AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS – WHEN THEY CRASH AND BURN

Aerial photography for listings via drones seems the be all the rage these days, despite the FAA crackdown on operators and the requirement to obtain a special pilot certification to operate them (Proposed rules place limits on drone size, altitude and speed while restricting them to daytime usage. The rules also require the drone be in the operator’s line-of-sight at all times.  Not of these are at odds with real estate but the FAA still requires a hard-to-get pilot certification).

Aerial photographs for a home can really make it stand out among other homes, but only when used correctly.  If a home is very large and/or has acreage, water frontage, a golf course, etc. then aerial photos are a must in order to give prospective buyers the full impact of the home’s surroundings.

However, there is a dark side.  Sometimes aerial photographs will highlight undesirable aspects such as nearby oil pipelines/pumping stations, power stations, water towers, and distressed properties.  Don’t use an aerial photograph unless these negative aspects can be cropped out.  Also don’t use aerial photos in a subdivision where homes are on smaller lots and there is no aspect to highlight.  All this does is show a view of the home the prospective buyer will never see (such as highlighting a lovely roof) and show how close the home is to the homes around it.  A backyard or dusk shot would serve the property better in these cases.

The bottom line is use aerial photography when it makes sense not as a listing appointment gimmick.  As a seller you want your property to “pop” but not for the wrong reasons. An experienced Realtor® will know how best to market your home and not rely on the latest hype to sell it.