Look! Up, up in the air! Is it a bird? A plane? Or the future of real estate photography? Unmanned aerial drones may have first made the news for their military applications. But now the technology is rapidly becoming adapted to consumer uses – and many eager drone pilots are turning to real estate first to apply their skills.
Aerial photography has been in use in real estate for decades, but until now required the use of a helicopter. Costs could run as high as several thousand dollars for a complete photo package, which meant most agents reserved their use for luxury estates and sprawling rural properties.
The new generation of drones, however, could substantially broaden the applications. Unlike their military counterparts, which are big enough to carry missiles, commercial drones are closer to the size of a model airplane, measuring a few feet across. Mounted with a remote control HDR video camera and stabilizers, the machines are capable of capturing high-definition video and still shots.
Evan Walsh, an agent with William Raveis in Wellesley and co-leader of The Walsh Team, first began exploring the real estate possibilities of drones when he was approached by a friend who was a commercial airline pilot who operates the machines. Walsh was impressed by the test runs they conducted.
Traditional aerial photography is “not usually cost effective unless it is a luxury home. Whereas my friend can charge $100 dollars, go up and take a bunch of different shots. You’re not paying for jet fuel or anything. Twenty minutes and we’re done,” said Walsh.
That’s the kind of price cut that could make aerial photography a reasonable option for the average suburban colonial. Moreover, since drones are so much smaller and more maneuverable than helicopters, they can fly closer to properties and capture shots which are impossible for helicopters to obtain.
Perfect Panorama
Cindy Welch, co-broker owner of Tucker Welch Properties in Richmond, recently used a drone photographer to take shots and create a video tour of a large equestrian property in the Berkshires.
“We had one [traditional aerial photograph] … it was very nice, but it was a little too high. It’s a property with a lot of structures, and it’s good to see how they all relate to one another. And the drone was able to do that,” Welch said.
For example, the drone was able to take a long, sweeping shot of the lengthy driveway to the property, which leads through an avenue of trees. “It was like you were walking through there, in the air,” said Welch.
At the moment, the nascent industry operates in a gray area. The Federal Aviation Administration has banned commercial drone flights until it comes up with new regulations that will integrate them into the nation’s airspace. The new rules won’t be announced until 2015, and it may take many more months before they’re in force. For now, law enforcement agencies, universities and other hobbyists and researchers are able to apply to receive a license to conduct experimental flights from the FAA.
Already, however, some operators are willing to skirt the law. The FAA already permits model helicopter and plane flights so long as they stay below 400 feet and don’t interfere with the takeoff and landing paths of any nearby airports. Some agencies will offer complimentary drone shots, staying within FAA flight limits for model aircraft, and only charge for the editing of the video.
State government too, has taken an interest in the machines, with many legislators concerned about the potential privacy implications of flying cameras hovering over homes. Sen. Bob Hedlund (R-Weymouth), with the backing of the ACLU, has filed a bill in the Massachusetts legislatures that would curtail the ability of law enforcement agencies to use drones for surveillance unless they have a warrant.
The FAA ban has proved enough to discourage agents like Walsh from embracing the technology – for now.
“They don’t want any Tom, Dick and Harry flying these around unregulated …If you get caught, it could potentially be a significant fine. My friend is looking to get FAA approval. We kind of have it on hold at the moment because of the legal ramifications, but as soon as he gets FAA approval, I think we would go ahead,” said Walsh.
But he’s not the only agent who’s chomping at the bit to try out drone shots as soon as the regulatory picture is sorted out.
“Certainly aerial photography we’ve always done with the waterfront properties we represent, it a great way to present them. And drone photography is interesting [to us]. That level that the drone goes at -– it’s better for our needs,” said Paul Grover, co-broker owner of Cape Cod-based Robert Paul Properties. “We spend a lot of time an effort on photography. As so much has gone online, the quality and number of the images is so important. Buyers make decisions based on what they’re seeing before they even contact a broker.”
That’s exactly what made the technique appealing for Welch. She used the drone to shoot a video tour of the listing that she thinks will help it stand out. The machine she used was even able to take some shots of the interior of main farm house on the 240-year-old property, though that required a bit of dodging around the chandeliers.
“It’s a movie trailer,” she said. “It gives you a flavor that makes you want to see more.”
Welch already has plans to use the drone for two more of her listings, though she’s likely going to wait until the weather improves in order to get prettier pictures of the grounds.
Email: csullivan@thewarrengroup.com
