Drone Photography When Selling a Home in New Jersey: When It Helps and What Rules Apply
Published | Posted by Dennis Mark Interdonato
- Home Marketing
- Real Estate Photography
- Home Selling
- Real Estate Marketing
Drone photography helps a listing when the best things about the property can't be seen from the ground: the size of the lot, the water, the setting, or how close the home sits to the beach, a downtown or a park. A drone shoot for a listing is flying for business, so under the FAA's Part 107 rules the pilot needs a Remote Pilot Certificate, a registered drone and, in controlled airspace around airports, an airspace authorization before the flight.
I'm Dennis Mark Interdonato with The Dennis Mark Group at Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living. Drone stills and video are on the list of what a marketing plan of mine can include, and I use them when the property calls for it. Here's how to tell whether your home is one of them, and what the rules are.
What can a drone show that ground photos can't?
- The whole lot. Where the house sits, how far the yard runs, and where the driveway, garage, pool and patio are.
- The water. Frontage on a lagoon, river, bay or lake, a dock or a boat slip, and how the home faces the water.
- The location. How close the home is to the beach, a marina, a downtown, a park or a golf course, in one frame.
- The approach. A video that comes up the street and over the house gives buyers a sense of arriving.
- Outdoor living. Decks, outdoor kitchens and gardens read better from above than from one corner of the yard.
Monmouth and Ocean County have a long coastline and a lot of homes near the ocean, the bays and the rivers. For a home like that, the view from above often tells the story faster than any room photo.
Which homes does drone photography suit?
Homes on larger lots, waterfront homes, homes a short walk from the beach or a downtown, homes with standout outdoor space, and land. A home whose best features are all inside may not need it, and that's fine. The plan should fit the property, and I'd rather put the budget into a 3D tour or a better video than fly a drone over a house that doesn't benefit.
Drone work pairs well with the rest of the media. A 3D tour can open on an aerial view before the buyer steps inside. Read what a Matterport 3D tour shows a buyer.
What FAA rules apply to real estate drone photos?
The FAA says that if you have a small drone under 55 pounds, you can fly for work or business by following its Part 107 rules, and the FAA's own flyer tool sends business flying to Part 107. Here's what that requires, according to the FAA's pages:
- A Remote Pilot Certificate. To fly under Part 107, the pilot must get a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA. To be eligible, a pilot must be at least 16, able to read, speak, write and understand English, in a physical and mental condition to fly safely, and must pass the FAA's knowledge test. The certificate has to be accessible to the pilot during every operation, and certificate holders complete online recurrent training every 24 calendar months.
- A registered drone. Registration costs $5 and is valid for three years. Since September 16, 2023, a drone that requires FAA registration also has to broadcast Remote ID information, unless it's flown inside an FAA-recognized identification area.
- Part 107's operating rules. The FAA lists rules that can be waived, including flying at night, flying over people and keeping the drone within visual line of sight. Under the Operations Over People rule, effective April 21, 2021, Part 107 pilots may fly at night without a waiver if they meet its requirements, including anti-collision lighting visible for at least three statute miles. That matters for a twilight shot.
What if the home is near an airport?
The FAA says drone pilots planning to fly under 400 feet in controlled airspace around airports must receive an airspace authorization from the FAA before they fly. Much of that runs through LAANC, the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability, a collaboration between the FAA and approved companies whose apps check a request against airspace data and can approve it in near real time. According to the FAA, LAANC requests can be submitted up to 90 days ahead.
The FAA also says LAANC provides airspace authorizations only, and pilots must still check NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen), the weather and every airspace restriction. Near an airport that doesn't offer LAANC, the pilot applies through the FAA's manual process, and the FAA's Part 107 airspace authorization page says those requests have historically taken up to eight weeks to process.
I'm not going to tell you which airports or areas near your home have restrictions, because the pilot checks the airspace for the exact address and date. Temporary flight restrictions for special events can come up too. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should you ask before a drone shoot?
- Do you hold an FAA Remote Pilot Certificate, and is the drone registered?
- Is the home in controlled airspace, and if so, is the authorization in hand for the shoot date?
- What happens if the weather doesn't cooperate?
- Will you shoot stills, video, or both, and will any of it be at twilight?
- Do you carry insurance for drone work?
On my listings, the drone work is scheduled with the rest of the photo and video shoot, so everything is ready for launch day.
How do you get the outside ready for the drone?
From above, everything shows. Move the cars out of the driveway, put the trash cans away, mow and edge, clear the patio, open or cover the pool, and pick up toys, hoses and tools. For a twilight shot, turn on every light inside and out. If there's something on your property you'd rather not show, tell me before the shoot so the framing avoids it. My article on decluttering before selling a home in New Jersey covers the inside.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a real estate drone photographer need a license?
Flying for business falls under the FAA's Part 107, and to fly under Part 107 the pilot must hold a Remote Pilot Certificate from the FAA. Ask to see it.
Can a drone fly near an airport for listing photos?
In controlled airspace around airports, the pilot needs FAA airspace authorization before flying under 400 feet, through LAANC where it's available or the FAA's manual process.
How far ahead should a drone shoot be booked?
Early enough for the airspace check. LAANC can approve requests in near real time, but the FAA says manual requests have historically taken up to eight weeks.
Does every listing need drone photos?
No. Drone work earns its place when the lot, the water or the location is a selling point. A home value check and a walk through the house tell us which media will do the most for your home.
About the author
Dennis Mark Interdonato is a REALTOR® and Master CDRE® who leads The Dennis Mark Group at Keller Williams Realty Ocean Living in Point Pleasant, NJ, helping buyers and sellers throughout New Jersey make their next move, with Monmouth and Ocean County as home base. Read more about Dennis Mark.
