When Does a Listing Actually Need Drone Photos?

Drone photos aren't automatically better. On some listings, they're what sells the property. On others, they show nothing but rooftops. Here's how we decide, after shooting listings across the metro.

Get the drone when the land is the story

Acreage. From the ground, five acres looks like a bunch of trees. From the air, buyers can see the size, the tree line, the road frontage and where the house sits on the lot. In parts of Edmond, Norman, Newcastle and Piedmont, this is often the most important photo in the listing.

Big or unusual lots. Corner lots, cul-de-sacs, deep backyards and lots that back up to green space all look better from above.

Pools, shops and outdoor features. A drone shows how the pool, patio, shop and house fit together in a way no ground photo can.

Get the drone when the location is the story

The photo at the top of this post came from a listing near downtown Oklahoma City. The house itself is great, but the selling point is where it sits, with the skyline right there. One aerial tells that story faster than a paragraph in the listing remarks.

The same goes for homes on a lake or golf course, or anything near a park or a popular walkable area.

When you can probably skip it

• Tight lots in a dense neighborhood. If the aerial shows only your roof and your neighbors' roofs, it isn't helping.
• A neighbor with a problem. Drone shots show everything. If the house next door has a junk pile, that's now in your listing.
• Tired roofs. If the roof is near the end of its life, a shot looking straight down calls attention to it.
• Listings where budget is tight. Good ground photos come first. Add the drone if there's room.

Low and level usually beats high and straight down

The aerial shots that work best are usually lower than you'd think. A shot from just above the roofline, looking at the front of the house, gives a buyer a real sense of the home and the lot. A shot from far overhead can look like a map. We shoot for a mix, then deliver the ones that make the house look its best.

What affects a drone shoot in Oklahoma

Wind. It's the biggest factor here. On very windy days, the drone stays on the ground, and it's better to reschedule than to deliver soft shots.

Airspace. Homes close to Will Rogers, Wiley Post, Tinker Air Force Base or Westheimer Airport in Norman can take extra clearance to fly over, and some can't be flown at all. We check before the shoot and tell you up front.

Light. A sunny, clear day is ideal, which is one more reason to keep some flexibility in your schedule.

What it costs with us

Drone photos are $125 on their own or $60 when you add them to a photo shoot. Drone video is $175 on its own or $75 as an add-on. All of our packages include drone photos, including Essentials at $199.

For more on what we shoot from the air, see our drone real estate photography page.

Not sure if your listing needs it? Text the address to (405) 977-1803 and we'll tell you honestly. If the drone won't help, we'll say so.