Your Guide to Real Estate Drone Photography in 2019

Real estate drone photography: it’s become one of the most popular   closing strategies  in the real estate industry for professional realtors and brokerage firms. Ideal for showcasing a property in a new light,   real estate drone photography  is excellent for   highlighting a property’s acreage  , features, and other highlights.

The question, then, is how to get started. Today, we are here to share our “Hometrack Real Estate Marketing Drone Guide” on getting started with real estate drone photography in 2019. 

So, let’s dive in.

More comprehensive and detailed than standard real estate photography, professional drone photography makes it possible for buyers to “walk around” a property without leaving their desk or couch. The key, though, is doing it well.

Real estate drones or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and are used as a selling strategy by Real Estate Agents to capture aerial views of a property’s acreage, home features, nearby locations and other highlights not seen from the ground. Drone photography sets many professional Realtors from the rest of the pack. With the right marketing strategy and implementation, aerial drones can significantly reduce the sales cycle from meeting and greeting to closing the deal. Drone photography is a great way to brand your business. 

Hesitant to operate a drone on your own? You don’t have to be. Today, it’s possible to hire a professional real estate photography company that also employs real estate photography and drone experts . Not only will a professional real estate marketing company that provides drone services have hours of expertise flying a drone and capturing strategic images, but professional drone operators are usually experts in real estate photography. These professionals also hold commercial licensing FAA requirements and liability insurance. A reputable company will also have the marketing expertise and know-how to help integrate a drone strategy into your current marketing program’s objectives and goals. Furthermore, hiring the right real estate photography company can help with shortening your return-on-investment. The cost of hiring a professional drone photographer will range between $300 and $1,000 for a day. Real estate drone prices depend on many variables including the length of flight, size of the property, and photography editing costs to name a few. Some photography companies build editing into their price quotes, so be sure to ask if you’re not sure.

There’s no question that real estate drone photography adds a “wow” factor to luxury listings and large properties. Drone photography is also more affordable than it’s ever been when you hire a real estate photography company, which also means it’s more accessible to agents who want to access it. 

If you fit into any of the following criteria, aerial drone photography might be a good fit for you:

If you’ve never hired a real estate drone photographer, you might be at a loss as to where to start. You’re in luck – because the below 5-point check-list will point you in the right direction. 

If you’re contemplating hiring a professional camera drone operator or photography firm to shoot your property, here are 5 recommendations to cover before ordering a shoot:

If you prefer to become an aerial drone operator, you’ll need to learn to fly a drone, acquire FAA licensing requirements, and purchase and learn to operate the photography equipment necessary for quality results. The “Do-It-Your-Self” strategy will probably require more time and effort than most real estate agents are willing to invest, but it is possible.

Get ready to dish out about $1,000 to $3,500 for a professional-grade ready-to-fly camera drone with a 3-axis gimbal, a suitable 4K camera, extra batteries, and spare parts. We recommend hiring a professional real estate drone operator, but, if you want to shoot your own properties with drone technology below is some information to help in making your decision. 

Yes! Drones Can Be Dangerous! 

Know the legal and safety risks before flying a camera in the air. Yes! Drones can be dangerous and cause injury!  If your drone flies into a “real” aircraft’s path or loses power and drops from the sky, this can be a serious threat to life and property. 

That’s why unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are strictly regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration and by state and location aviation government agencies. 

[Review FAA regulations and certification requirements ] 

If your drone weighs more than 0.5 lbs, registration of your UAV with the FAA is mandatory. Flying a drone heavier than 55 lbs requires an FAA exemption.

Registering your drone is cheap – only $5 for all the drones you desire. If you don’t register your drone you could be subject to a fine of up to $25,000 per aircraft. 

The following FAA drone guidelines are subject to change but are current as of publication of this article: 

When employing an aerial drone photographer make sure they are insured with at least a $1 million limit of liability.

If you are going to shoot drone photography of properties yourself we recommend checking with your commercial insurance agent business liability policy.

Still interested in shooting your own properties with a drone strategy? Then you also need legal help to protect yourself from the issues outlined above. We recommend getting an attorney to write your contracts and agreements. 

If you have read to this point – and are still considering purchasing a drone to record video and photos for real estate listings yourself, here are three excellent drone choices real estate drone photographers and agencies love. 

An entry-level professional 4K drone with 6-Rotor design, and collision avoidance. This model offers excellent value, lots of advanced features, and smooth operation. Real estate agencies love the 360-degree camera, 3,000-foot range, and 20-minute flight time. 

While this drone comes at a higher price point than the Yuneec Typhoon H, it also has more advanced features, including live HD video streaming and a longer, up to 30-minute flight time. It can also track subjects automatically and has a 4.5-mile range. Other features include collision avoidance, live HD video streaming, and an approximate 4 mile range. 

Sleek, advanced, and perfect for real estate aerial photo and video, the DJI Mavic 2 Pro can fly for 31 minutes, sense subjects up to 49 feet away, and operate at a 60% reduced noise volume. Plus, it’s user-friendly enough for even beginning drone operators. Other features include a Hasselblad 20mp 4K camera and full remote camera control.

Drone photography is an excellent addition to any real estate agent’s marketing plan. This year, stay competitive and make your listings stand out with sweeping, aerial photography that showcases your properties in the best possible light. 

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