Best Drone For Real Estate In 2023 (Complete Buyers Guide)

Today’s real estate is all about impact and “wow.” More home buyers today are looking at digital listings and social media first. And that has introduced a unique need for drone photography. The best real estate drone can photograph and videotape properties from above, creating superb scenery and dramatic listings.

While drone technology is still fairly new, real estate professionals have been some of the first to adopt it. But drones can range from $50 to $50,000. How do you know which drone is right for you?

Let’s look at the best drones for real estate, depending on your needs and budget.

FAQs on Best Drone For Real Estate

Why would you use a drone for real estate photography?

Drones are often used to complete a “fly-by” of a large lot or a luxury property. Many properties can’t be properly viewed except through the air.

You can also use drones to take photos of larger estates, photos of backyards and front yards, and generally accentuate the property’s curb appeal.

Real estate drone photography can even fly through a property if a real estate agent wants to get a little creative.

Are there laws around real estate drone photography?

Drones have introduced a multitude of new laws regarding airspace. But those performing real estate drone photography aren’t likely to run into issues, as these laws generally concern public airspace.

When using a drone for real estate drone photography, it’s critical that you don’t fly into areas that could be considered a neighboring properties. Do not fly into a neighbor’s property or over a neighbor’s property.

If you are unclear about drone video and photography laws in your area, you should consult with a professional before you begin.

Do you need a professional drone pilot to use a drone?

The best drone for real estate professionals will be a drone that an amateur can fly. Usually, a professional drone pilot comes with a rental drone; you rent the entire service. But drones today are surprisingly easy to maneuver. Many can be used to “hover” over a property with limited effort.

A real estate professional who has never used a drone before could consider practicing a little before they purchase a more expensive drone. And those who don’t do their real estate photography may want to hire a professional rather than take their aerial photography on their own.

Most people will crash a drone the first couple of times they use it. Starting with a cheaper drone can be a good option for those who have never piloted a drone.

Should you buy a drone or just rent one?

If you don’t frequently require aerial photography, it’s possible to rent a drone (and a drone operator) rather than attempt to complete your real estate photography yourself. Aerial photography is best for large lots, luxury properties, and commercial properties. A drone operator will often have more expensive equipment than an individual real estate professional would have.

That said, it is not difficult for anyone, even a casual user, to become a drone pilot. Real estate photography tends to be fairly direct, so there isn’t much to be done besides hovering and capturing the image.

What should you look for when buying a drone?

As a real estate professional, you’re looking to buy a drone to perform video and photography. You should look for a drone that can do 4K video and a drone that does high-resolution photography. Additional features you might want to look for are flight modes, such as “Point of Interest.”

A point-of-interest flight mode means that the drone will hover around the point of interest; in this case, the drone would be hovering around the house for sale. Another great flight mode is “Active Tracking,” which can follow someone — such as a person walking through a large property.