Victoria Maxwell-Davis
Location Agreement Specialist • Melbourne
Get Your Residential Locations Signed Without Burning Bridges
In Australia's tight-knit film industry, every relationship matters. When you find the perfect location, you want to be able to use it again. But you also can't afford to have ideal properties falling through because owners got overwhelmed by the contract process.
You need someone who can get residential location agreements signed quickly while keeping everyone happy.
I'm Victoria Maxwell-Davis, and I specialise in getting homeowner contracts over the line without the drama. In three decades of corporate and commercial production, I've learned that the difference between a smooth location negotiation and a disaster often comes down to one thing: whether the property owner feels heard and respected, or steamrolled and confused.
When homeowners feel confident about what they're signing, contracts get signed faster and relationships stay positive. That protects your schedule, your budget, and your future access to great locations.
Why Residential Locations Create Unique Contract Challenges
Homeowners aren't property managers or location coordinators. They don't understand production language, insurance requirements, or why you need certain clauses. When they see a standard location agreement, they often panic about:
- Legal language they can't decipher
- Clauses that sound scarier than they actually are
- No acknowledgment that this is their home, not just another location
- All responsibility seeming to fall on them
- Different messages from different people on your team
The Problems This Creates for You:
Perfect houses that say no after seeing the contract
Weeks of back-and-forth while homeowners seek legal advice
Property owners who agree reluctantly and create problems during filming
Last-minute location changes that blow your schedule and budget
What Happened When One Location Nearly Walked Away
I recently worked with a homeowner whose property was perfect for a major production. The art department loved it, the director was excited, and the budget was approved.
Then the property owner received the location agreement - a basic template contract that wasn't even written for Australian conditions, designed solely to protect the production company with no consideration for the property owner's interests or concerns.
Within 24 hours, they were ready to pull out entirely.
No amount of explanation could soften the impact of a contract that was so clearly one-sided. They couldn't make sense of how different clauses connected to each other, and the production team's verbal assurances didn't match what was written in the agreement. They didn't know what to trust or whether their interests were protected at all.
Instead of lawyers and legal battles, we worked through the contract together over several conversations.
I explained what each clause actually meant in practice, connected the dots between different sections, and helped them understand what was really being asked of them. When they had concerns, we figured out how to modify the contract to address them while still protecting the production's needs.
Through this process, we developed an agreement that served and protected the production while building genuine trust and confidence for the property owner.
The contract was signed efficiently, and they had such a positive experience during filming that the location remains available for future projects.
That's the difference between treating location agreements as purely transactional versus understanding the human element.
How I Get Homeowner Contracts Signed Faster
I Take Complex Contracts and Make Them Clear
Most location agreements are written by lawyers for lawyers. I translate them into plain language so homeowners understand exactly what they're agreeing to. When people understand what they're signing, they sign faster.
I Connect All the Dots
Homeowners get overwhelmed because they can't see how different parts of the contract relate to each other. I hold all the pieces in my head and show them the complete picture. This eliminates confusion and builds confidence.
I Turn Emotional Concerns into Practical Solutions
When homeowners say "I'm worried about damage to my garden," they don't need reassurance - they need specific protections in the contract. I help identify what really matters to them and find ways to address those concerns practically.
I Keep Everyone on the Same Page
Mixed messages from different team members kill deals. I ensure homeowners get consistent information and understand who to contact about what. Clear communication prevents problems before they start.
I Build Confidence Instead of Compliance
A homeowner who signs reluctantly becomes a problem during production. A homeowner who signs confidently becomes your ally. I focus on creating genuine comfort with the process, not just getting signatures.
What This Means for Your Production
Contracts Signed in Days or Weeks, Not Weeks or Months
When homeowners understand what they're agreeing to and feel their concerns have been addressed, decisions happen quickly. No more waiting weeks for reluctant signatures.
Fewer Last-Minute Location Changes
Property owners who truly understand the agreement don't create surprises during production. They know what they signed up for and stick with it.
Better Relationships During Filming
Homeowners who felt heard during negotiations are more flexible and cooperative during production. They become partners rather than obstacles.
Access to Locations for Future Projects
When property owners have positive experiences, they welcome you back. Great locations become available to you repeatedly instead of being one-time opportunities.
Professional Reputation with Property Owners
In Australia's film industry, your reputation for treating locations well opens doors for future projects. Great locations become long-term assets rather than one-off opportunities.
Reduced Legal Costs
Most residential location disputes don't need expensive lawyers. They need better communication and someone who can find solutions that work for everyone. When legal review is necessary, I coordinate efficiently to minimise billable hours.
My Approach to Location Services
Pre-Negotiation Strategy
Before approaching any homeowner, I help you plan an approach that sets the right tone from day one. First impressions determine whether property owners are open or defensive.
Initial Property Owner Meetings
I can handle those crucial first conversations, explaining your project clearly, addressing immediate concerns, and building trust before contracts even come up.
Contract Translation and Negotiation
I work through agreements with homeowners, explaining terms in plain language, addressing specific concerns, and keeping negotiations moving toward signature. When legal input is needed, I coordinate with lawyers strategically to protect everyone's interests while controlling costs.
Relationship Management During Production
Property owners often have questions during filming that can create tension if not handled well. I maintain those relationships and solve problems before they escalate.
Damage Control
If negotiations have gone sideways, I can step in to rebuild relationships and get discussions back on track. Often what looks like a difficult homeowner is someone who simply feels unheard.
Beyond Residential: Any Location Where Relationships Matter
While residential properties are my specialty, the same approach works whenever you need to maintain good relationships with location providers:
- Small businesses where the owner is personally invested
- Heritage buildings with passionate custodians
- Community spaces where reputation matters
- Any location where you might want to film again
The skills are the same: clear communication, genuine respect for people's concerns, and finding solutions that work for everyone.
My Background
Thirty years as a producer and director specialising in corporate productions, commercials, documentaries, and installation experiences. While the budgets may be smaller than features, the location challenges are identical - same crews, same insurance requirements, same contracts, same need to maintain relationships with property owners.
I've negotiated location agreements with everyone from nervous homeowners to government departments, heritage trusts, and major corporations.
I understand your world - the budget pressures, tight schedules, crew logistics, and the reality that one location falling through can derail everything. I also understand that in Australia's film industry, relationships matter for the long term.
I've built my career on getting practical results while treating people with respect. That combination is exactly what you need for residential location negotiations.
Ready to Get Your Location Contracts Signed Without the Drama?
If you're tired of perfect locations falling through, spending too much time on contract negotiations, or worrying about maintaining access to great locations, let's talk.
I understand production realities because I've lived them for three decades. I understand homeowner concerns because I've helped dozens navigate the process successfully. That combination gets contracts signed faster while keeping everyone happy.
Get Started:
Project-Based Pricing: Transparent costs designed to save you more in delays and legal fees than my services cost.
Based in Melbourne • Available for projects across Victoria • Remote consultation available for other states
What Production Teams Are Saying
"Victoria saved our schedule and probably our relationship with the perfect location. The homeowner was ready to walk away after seeing our standard contract, but Victoria got them comfortable and confident about the process. Contract signed in days instead of months, smooth filming, and they're already asking when we might want to film there again."
[TESTIMONIAL TO BE ADDED]
Let's make location agreements the easy part of your pre-production.
Old van:
Stop Losing Perfect Homes to Poor Contract Negotiations
As a location manager, you know that residential locations can make or break a production. The perfect house exists, but getting homeowners to say yes? That's where things get complicated.
You've probably lost ideal residential locations because the homeowner panicked at the contract, felt overwhelmed by the process, or simply didn't understand what they were agreeing to. Meanwhile, you're dealing with tight deadlines, budget pressures, and the knowledge that this house is exactly what the director wants.
What if there was someone who could bridge the gap between your production needs and homeowners' fears?
I'm Victoria Maxwell-Davis, and I specialise in getting residential location agreements over the line. I help homeowners understand what they're signing while protecting your production requirements. No drama, no last-minute walkouts, no expensive legal battles.
---
Why Residential Locations Are Different (And Harder)
Homeowners aren't businesses. They don't have legal departments, contracts managers, or experience with film productions. When they see a standard location agreement, they often see:
- Legal language they don't understand
- Clauses that sound scary (even when they're standard)
- No acknowledgment that this is their home, not just a location
- No explanation of what actually happens during filming
- All risk and responsibility on their shoulders
The Real Cost When Residential Negotiations Go Wrong:
$12,000
What we spent on lawyers when our home location agreement went sideways
3-5 weeks
Time lost when perfect houses fall through late in pre-production
40%
Percentage of homeowners who say no purely because of how they're first approached
Recent Example from My Own Experience:
When a major streaming service wanted to use our home as a major location, we were excited about the opportunity. Then we saw the contract. It was a standard boilerplate agreement designed to protect the production company, with no consideration for the fact that this was our home, our sanctuary, our biggest asset.
My partner Keith nearly walked away from good money because the process felt so one-sided and overwhelming. We ended up spending $12,000 on lawyers, most of which was unnecessary. By the time we involved legal help, Keith and I had already done most of the negotiation work ourselves.
That experience showed me exactly where the gap is, and how much easier it could be with the right approach.
---
What I Bring to Your Residential Location Negotiations
I Speak Both Languages
I've spent three decades in production as a producer and director. I understand your world, your budgets, your timelines, and your pressures. But I've also just lived through being a location owner. I know exactly what homeowners are thinking and feeling when they see your contract.
I Know What Homeowners Actually Need
It's not complicated. They need to understand what's really going to happen in their space, feel respected as property owners, and know their concerns are being heard. Most location agreements don't even try to address these basics.
I Can Get to Yes Faster
Homeowners who feel informed and respected make decisions faster. When they understand what they're agreeing to and feel their interests are protected, negotiations move smoothly instead of getting stuck in fear and confusion.
I Prevent Expensive Problems
Most residential location disputes don't need lawyers. They need better communication, clearer explanations, and someone who can find solutions that work for everyone. When legal input is necessary, I can work strategically with lawyers to minimise billable hours while ensuring both the production and property owner's interests are properly protected.
---
How I Help With Residential Locations
Pre-Approach Strategy
Before you contact any homeowner, I'll help you prepare an approach that sets the right tone. How you make that first contact often determines whether they're open or defensive from day one.
Homeowner Education and Relationship Building
I can make those initial conversations with homeowners, explaining your project in language they understand, addressing their concerns before they become problems, and building trust from the beginning.
Contract Translation and Negotiation
I work through location agreements with homeowners, explaining what terms actually mean in practice, negotiating modifications that address their specific concerns without compromising your production needs, and keeping discussions moving toward signature.
Ongoing Support During Production
Homeowners often have questions or concerns during filming that can create tension if not handled well. I can be your liaison, maintaining goodwill and solving small problems before they become big ones.
Damage Control
If residential negotiations have already gone sideways, I can step in to rebuild relationships and get discussions back on track. Often what looks like a difficult homeowner is just someone who feels unheard or misunderstood.
---
Beyond Residential: Organisational Locations Too
While residential properties are my specialty, many organisations (councils, businesses, institutions) also struggle with location agreements. They often don't have internal systems for handling film production requests or experience understanding what productions actually need.
I can help with:
Business locations where staff don't understand production requirements
Council properties where bureaucracy slows everything down
Heritage buildings with complex stakeholder concerns
Any location where the decision makers need education about what's involved
The same skills that work with worried homeowners work with overwhelmed property managers: clear communication, relationship building, and finding solutions that work for everyone.
---
Why This Matters to Your Bottom Line
More Locations Say Yes
When homeowners feel respected and informed rather than steamrolled, they're much more likely to agree to filming. You get access to better residential options.
Faster Decisions
Property owners who understand what they're agreeing to make decisions faster. Less back-and-forth, fewer delays, smoother pre-production.
Reduced Legal Costs
Most location agreement issues don't need expensive lawyers. They need better communication and creative problem-solving.
Fewer Production Day Surprises
Homeowners who truly understood the agreement are less likely to create unexpected problems during filming.
Better Industry Reputation
Every homeowner you work with talks to their neighbours. Good experiences create referrals and make your job easier long-term.
---
My Background
Three decades in production across commercials, documentaries, corporate videos, and installation experiences. I've been a producer, director, and location manager who understands budgets, schedules, crew dynamics, and the pressure to deliver.
Extensive location experience working with CEOs, government departments, Parks Victoria, car manufacturers, agents, lawyers, and homeowners. I know how different types of property owners think and what concerns they're likely to have.
Recent hands-on experience as a location owner on a major Apple TV production, giving me unique insight into what homeowners actually go through and what they need to feel comfortable saying yes.
I'm good with people, fast with paperwork, and passionate about creating outcomes that work for both productions and property owners.
---
Ready to Make Residential Location Negotiations Work?
If you're tired of losing perfect houses to poor negotiations, spending too much on legal fees, or watching homeowners panic when they see your contracts, let's talk.
I understand your world because I've worked in it for 30 years. I understand homeowners' concerns because I've just lived through them. That combination is exactly what you need to get more residential locations to say yes.
Get Started:
Contact me by Email
Free Initial Consultation: 30-minute discussion about your specific project and location challenges.
Project-Based Pricing: Transparent costs upfront, designed to save you more in legal fees and lost time than my services cost.
Based in Melbourne • Available for projects across Victoria • Remote consultation available
---
What Location Managers Are Saying
"Victoria helped us navigate what could have been a nightmare residential location agreement. Her ability to explain our production needs while genuinely addressing the homeowner's concerns made all the difference. We got our perfect house and the owners actually enjoyed working with us."
[TESTIMONIAL TO BE ADDED]
---
Let's make your next residential location negotiation the easy part of production.