When do aerial photos help a real estate listing?

Aerial photos help a listing when the setting is part of the selling point: a large lot, a waterfront, a view or amenities nearby. They matter less for a standard home on a small lot, according to Redfin. Our aerial photography and video show the property, the lot and the area around it.

What do aerial photos show that ground-level photos do not?

They show how a home sits on its lot and what surrounds it. From the ground, a buyer can't tell either, and one aerial answers both in a single frame.

Which listings benefit most from aerials?

Aerials suit homes where the setting is part of what is being sold. Waterfront access, mountain views, wooded privacy and distinctive architecture all benefit from a view from above.

Large lots and acreage are hard to capture from the ground. An aerial shows the full footprint and how much land comes with the home, whether that is acreage, an equestrian property or a spacious backyard. An unprepared backyard can look like weeds at eye level. From above, a buyer can picture where a pool or a basketball hoop might go.

Large pools, outdoor kitchens, guest houses, sports courts, private docks and landscaped yards often have more impact from above.

Homes near golf courses, parks, beaches, clubhouses or walking trails can benefit because buyers immediately see what makes the location desirable.

Do aerials help with sloped lots or rural land?

Hillside homes, steep lots and dramatic rooflines often look distorted at eye level. A camera on the ground has to point up at the house, which bends the vertical lines. An aerial can rise to the roofline and photograph it straight on.

On rural land, aerial images can help buyers understand the general layout of the property.

Do aerials help buyers decide whether to visit?

They give buyers context before they book a showing. Many buyers decide whether to tour a home within seconds of seeing it online, Redfin notes.

For a home in a prime location, an aerial shows how close it is to parks, schools, shops and restaurants.

Which listings can skip aerials?

Aerials are not necessary for every home. Redfin says they add less value for a standard home on a small city lot, and that for many homes on smaller lots, professional ground-level photography may be enough. The question to ask is whether the land, the views or the outdoor spaces are part of why someone would buy.

Can an aerial replace a map?

Partly. Redfin notes that aerial shots can show how close a home is to pools, clubhouses, tennis courts and parks, so sellers do not have to rely on maps.

Zillow also lists aerial photography among its tips for agents, describing it as a way to capture encompassing views of the home, the property, the neighbourhood and the surrounding area. Redfin's piece on professional photos makes the same point: an aerial can show a property's surroundings and acreage in one frame.

Zillow adds that aerials can capture the interior too, if the home has high ceilings. Redfin's summary of when aerials earn their place is short: when the surroundings are part of the sales pitch, and when they help buyers picture features that are not visible from ground level.

What should sellers know about drone rules and privacy?

Redfin recommends hiring a qualified professional who follows the rules that apply where the property is, and who respects privacy by avoiding footage of neighbouring properties. It also cautions that aerial images can show a rural property's general layout, but should not be used to determine legal property boundaries.

See the project: Elmwood, Coquitlam