Fly high with confidence! Follow this comprehensive drone pilot checklist for seamless real estate aerial photography. Welcome to the world of drone piloting, where the sky’s the limit, but your checklist better not be. If you’re planning on taking your real estate aerial photography to new heights, buckle up and make sure you’ve got everything you need – including that extra pair of socks, just in case.

Real Estate Aerial Photography: Drone Pilot Checklist

Generating and completing a checklist before every real estate aerial photography flight is vital for several reasons. First and foremost, it ensures the safety of everyone involved in the flight, including the drone pilot, any bystanders, and the property being photographed. By checking that all equipment is functioning properly, batteries are charged, and necessary safety gear is in place, the pilot can minimize the risk of accidents or malfunctions during the flight.

Secondly, a comprehensive checklist helps the pilot to stay organized and efficient, reducing the chances of missing important shots or forgetting necessary equipment. This can save time and money for both the pilot and the real estate agent or homeowner who is paying for the service.

Finally, completing a checklist before each flight helps to maintain a high level of professionalism and accountability. By demonstrating a commitment to safety, efficiency, and attention to detail, the drone pilot can establish a positive reputation and build trust with clients. In the competitive world of real estate aerial photography, this can make all the difference in securing repeat business and referrals.

360 and Virtual Reality for Property Listings

360/VR technology offers some of the most immersive experiences for showcasing properties. Entry-level 360 cameras like the Ricoh Theta S or Samsung Gear 360 can be used to capture interactive 360-degree panorama views of a room in a house.

The leading player in the 360/VR space is currently Matterport, offering incredible VR walkthroughs. However, the cost of the camera and platform may not be viable for real estate agents with limited budgets. While we have yet to heavily invest in VR due to a long return on investment, it is still an area to closely monitor. Your objectives and available capital may differ.

Enhancing Customer Service for Business Growth

Outstanding customer service is crucial to securing repeat business and gaining referrals. A satisfied customer is likely to recommend your business to their associates, driving growth. Repeat customers make up the majority of our business, allowing us to focus on strategic expansion. However, this wasn’t always the case.

To provide top-notch service, prioritize speed and need. We must achieve goals, solve problems, and satisfy our real estate seller’s needs. Here are some helpful tips to consider to help you better define your client’s specific goal, problem, or need:

Listen actively to customer feedback
Admit and correct mistakes promptly, and communicate steps to prevent future errors
Stay on top of business communications by setting up text alerts
Establish Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for your business, such as committing to respond to all email inquiries within 2 hours
Occasionally check in with customers via phone to foster relationships and encourage repeat business, without being pushy.

Creating Engaging Videos: Tips and Techniques

One common mistake in video production is creating lengthy videos. We suggest keeping your video between 90 and 150 seconds. Ensure your video is as seamless as possible. If a clip appears shaky, use video editing software’s stabilizing functions or split the clip. We prefer using short clips (6-15 seconds) and splicing them together, adding transitions between clips with varying visuals. Try to convey a story through your video, even if it’s just a natural sequence of events. For example, capturing the drone flying towards the front door, followed by video inside the house, and ending with the drone backing away from the house.

When filming, take it slow. You can speed up footage during editing, but slowing it down doesn’t work as well. As drones attract attention, politely inform bystanders that you’ll be recording aerial footage and ask them to avoid appearing in the video.

Preparing Your Home for Video Shoots

When preparing for outdoor video shoots, there are a few key steps to consider. Firstly, ensure that all cars are out of view, so as not to detract from the focus on the property. Next, clear any clutter from the yard and close the garage doors. Remove anything that personalizes the space and temporarily take down the “For Sale” sign. If you have pets, it’s best to ask that they be moved indoors as dogs can be disturbed by drones. Lastly, make sure all exterior lights are turned on to enhance the appearance of the property.

For indoor shoots, it’s important to create an inviting and decluttered space. Turn on all lights to make the rooms appear bright and welcoming. Hide any personal items that you don’t want to be captured on film, such as family photos or artwork. Remove toilet paper or paper towel rolls to avoid an untidy appearance. Make sure pets are kept out of sight during the filming, and turn off any ceiling fans to avoid interference with the audio recording.

The Magic of Golden Hour: Tips for Capturing the Perfect Shot

The “golden hour” refers to the hour before sunset or after sunrise, and it’s a favorite time for many photographers and videographers. One of the reasons we love shooting during this time is that we can avoid direct sunlight.

Here are some tips we’ve learned from our experience shooting during golden hour:

Be aware that you have a limited amount of time and must work quickly. There’s a risk of photos or video coming out too dark, so it’s important to be mindful of the lighting conditions. Evening golden hour tends to produce better results than morning. Avoid setting your ISO too high, as this can result in grainy images. Don’t hesitate to explain to the customer that waiting 10-15 minutes for the lighting to be just right will result in better-quality images, rather than settling for poor-quality shots.

Tips for Capturing Great Photos and Videos

When you’re first starting out, take lots of photos and videos and experiment with your camera settings. This is the best way to learn what works best for your personal style and preferences.

When taking photos and videos, it’s important to keep perspective in mind. Try to capture the entire perimeter of objects in the frame, so that nothing important is cut off. For example, if you’re photographing a patio or a landscape feature, make sure to include the full view.

When centering objects in your shots, be intentional about it. For instance, if you’re shooting indoors, you might want to center a ceiling fan in the frame. Alternatively, if you’re taking an aerial shot of a house, center the house in the frame to create a striking visual effect.

Pro Tips for Consideration

If it’s cold enough for frost, avoid scheduling early morning shoots, or you may leave long-lasting footprints all over the yard.
Avoid taking off or landing in grass, especially if it’s wet.
Don’t show your reflection in mirrors.
Keep yourself and your shadow out of videos and pictures.
Capture images in RAW format and a 4:3 ratio.
Build a library of neighborhood/community videos that showcase why a homebuyer would want to live there. You can reuse them and include them in relevant property listings.

Real Estate Property Shoot Checklist

Take it slow and steady!
Pay attention to the sun’s position

Make sure to capture the following important photos:

Directly above the house
Front of the house
Patios, balconies, decks, pool, and other landscape features
High aerial shot of the neighborhood

Important videos to capture:

Takeoff and landing
Direct flyover
Flying away
Side-to-side of the front of the house
Through gates, walkways, and transition points
Neighborhood entry signs

Quality + Turnaround Speed is Paramount

Speed is essential for profitability, even though quality is crucial. To achieve this, we constantly ask ourselves how we can eliminate or automate steps in the process, from planning to execution and processing. Our goal is to deliver the final product within 24 hours of a shoot. During the initial phone consultation with the customer, we schedule and plan the shoot while implementing processes, tools, and steps to ensure we meet our turnaround goal.

Equipment Checklist for Shoot

Make sure you have all the necessary equipment and accessories for a successful shoot. Check that your drone and remote controllers are updated with the latest firmware version. Don’t forget to bring all charged batteries, a Steadicam or gimbal, and your DSLR camera, smartphone, or 360 camera. Bring multiple SD cards to avoid running out of space. Dress appropriately with proper shoes, gloves, and clothing. Remember to bring your pilot’s license, state ID, and flight mission property release if required. Bring business cards to leave with the customer. Don’t forget your mobile phone to stay connected and receive important notifications.

The Takeaway

In conclusion, a drone pilot checklist is a crucial tool for ensuring a successful real estate aerial photography flight. By following these steps, you can ensure that you are prepared for any situation that may arise during your flight, from avoiding frosty early morning shoots to hiding your personal items before shooting indoors. With the right preparation and attention to detail, you can create stunning visuals that will leave your clients in awe. So remember, always check your checklist before taking off, and happy flying!

Be smart, safe, and forever fly!

If you have any questions, let us know! If you’d like to hire us, you can get more information here.

Written by: Tony Marino, MBA – FAA Certified Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot and Chief Business Strategist at Aerial Northwest