How to list your first property
If you're interested in renting out your property as a shoot location, Locations Direct makes it easy to get started. This guide will walk you through each step of listing your property, including creating a profile, adding tags and categories, managing payments, and understanding the booking process.
Lets get started!
Host - User Account
First off, you will need to create a user account. In the top right corner of the screen, you will see a button labeled 'Create Account.' Select this, then click the tab that says 'Host.' This will create your own Host account.
How Do I Create a Listing?
Once you are logged into your account, you can access your account dashboard by clicking your name in the top right corner of the screen. This will take you to a page with six tabs in the middle of the screen—this is where you can access different areas of your user account.
Click the first tab that says 'Locations.' This is where you can add and manage your listings.
Once you are on your Locations page, you will see all previously added locations, along with a button on the right side of the screen that says '+ New Location.' Click here to start creating listings.
Host Managed
When adding a new property to your user account, you will see a checkbox labeled ‘Host Managed.’ By selecting this option, you will unlock the platform’s direct booking capabilities for that location. This means you will be able to receive enquiries directly through the platform.
We encourage Hosts to respond to all new enquiries via the built-in messenger as efficiently as possible. Through your dashboard, you can respond to availability requests, negotiate rates, arrange site visits, confirm bookings, check PLI, and request payments or damage deposits.
The Host Managed option works alongside our standard Agent Booking Service, where we contact you via email with potential enquiries that we believe are a good fit. If you prefer, you can leave the ‘Host Managed’ box unchecked and have your property managed exclusively through the Agent service.
Host Managed - Cancelation Policy
If you select Host Managed, a dropdown will appear, giving you three cancellation policies to choose from. This ensures that any cancellations are handled automatically through the payment system. Read more here.
Area
Areas relate to where your property is located. They are set up in a tiered layout, so keep working your way down until you land in the most accurate location. If your area is missing, please contact our support team so we can add it. For example, if someone lives in Southwark in London, they would select Greater London > South East London > Southwark. If you live within the M25, please ensure you tick this box.
Profile Map - Radius
Your location profile can now feature a map to indicate an approximate radius of where your property is located within the UK. You can enable this feature by navigating the map and clicking to pinpoint your location. You do not need to be exact, as the map will only display a general radius circle.
There are three radius options that LD can select for you: small, medium, or large. Alternatively, if you prefer not to display a map, simply leave the map box unchecked.
Descriptions
A detailed description is crucial for attracting and securing the right bookings. Descriptions are now broken down into 4 sections:
About this location
Add a short description of your property highlight any unique or original features of your property, such as period details, modern design elements, large windows, or interesting architectural aspects.
Room breakdown
Add a breakdown of rooms, including info like the number of bathrooms, bedrooms etc.
Parking & Accessibility
Include details like: Are there any parking restrictions? Is there off-street parking? Can you obtain parking vouchers? Is there disabled access? Are there any access restrictions?
Amenities
Add notes on thinks like power, dimensions, wifi, noise levels, toilet access and other available facilities.
Our websites advanced search capabilities can scan your description for keywords or phrases, to help productions find your property within searches where there are no direct matches to Tags or Categories.
*Important Note: Do not include location names, addresses, company details, or contact information within your description. This ensures privacy and compliance with the platform’s policies.
Categories
Categories work independently of tags and serve as another way to search for locations on the platform. Navigate through the category dropdown list during sign-up and simply add your location to the categories that you feel accurately reflect your property.
- Choose categories that accurately reflect your property. This could include categories like Residential, Industrial, Outdoor Spaces, Historical Buildings, etc.
- Select any subcategories that may also apply. You access the subcategories by clicking the down arrow on the main category list.
Photographs
Your images are the first impression productions will have of your location, so ensure they are clear, well-lit, and represent your property accurately. The better quality the images, the more likely they will capture people's attention.
Tips for better images:
- Use natural light where possible.
- Capture both wide shots of rooms and close-up details that show the character of your space.
- Ensure the rooms are tidy and free of clutter to give productions a clear sense of the available space.
- Ensure your images do not have text or waterparks on them. Please use image files and not screen grabs.
- We only take properties live on the website if images meet our standards. We can offer an image editing service for £29.99.
If you want more tips on how to stand out from the crowd, check out our photography guide. Read our Step-by-Step Photography Guide here.
Tags
This is how you can ensure people find you in their search results.
Tags are the best way to ensure your property is found within relevant search results on the platform. Tags relate to keywords that are searched via the search bar. The tags (keywords) can relate to Property Type (for example: House, Studio, Warehouse), Rooms & Spaces (for example: Bedroom, Reception, Garden), Features & Items (for example: Exposed Brick, Log Burner, Piano), Styles & Descriptions (for example: Art Deco, Colourful, Derelict) & Period (for example: Victorian, New Build, 1960's).
You can link relevant tags to your individual images when creating your locations profile. Once you have uploaded your images you will see the thumbnails within the image grid, select the edit button on an image. This will then allow you to search for tags (via a small search bar) and add as many tags as you like to each of your location's images.
You can add different tags to the same image. For example, you could add a tag for 'pink' and a tag for 'bedroom'. Or you can also add the same tag to multiple images. For example, if you have multiple bedrooms or bathrooms within your location, you can add a bedroom tag to one image from each of the bedrooms. This will help show an image from each of the bedrooms as people are searching through results for that keyword. If you use the same tag more than once, the order the images appear within the search results is indicated by the order the images appear on your image grid, so make sure your best image linked to a specific tag is higher up the grid than the others.
Stripe Connect: Split Payments
Locations Direct uses Stripe Connect to process payments securely on direct bookings online. As part of the sign-up process, you will need to set up a Stripe Connect Account via the platforms onboarding process. Stripe ensures you receive payments for bookings directly into your bank account through automated payment schedules.
What’s Required to set-up Stripe
- Bank account details where you want payments to be deposited.
- Proof of identification, such as a passport or driving licence, to verify your account.
- Basic business information, if applicable.
Once your Stripe account is set up, Locations Direct will automatically split payments, deducting their 15% commission (on direct bookings) before transferring the remaining amount to your connected account.
Agent Bookings
Payments for agent bookings will be handled outside of the platform and transferred into your account by BACS once a valid invoice has been received for the agreed amount.
How to start taking bookings
Is your profile now live and you are ready to start accepting bookings? Lets go through the bookings process step-by-step.
The booking process
Once you are set up on our site, the booking process is designed to be straightforward for both hosts and productions.
Initial Enquiry
When a production finds your property, they will send an initial enquiry outlining their shoot details (e.g., dates, purpose of the shoot, crew size). You will be notified of this through your account.
Notifications
As standard, you will receive all notifications via email, for example when receiving new enquires, messages or transactions etc. However, if you would like, you can also opt in to SMS notifications. These will be triggered if you do not login and view your message within 2hrs or receiving the email notification. This is to help ensure you have not missed any new message notifications in your email inbox, or to give you a friendly reminder.
Messenger
You can discuss details directly with the production via the chat box in your account. This feature allows you to clarify any questions, negotiate fees, and finalise details efficiently.
Recce Requests
If a production is interested but wants to view the property in person before confirming a booking, they can submit a recce request. The recce provides a chance for productions to ensure the location fits their needs and an opportunity for you to meet members the production team.
Confirmation and Shoot Details
Once the production is ready to confirm the booking, they will need to finalise the shoot details on the booking form. This includes uploading proof of their Public Liability Insurance (PLI). You should always confirm that the PLI is valid and in date before proceeding with the booking.
Hire Fees & Damage Deposits
Once all shoot details have been completed and insurance verified, you can request the agreed hire fee for the booking.
Payments - Agent Bookings
If you accept a booking sent to you via one of the Locations Direct Agents, they will confirm with you upfront what the Hire Fee will be for that booking. Locations Direct will then invoice the production for the Hire Fee and Damage Deposit, and you will invoice Locations Direct for your percentage of the Hire Fee. Locations Direct will subtract a 20% commission from the total Hire Fee. Your Agent will let you know the details and the amount to add to your invoice. Payments are handled ahead of the Hire Period.
Payments - Direct Bookings
Once you have agreed on the final rate for a booking, you can send a payment request to the Production via the platform. You will need to request the full Hire Fee for the booking and alongside a separate payment request for the Damage Deposit amount. The platform will automatically add a 2% service charge on top of the full amount to help cover the transaction fees and booking processing. Once the Production has accepted the payment and submitted their card details, the payment will be sent and held in the Locations Direct Stripe account. The payment minus Locations Direct's 15% commission, will then be released into your Connected Stripe account on the first day of the hire, if booked more that 8 days in advance of the shoot date, if booked less than 8 days before the shoot date it will be released on the 8th day. If you require any Additional Fees for Overtime, Damages after the shoot, you will be able to send a second payment link to the Production during or with 72hrs of the completion on the Hire Period (Booking).
Damage Deposit
When accepting a direct booking via the platform, it is up to you as the Host whether you require a Damage Deposit alongside your Hire Fee or not. The amount that you request is also your decision as the Host. You can determine the amount based on whether you feel a booking is high risk or low risk. For example, if it is a low budget shoot only hiring you space for a few hours with a small crew, you might feel more comfortable accepting the booking with a small deposit. However, if the booking is for a full day and has a large crew, it might be more in your interest to ensure a larger Damage Deposit is held for your own peace of mind and security. Deposits are held by Locations Direct on your behalf, you will not have direct access to them. They will remain in the Locations Direct account for 72 hours after the last day of the booking, before being automatically returned to the productions payment card. If you notice any issues during or after the shoot, please ensure you report these within 72 hours via the booking platform. This will put the production's deposit return on hold for 30 days whilst you send the production a second payment request for the damages. You will need to provide quotes or receipts proving the value of the claim. They can then decide if they will pay themselves or claim on their insurance policy. Once the production has paid your second payment request the remaining deposit will be returned to the production's payment card.
Important Policies: No External Payments
One of the key terms of using the Locations Direct platform is that all bookings, messages and payments must be handled through the platform. This policy ensures that both the Host and the Production are protected if any issues arise. Attempting to take payments or bookings outside of the platform is against Locations Direct's terms of use and will result in your profile being deleted permanently, along with charges for any fees still owed.
Hosting 101 - the essentials shoot guide
Now you have signed up as a shoot location, you can learn more about key phrases, the process and what to expect on the day, here