If you wanted an aerial view of your home just twenty years ago, you'd have to pay an arm and a leg for a helicopter and camera crew. But those days are over. Thanks to the affordability of drone equipment, you can hire a drone photographer for much, much less.
Drones allow you to feature your home from all angles. They make it easy to create virtual walkthroughs or give buyers an idea of the neighborhood where a home is located. But while it is more affordable than it used to be, how much does drone photography cost?
Many factors will affect the price of real estate photography with a drone, from the drone model to the location. Keep reading as we discuss what you may expect to pay to hire a drone photographer.
Factors that Affect Drone Photography Cost
While drones lowered the cost of aerial photography by thousands of dollars, these aren't cheap. Drone equipment can easily cost several thousand dollars for a single unit. They require skilled pilots and a lot of maintenance.
Let's cover just a few things that will influence the end cost of hiring a drone crew for your real estate listing.
1. Location
Depending on where the home is located, you may have to hire a drone photographer who doesn't live in the area. They may charge you for the cost of their transportation to and from the address. There may be a per-mile fee, particularly if the property is located far outside city limits.
Further, the location may present unique difficulties. There may be inclement weather, heavy foliage, or other elements that make piloting a drone difficult.
2. Drone Pilot Experience
Though it may not seem like it, drone pilots are highly skilled professionals. If you've ever attempted to fly a drone, you can see why. A pilot has to have the dexterity to maneuver the drone and do so from complicated orientations.
More experienced pilots will demand a high rate. However, this is a guarantee that they'll know the best shot angles. They will be able to complete the job faster, too.
3. Time
Most drone operators charge by the hour. There may be an additional charge for the time it takes to process footage or send it over.
4. Footage Editing and Post-Processing
Some drone photographers will also do the video work for you, if you so choose. Of course, this requires an entirely different line of expertise. The rates here may be competitive with other video editors or may cost much more.
Adding special filters and effects to improve the look of your home will cost more, too.
5. Video Quality
High-end drones can capture up to 8K footage, even when most televisions are only 4K. You may not be concerned about having the highest HD footage since customers will only be viewing the video from a computer screen.
However, the best 8K cameras also get the best lighting and color. You may only want a 1080p video (half of 4K), but a good camera will still make a huge impact on quality. HD in general is an excellent choice for advertising your home.
6. Number of Personnel Required
While there may be one drone pilot, drone jobs often require more people. There may be an equipment specialist or someone on hand to handle quick repairs.
Further, US drone law requires that a drone always be in the line of sight. Depending on the job, the pilot may need an assistant who makes sure the drone never leaves visible range.
7. Law Requirements
Drone laws have caught up to drones in recent years. Drones present a legal risk if they record what's happening in the privacy of one's home. They may interfere with aviation and risk damaging property or people if they fall.
As such, there may be regulations in your area that control or restrict drone usage. Operators may need to work around cumbersome legislation that makes it harder to do their job. This may limit your options, or simply drive up the price.
In addition to this, many drone operators must obtain a professional license. This certifies their ability as a pilot. It may give them clearance to operate a drone in places that others cannot.
8. Drone Type or Model
Not all drones are equal. Some can fly for half an hour and record cinema-grade footage. Others can only fly for ten minutes until they require a recharge.
If you want the best of the best, your drone operator will likely have a drone that costs upwards of $2,000. This drone is a huge asset that could turn into a liability in the event of an accident. Operators have to factor that into the price.
9. Job Requirements
Most people may only require a fly-by shot or an internal 3D tour. Others may want multiple bird's eye angles. More footage obviously entails a higher price.
There may be tricky obstacles that the operator must navigate around, such as large trees. As mentioned earlier, strong wind or heavy weather may postpone a shoot.
How Much Does Drone Photography Cost?
Fortunately, there is a lot of variability when it comes to drone photography. If you're looking for dirt-cheap rates and don't mind a low bar of quality, there are plenty of options for you. If you want the best of the best, you will find professional operators who can make your real estate listing look like a movie.
A few reminders for when you calculate the cost:
- Drone crews may charge per hour, by square feet, or give a flat rate
- They may charge per video and/or per image
- They may charge for travel expenses
- They may charge for processing the raw video after the job
- There may be additional fees included in the contract
Average Drone Operator Cost
Let's assume you're paying for a standard job. This may include some B-roll video and a few dozen high-resolution images. The average price you can expect to pay, without accounting for extraneous factors, is about $100 per hour.
Low-End Drone Jobs
If you want the cheapest option available, and you can deal with much lower quality, expect about $50. Low-end prices do come with a lot of caveats, though. This may be a drone operator with less experience who is using amateur equipment.
This isn't to say you can't get an eyepopping view at the low end. But do come ready to expect a consumer drone that isn't as high-end. Expect fewer options and know that you may not be able to make your vision a reality.
High-End Drone Jobs
Finally, a high-end job may run you between $250-700 per hour. Depending on the size of the project you have in mind, this could end up being several thousand dollars. At that point, an operator may charge a lump sum for the entire project, rather than an hourly rate.
However, you are getting your money's worth. You can expect to get premium HD footage shot with the highest standards.
Drone operators at this level may include video editing by default in the price. Since they work with this footage on a daily basis, they may do a much better job than an ordinary video editor.
How to Find the Right Price
Now that you have a general idea of what it will cost, where can you find the right drone operator? Like with the prices, there is a lot of variety here. Let's look at a few ways that you can find the right drone operator for your job.
Hire a Professional Real Estate Drone Photography Service
This is the best option. Find a company that can do it all. They can help you do 3D virtual tours, aerial drone photography, and anything else you may need to advertise your home.
Find Local Operators
The best way to save money and get someone who knows the area is to search locally. Locals also likely have the necessary legal certification. They'll know about any idiosyncrasies unique to the property's area.
The best place to find drone operators is with a simple online search. Facebook Marketplace sometimes features contractors who offer up their services. Online community boards like Craigslist may have classified postings for drone jobs.
Ask Event Organizers
Drone photographers often work with a wide variety of clients. They do weddings, parties, and outdoor events. If you've seen some amazing aerial photography from a local event, then contact the event organizer who is responsible.
Word of Mouth
You may have a friend who knows a friend. Drones are very popular these days, so a friend of yours may know someone who owns a drone and does photography for fun. This could be a great chance to get some low rates from a hobbyist who just wants to practice their craft.
Hire a Drone Photographer Today
Drone photography is the ideal choice for advertising your property listing. It gives you a bird's eye view of your property, something that most of your competition won't be doing. Drone photography cost allows you to find an option well within your budget.
Hommati is your first and last solution for drone photography--and much, much more. Visit our website today and build a strong impression of the homes you intend to sell.