Drones are becoming increasingly popular among realtors because they offer a unique perspective on properties. Curious as to when is best to fly a drone, why Realtors use drones, and what properties they're best for? Read on!
Why Realtors Use Drones
To highlight local amenities
Using drone photos or video is the easiest way to show the distance to local attractions like restaurants, schools, parks, etc. Aerial drone footage is a great way to help prospective buyers invest in the lifestyle of living in a particular area or neighborhood.
Take this home, for example. The exterior shot from the ground is beautiful, but the drone photo shows the proximity to the lake - making this home even more desirable!
Capture a flattering perspective
Sometimes photos from the ground don't do a property justice - Especially when homes are built on a higher elevation than the road, or positioned on or near an incline. This property is a great example, showing the difference drone photos made in capturing the backyard and decks. Although both photos are beautiful, the aerial shot really helps viewers imagine the area better.
Did you know?! According to Sold by Air, 83% of sellers prefer to work with an agent using drones to capture their listings.
Drone Photos can be a great way to show proximity to local attractions., but there are also certain properties that yield themselves better to drone photography rather than traditional photography.
We recommend drone photos for every single listing that is built on a slope, a hill, or in a tiered neighborhood. Not only can you get a sense of the area, but with a drone, you can also get close-up shots that complement the structure of a home or building in a unique environment.
When is the best time to fly a drone?
There are a few things you must consider when ordering drone photos or videos. The best time to fly a drone depends on a few factors, listed below.
1) The weather. Technically, an overcast day is the best day to fly a drone and capture footage because the clouds act as a light diffuser, making the lighting on the house even. Whereas on sunny days, you may notice harsh shadows or blown-out highlights. So take a look at the weather prior to ordering your drone photos or videos. And of course, please keep in mind that we cannot fly our drones in rain or during a high wind advisory.
2) The area. Properties within close proximity to an airport, large event space, or government property may have Geofencing surrounding them. Geofencing is a technology that is built into drones that will prevent a drone from flying in that area. These airspaces are geofenced because it is deemed unsafe to fly in these areas. If you are curious if the property you're listing is in a "no-fly zone" you can look up the address here.
A common misconception is that we fly drones inside a house, however, this is not the case. When our team makes videos of the interior of a home, we utilize our DSLR cameras and in post-production, we combine the drone aerial footage of the exterior with the camera footage from inside the home.
3) The time of day. The worst time to capture drone footage is when the sun is low in the sky and directly behind a house. If the front of the home faces west, then the sun will set behind the home and cause poor lighting conditions later in the day. The best time to photograph a home that faces west would be in the morning or early afternoon. If you're unsure of how the direction of the sun will impact your shoot you can download this app to help predict sun placement, which will allow you to coordinate for the best lighting possible.
What properties are drones best for?
We highly suggest drones for all high-rise condos in a downtown location, any property within a 10-mile radius of downtown, and for horse properties or homes that have acreage and/or views of the mountain, river, lake, or ocean. Not sure if your listing will work with a drone? Give our office team a call and we can discuss your upcoming shoot! (971) 295-1676
At RE PIXS, we think all properties listed should have professional photography. No matter who you use for photography, just make sure you're hiring a pro. It is absolutely essential that you list a property with professional photos in the Real Estate world today.
Houses built on an elevation or property with acreage and/or mountain/scenic views should always include:
Professional Photos
3D Zillow Tour
Zillow Walk-through
Drone Photos
A high-rise building or listing close proximity to local amenities should always include:
Professional Photos
3D Zillow Tour
Zillow Walk-through
Drone Photos and/or Drone Video
A luxury listing should always include:
Professional Photos
3D Matterport Tour and/or Internal Video
3D Zillow Tour
Zillow Walk-through
Drone Photos and/or Drone Video
A basic listing marketing package should always include:
Professional Photos
3D Zillow Tour
Zillow Walk-through
Recommended COVID-19 listing marketing should always include:
Professional Photos
3D Matterport Tour
3D Zillow Tour
Zillow Walk-through
Most minimal listing marketing should always include:
Professional Photos
3D Zillow Tour
Still have questions? We would love to answer them for you! Give us a call or send us a text at (971) 295-1676.
How to Book Drone?
The reality is that homes on the market nowadays will sell regardless of what media you use. There is just THAT much demand, however, just because you don't neeeeeed it doesn't mean you shouldn't utilize professional media (Just because a FSBO doesn't neeeeed a Realtor, doesn't mean they shouldn't utilize a professional... catch my drift? 😉). We might be a little biased when it comes to professional real estate media, but we truly care that our agents are represented in the best light possible.
Are you ready to elevate your listings above the rest with aerial drone photos and video? Because we're ready to help you! Click the link below to book your shoot!
Meet our Pilots
The most important thing to remember when ordering anything with a Drone is to make sure the operator is licensed and insured. There are so many drone operators out there who are not actually licensed, and if they're not licensed you can probably be certain they're not insured either. Not only is it illegal for these drone operators to charge for their services, but it also brings up some pretty messy liability issues for everyone involved if the drone were to crash. All drone operators at RE PIXS are FAA-licensed UAV pilots and currently hold a $1M accidental damage insurance policy.
The RE PIXS Team consists of 5 FAA-licensed UAS pilots. When booking a shoot with RE PIXS you'll see one of these smiling faces operating their drones!
USAF Veteran, Licensed UAV pilot, Lead Drone Pilot, Lead Videographer
Licensed UAV pilot, Lead Photographer, Videographer, 3D Operator
Licensed UAV pilot, Photographer, Videographer, 3D Operator
Licensed UAV pilot, Photographer, Videographer, 3D Operator
UAV pilot in training, Photographer, Videographer in training, 3D Operator