According to research by the National Association of REALTORs®, 56% of real estate professionals are using drones to market their listings—and this figure is only expected to rise in the coming years. Not only are drones more affordable and accessible than ever before, but their image quality and features have improved greatly as well. As a result, drone photography is now one of the best ways to showcase properties in a unique and visually appealing way.
Thinking about incorporating drone photography into your own real estate listings? You may be wondering whether it makes more sense to learn drone photography yourself or hire a professional for the job. We’ve got some great tips for making the right choice and taking full advantage of drone technology to better market your listings.
Benefits of Drone Photography in Real Estate
There are many advantages to using drone photography in your real estate listings if you’re not doing so already. First, drone footage is an excellent way to showcase some of a property’s best features. Unlike “traditional” photos taken from a camera on the ground, drone cameras have the ability to capture unique angles and provide aerial shots of a property. This includes breathtaking landscapes, unique angles, and other features that would be otherwise difficult to capture with a standard camera.
Meanwhile, drone photography creates a more memorable experience for potential buyers by highlighting a property’s best features and setting it apart from other listings. Using drone photography can even save time and money on staging and in-person showings by allowing potential buyers to view every nook and cranny of an entire property remotely.
Learning Real Estate Drone Photography vs. Hiring a Professional
Trying to decide whether you should learn to handle your own drone photography or hire a professional? There are a few important things to consider.
Learning to fly a drone can be a rewarding and fun experience. While it can be challenging, building up your own drone photography skills will likely be cheaper in the long run than hiring a professional for every shoot. Plus, because drone pilots are in-demand across a variety of industries, having this skill under your belt can also provide you with a lucrative side gig opportunity.
On the other hand, not everybody has the time or patience to learn to fly a drone and master drone photography. Not only can drone equipment and training be costly, but you’ll also need to factor in the time and expense required to register your drone with the FAA, get certified (in some cases), and maintain your equipment. With this in mind, many real estate professionals choose to hire their own drone photographers to handle this task on their behalf.
Tips for Hiring a Real Estate Drone Photographer
If you’re looking to hire a real estate drone photographer, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, be sure to look closely at a photographer’s experience and portfolio. Ideally, you’ll want to hire somebody who has specific experience in residential real estate photography (along with some strong examples of their work).
Likewise, check for proper certification to ensure that the photographer is certified (where appropriate) and has liability insurance to protect themselves, you, and the owners of your property in the event of an accident.
Finally, look for a photographer who has access to the best equipment and most innovative technology. This will help them deliver the highest quality images at excellent resolution, which will give your listings a professional and polished look.
Examples of Effective Real Estate Drone Photography
So, what are some of the best ways to use drone photography in real estate? Consider, for example, using drone photography to highlight some property features that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to capture on camera. This may include structural features (such as a brand new roof) or amenities (such as a swimming pool). Drone photography can also be great for capturing beautiful landscaping and even giving potential buyers a better idea of the size of the property itself.
Drone photography and videography can also be used to showcase some unique perspectives of a property. For example, you might use drone ideography to show off the size and open layout of a home with a fly-through that spans from the front entryway to a back patio. Meanwhile, flyover footage of a property can provide potential buyers with a better sense of the nearby neighborhood and area.
Take Your Real Estate Career to New Heights
These days, clients want to work with agents who have access to the latest technology that will help them sell their homes. This is why 83% of home sellers prefer to hire agents who use drone photography in their listings. Whether you decide to pick up drone photography as a skill yourself or hire a third-party professional, incorporating quality drone photos into your listings can help you showcase properties and generate more interest.
Looking for more resources to help your real estate career take off? Colibri Real Estate is here to help. Check out our blog for more useful articles—or get in touch with our friendly team to get started with your real estate training and education today!
