Follow the Sun: How ShadeMap Can Help Homebuyers See a Property in a New Light

When buyers tour a home, they are seeing it at one specific moment in time. The sunny backyard they visit at 10:00 am may look very different at 5:00 pm, and a patio that feels perfect in September could receive considerably different sun exposure in December.

ShadeMap gives REALTORS® and their clients another way to explore those questions before and during the homebuying process.

What Is ShadeMap?

ShadeMap is an online tool that simulates sunlight and shadows for locations around the world. Users can select a location, date and time to see estimated shadows created by buildings, trees and terrain. It can also estimate the number of hours of direct sunlight a location receives during a particular day or across the year. 

For Albuquerque buyers, that can provide useful context about a property beyond what they see during a showing.

Put It to Work During a Home Search

REALTORS® can use ShadeMap as an additional visual resource when clients are thinking about how they may actually live in a home.

Explore the backyard. A buyer dreaming about a garden, pool, play area or outdoor entertaining space may want to know when different parts of the yard receive direct sunlight.

Look at patios and outdoor living areas. Albuquerque's abundant sunshine makes outdoor space an important consideration for many buyers. ShadeMap can help visualize whether a patio is likely to receive morning sun, afternoon shade or prolonged direct sunlight.

Compare different seasons. Sun angles change throughout the year. REALTORS® and buyers can adjust the date in ShadeMap to compare a property during summer and winter instead of relying solely on conditions during the day of the showing.

Think about natural light. While ShadeMap cannot tell buyers exactly how bright an interior room will be, looking at the orientation of the home and surrounding shadows can help buyers ask better questions about natural light throughout the day.

Start a conversation about solar. ShadeMap includes tools for examining sun exposure and solar potential. It can be a useful starting point for buyers interested in rooftop solar, although an assessment from a qualified solar professional should be used for decisions about installation, performance or energy production. (Shademap)

Try It on an Albuquerque Property

Using ShadeMap is straightforward. Search for an address or location, choose a date and move the time slider to watch shadows change throughout the day. REALTORS® can even pull it up with clients while discussing a property.

Try the Albuquerque ShadeMap and zoom into a neighborhood or property to explore.

For a deeper look, the "Hours in the Sun" layer estimates daily direct sunlight, while the "Annual Sunlight" layer provides a broader view of sun exposure throughout the year. 

A Helpful Tool, Not a Property Guarantee

ShadeMap should be treated as a visualization tool rather than a substitute for an inspection, survey, solar assessment or other professional evaluation. The platform notes that its standard building and shadow data are estimates, and inaccuracies can occur. Buildings without height information, for example, may be assigned a default height. 

That distinction is especially important when sharing the tool with clients.

Still, homebuying is about more than bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage. Helping buyers think about how a property changes throughout the day and across the seasons can add another useful layer to the conversation.

After all, a 15-minute showing only captures 15 minutes of a home's day. ShadeMap can help buyers explore the hours they didn't get to see.