Real Estate Drone Photography and Video

In this article:

• Why use real estate drone photography?
• When to use real estate drone video
• Real estate drone photography costs
• Real estate drone rules and regulations
• How to become a real estate drone pilot
• Recommended drones for real estate photography and video

Real estate drones (also called unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS) are used to capture aerial views of a property’s acreage, home features and highlights. These images and videos used to be reserved for real estate agents showcasing luxury homes, but today the cost of owning a drone or hiring a professional real estate drone pilot are minimal, meaning aerial photography and video fit into the budget for just about any property.

Why use real estate drone photography?

Using aerial photography for real estate creates visual intrigue about a home and is especially valuable for the price. According to Multiple Listing Service statistics, properties with accompanying aerial imagery are 68% more likely to sell than properties without aerial imagery, and that number is only increasing.

Zillow Premier Agents can use aerial real estate photography to show potential buyers a variety of details, including:

• Encompassing aerial views of the entire property and land
• The condition of the roof and other property features that can be difficult to assess
• What the drive home or the kids’ walk to school looks like
• The neighborhood and surrounding area, including the home’s proximity to amenities
• Civic developments or local improvement districts that are supported by the buyer’s property taxes
• Property maps and surveys

Another thing to consider is that including real estate drone photography doesn’t just help sell houses — it sells you as an agent. Rick Davis, owner of FLUX Media Productions, specializes in creating aerial footage of houses and helping agents build their brands. “The drone stuff, especially aerial stills, is a quick and easy way to set yourself apart,” Davis says. “Think of drone photography as a branding tool.”n

When to use real estate drone video

While real estate drones are typically used for bird’s-eye stills or hard-to-capture home exterior shots, you can also use drones to shoot video. Real estate drone video can show an aerial view of the land, a spacious property or an attractive neighborhood.

Davis says agents should think about upgrading from stills to video for luxury properties or homes on acreage. 'I’m doing a shoot soon that is 2.5 acres, $2 million on a premier piece of lakefront property,' he says. 'With stills, there would be no way to convey 'here’s the main house, here’s the casita, here’s the rock pool ... and by the way, the lake is five feet from here.'' You can even end your drone video by flying through the front door, giving potential buyers the impression that they’re walking into their new home.

Real estate drone photography costs

For many real estate agents, hiring a professional is the best option. It all comes down to your budget, real estate needs and personal preferences. Depending on how often you plan to use real estate drone photography and video, it may be worth the initial financial investment and training to purchase your own drone.

Hiring a professional done pilot

A professional real estate drone pilot will have the proper certification, equipment and — most importantly — experience. The cost of real estate drone services can vary depending on location, equipment, time and type of service. Generally, professional real estate drone services cost anywhere from $100 for basic photography to thousands for package deals. Some of the advantages of hiring a professional are:

• No licensing or certification tests and fees
• No learning curve
• No upfront cost to buy a drone and camera
• No maintenance or replacement costs
• No need to buy a new drone when the current model becomes obsolete
• No need to cut or edit footage
  

nPiloting your own drone

Depending on how often you’ll take aerial images and videos, obtaining certification and piloting your own drone may end up being more cost-effective in the long run.  Real estate drones can cost anywhere from less than $1,000 to more than $10,000. Advantages of piloting your own real estate drone include:

• You can use your drone for all your property listings; it’s a one-and-done purchase.
• You choose exactly what and how to shoot.
• You can easily retake shots or reschedule if conditions are poor.

Real estate drone rules and regulations

Whether you own your own drone or are working with a professional, real estate drone photography requires you to follow certain rules and regulations (read all of the FAA’s drone rules here):

• Drones must be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration; registration requires a $5 fee and is valid for three years.
• Drones must weigh less than 55 pounds.
• Pilots must abide by the FAA’s airspace restrictions; the FAA’s safety app provides real-time restriction info.
• Drones must always be in sight.
• Maximum operating height is 400 feet; maximum operating speed is 100 mph.

How to become a real estate drone pilot

Before you can start shooting real estate drone video and photography, you’ll need to complete the FAA's process to get a commercial drone (or UAS) license. Here’s how to get started:

1. You must be at least 16 years old and able to read, speak, write and understand English.
2. You must pass an aeronautical knowledge test, which you’ll take during a scheduled appointment at a Knowledge Testing Center for about $150.
3. After you pass the aeronautical knowledge test, complete FAA Form 8710-13 for a remote pilot certificate using the FAA’s online rating system and your completed test ID. Applications take about 100 days to validate.
4. The FAA will email you confirmation that you’ve passed a TSA background check and include instructions for printing a temporary pilot certificate that’s valid for 120 days.
5. The FAA will mail your permanent remote pilot certificate. You'll need to renew this certificate every two years by retaking the knowledge test.

If you don’t want to complete Form 8719-13 online and prefer to fill out a paper form, it will take longer. The paper form is processed via snail mail and requires in-person signatures, and you won’t receive a temporary certificate.

Operating your own real estate drone

If you choose to shoot your own drone real estate photography and purchase a drone, you’ll want to follow these operating tips:

• Practice in a large, open field with few trees or obstructions.
• Map out a flight plan in advance.
• Know your drone’s average flight time and make sure the battery is fully charged.
• Notify neighbors before flying.
• Only fly during the day.
• Know and use your drone’s collision detection and object avoidance features.

Recommended drones for real estate photography and video

Drone technology is constantly changing, and choosing the best drone for real estate photography and video can seem overwhelming. The primary features you should look for in drones for real estate include image and video resolution, collision avoidance technology and extended flight time. Drone speed, for instance, is something you can compromise on to fit your budget.

Here are our top three drones for real estate photography and video — all easy to set up and pilot:

       1.   Yuneec Typhoon H | $899.99

This drone has professional features — 12-megapixel camera resolution and 4K video resolution — at an entry-level price. Its stable six-rotor design and collision avoidance features make it perfect for first-time pilots, and the camera can rotate 360 degrees to help you find the perfect shot. A 25-minute flight time makes it easy to develop a short video or take still images from plenty of angles.

       2.   DJI Mavic Pro Platinum | $1,099

This is a quiet, compact drone that won’t annoy neighbors. The Mavic Pro Platinum also has collision avoidance, so you don’t have to worry about trees and other obstructions. A 30-minute battery life, 12-megapixel camera resolution and 4K video resolution make this drone more than qualified to take all the stellar property images and videos you need.

       3.   DJI Inspire 2 | $2,999nThe Inspire 2 is a professional-level drone that can shoot up to 20.8-megapixel photos and can capture video at up to 6K, depending on which camera you choose (sold separately). Its dual-battery system allows for flight times of up to 27 minutes, and specially developed software and sensors provide two directions of obstacle avoidance. The included first-person view camera, with the addition of a professional camera, allows one person to pilot the drone and a second person to focus on capturing images and videos.