With the rise of virtual reality and 360-degree video, the real estate industry has become more visual than ever. As a result, many real estate agents are turning to drones to capture high-quality images and videos of their listings and stand out from the crowd. Read on to learn how you can do this too.
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Drones in real estate
Drones add immense value to real estate listing photos and videos. Drone footage of properties has increased in popularity because it gives people a different perspective. Drone technology allows for high-quality aerial videos, providing ways to get hard-to-capture angles on listings.
Using drones in real estate listings
Drone videos provide a number of significant advantages, including capturing more captivating listings. Below are a few additional advantages of using drones for your real estate listings:
Describe the big picture
It makes sense that buyers would concentrate on the property itself, but they are also relocating into a neighborhood. Prospective buyers can view the complete picture more easily because drone videos show the house and its lot. Static images or video walkthroughs cannot accurately convey the size of the house overall, the size of the yard, or the appearance of the neighboring homes.
Generate leads
Drone videos act as marketing tools. According to data, ads with aerial shots sold 68% more quickly than those with regular photos. A drone video gives a home an advantage over the competition and offers sellers a much-needed competitive edge.
Show off your tech knowledge
Today’s agents must be digitally adept, whether they like it or not. Statistics from REALTOR® show that 43% of all homebuyers are millennials. And that’s without even including Gen Z, who are rapidly reaching adulthood and have already purchased homes. The fact that you can use a drone while listing a client’s property demonstrates to them that you are a tech-savvy realtor. These two generations are well-versed in all things digital, so this will earn you extra rapport with them.
It’s inexpensive
Despite being high-tech, drone videos are surprisingly inexpensive. An aerial videographer typically charges around $200 per hour for their services. Plus, drones can also record videos of a house’s interior. Drone videos are becoming increasingly popular primarily due to this two-for-one deal.
How drones can level up your listing videos and photos
In the past, only a small percentage of homes would have their listings posted online with virtual tours or photos. Today, however, online search is so prominent that even potential home buyers almost always do their research online before setting up showings. Because of the online emphasis, potential buyers will most likely decide from your photos and videos whether or not they want to tour your listing.
When selling real estate, it’s not enough to only have pictures. Potential buyers also need to have an idea of the views when standing in the space. The ability for prospective homeowners to actually “get inside” a listing is more important than ever. Drones can help you achieve this feeling for potential buyers.
Here are seven ways drones can enhance your real estate photos and videos.
1. Drones can make your listing photos or videos better
Drone technology offers a way to see homes from a unique perspective. With the ability to go places that would otherwise be impossible, drones allow you to show prospective buyers home angles they can’t see with their own eyes. Using drones will captivate potential buyers by providing unique listing photos and videos.
2. Drones can help you with staging
You can use drones to capture staged photos for your listings. Staged photos allow buyers to envision themselves living in the space. You can use drones to capture an overview of a home’s layout and then mark spots that need to be moved or rearranged. You can then use those same spots to capture staged photos of the home, making it appear much more attractive to buyers.
3. Drones can help you find difficult-to-reach places and take pictures or videos
Drones can make it much easier to get photos of the nooks and crannies of a home. Whether you’re trying to take pictures of the roof, exterior walls, or some other difficult-to-reach spot, drones can help. Some drones fit inside narrow, small spaces like crawl spaces and attics to take photos from places that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to photograph.
By taking pictures or videos of these difficult-to-reach spots, you can make your listing much more appealing to potential buyers. For example, exterior wall shots give buyers an idea of the home’s condition and the general state of the neighborhood. Roof shots can reveal any damage or necessary, so these images can ease concerns potential buyers might otherwise have.
4. Drones can spot potential issues in advance
When you’re staging a home for sale or just taking general photos, you can use drone images or videos to detect any potential issues or existing problems. For example, you might see a roof shingle curling up or a roof leak that’s difficult to otherwise detect.
5. Drone-assisted virtual tours are going to become more prevalent
Many real estate agents now offer virtual tours as an alternative to traditional listing photos. Virtual tours allow potential buyers to fly through a computer-generated version of a home and click on different areas to see images or videos of each room. Real estate agents can create virtual tours with a combination of computer-generated graphics and photos or videos from drones. The drone photos and videos can create a more realistic feel for the virtual tour.
6. Drones can be used to create augmented reality experiences
You can use drones to create augmented reality experiences to help potential buyers visualize themselves in the home. For example, you can capture video footage of a home’s interior and use AR to project a computer-generated model of furniture in the home. You can even show viewers how the furniture looks from different angles so they can see how it will look from all directions.
7. Drone integration can upgrade your photos
Several drone real estate companies provide software for real estate agents to use for drone flights. This software can give your drone flights a more professional, streamlined look. These software programs are generally designed for real estate agents to use for drone flights. They include features like mapping and route planning and can integrate with software like Google Maps or Google Earth. Some of these programs also have features that can help you create more compelling photos or videos for your listings. For example, you can use timelines to create a sequence of photos taken at specific times and locations.
Drone operation: why you should consider hiring a pro
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) considers video drones to be airplanes. It refers to them as UAS, or unmanned aircraft systems.
As a result, you must obtain a license before operating a drone. You are required to obtain a remote pilot license, pass the Aeronautical Knowledge Test, pass The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), and go through a TSA security check.
If you don’t have the time, you’re better off hiring an expert. When hiring one, consider these questions:
- Are they licensed and insured?
- What kind of equipment do they use?
- What plans and backup plans do they have?
- How does their portfolio look?
Bottom line
In real estate, drones have made it easier to get photos and videos of properties and have provided a more comprehensive way for agents to communicate what it’s like to live in a property or walk around the neighborhood. The aerial view reveals a whole new exciting perspective of listings. To learn more about real estate videography, check out our article on everything you should know about real estate videography.
