Drone Real Estate Photography Debate
When it comes to real estate property, getting enough photos has always been rather difficult. This is because the typical real estate agent is limited by the camera they have and the equipment which is readily available.
Most photographs of properties which are up for sale are virtually identical in terms of how they are shot. There are photos of the outside from ground level and inside from floor level that provide a good, but not great presentation of the home itself. However, there are some potential new changes for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules for unmanned aircraft that might lead to changes in how such photographs are taken thanks to drone technology.
FAA Rules on Drones for Real Estate Photography
Chris Polychron, the President of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has issued a statement about new proposed rules for unmanned aircraft such as drones which currently operate under FAA laws. Essentially, Chris suggests that Realtors overall support few federal regulations that would allow for the safe commercial use of drone technology in the real estate industry.
By embracing drones to broaden out the photography possibilities for real estate agents, it can only help to better showcase properties for their sale to the public. Currently, it takes an FAA exemption for the use of drones over private properties which in many cases make it too time consuming to get permission in order to take photographs from the unique perspectives that drones can provide. So, the NAR is currently discouraging their agents from using drones in this manner because it would be illegal until the laws are changed.
The resistance to changing the laws comes first from privacy issues of those who live on private property not wanting to have drones flying around their neighborhood and potentially taking photographs or video which under current law is not allowed. An additional concern is insurance issues as a drone landing on someone and causing injury may lead to a substantial lawsuit.
However, if the FAA does allow exemptions for the use of drones for real estate photography, it will provide substantial advantages.
Benefits for Realtors of Using Drone Photography
Better Presentation of the Property: A video showing the entire property from the air would provide a new and arguably better perspective than from the ground. This is because photography is two dimensional in nature and telling depth and distance can be difficult. However, from overhead it is easier to grasp the true size and nature of the property being sold.
Eye-Catching: There is little doubt that a view from above is more dramatic than photos taken from ground level. Whether hovering over the house or showing off the front or backyards, the nature of such photos and videos can be quite eye-catching as compared to their ground-level counterparts.
Inexpensive: Drones and cameras are fairly inexpensive which means that if allowed it requires only a modest investment by the real estate agent or they can be rented for use as well.
Overall, if the FAA changes its policy on the use of drones for real estate photography, it may revolutionize how properties are presented on the internet.
Property Showcase w/ Drone. Listing by Michael De Perio
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