, professional media standard
Invest in photos, drone, video, and floor plans in a way that actually fits your business
DMD Real Estate Photography Alaska would be glad to be your media partner—not just “your photographer.”
➡️ Plan Your Next Listing’s Media with DMD Real Estate Photography Alaska
We’ll help you match the right media to the right listing—and the right budget. 🏡❄️📸
