A detailed overview on how to start a drone real estate business focusing entirely on it. Taking aerial photos and video is the fun part.
So, starting a drone real estate business can be a lucrative venture if done right. The business opportunity is not limited to a few: From realtors to videographers, photographers, drone pilots, or a combination of all can start this business.
This article provides all you need to know to start a successful drone real estate business. The outline includes the steps you should follow, how to get and retain clients, and more.
How to Start a Drone Real Estate Business
1. Get approval with an authorized body
Venturing into a drone real estate business means that you have become a commercial drone flier. Unlike recreational drone pilots who follow no guidelines, commercial drone pilots must follow specific rules and regulations.
Therefore, you must first get full certification from the authorized body in your country.
2. Check state and federal regulations of your country
You must adhere to the rules and regulations as a commercial drone pilot. Thus, you need to familiarize yourself with these precepts.
Your country may have strict regulations to limit the use of commercial drones. Therefore, you must know your region’s specific rules and regulations.
However, some local laws can limit where you can fly commercial drones, and you need to familiarize yourself with such too.
3. Select a business type and structure
Since there are various drone business opportunities, you must select the one you want to venture into. That way, it becomes easy to analyze the market of your operational area.
It includes discovering other companies’ operating approaches and determining whether to enhance their strategy and compete against them. You could also decide to take a different route altogether.
Here are available drone business opportunities:
- Aerial photography/ videography
- Sites and listing 3D models
- Drone mapping
- Site monitoring
- Drone imagery
4. Buy and register your drones and equipment
You need at least one drone to kick off. You can buy one or rent a few to cut down on start-up costs and initial investment.
Drones are quite an investment, especially professional ones. Understand, you must register any drone weighing 250 grams to 25 kilograms must be registered in Nigeria.
Hobby pilots can register their drones online. Before flying your RPA outside, register it if it weighs more than 250 grams (0.55 lb.)
In addition, you must purchase other operational equipment, such as propellers, cases, and batteries.
5. Get liability and drone insurance
Like any other aircraft, drones also cause accidents. Damage your property, get lost when flying, or damage another person’s property due to a mishap. Hence, knowing how to insure your real estate drone business and do so correctly is vital.
6. Get more advanced UAV training
A drone is a technical device requiring some skill to operate. Thus, getting additional or advanced training and acquiring the required certifications is necessary. That way, you become more helpful to your customers than your competitors.
7. Create your pricing structure
After identifying the type of real estate drone business you would like to venture into, you can settle on your ideal pricing structure. You can charge per project, or have a retainer for regular clients.
See Also: How to Market Your Photography Business This Year
A long-term approach can be more beneficial to your business as it provides constant work and can allow you to employ someone. Also, it allows you to choose a billing cycle and inform your clients clearly and in a regulated manner.
8. Create your standard business operations
Drones have no demanding storage requirements, so you do not need a large physical location to operate from. However, you can have one if it adds value to your customers.
Even so, you must determine the maximum reach for your device when executing the job, even if you will be operating remotely.
Furthermore, you must track your flight records and monitor information like maintenance logs and total aircraft flight hours.
9. Finding & retaining clients
Finding & retaining clients is the major goal of starting any business. Hence, create an effective marketing plan to reach your potential clients and get long-term contracts, if not lifetime ones.
Some of the most reliable marketing strategies are creating a friendly website. Also, you can connect with a complementary business or create business accounts on social media.
Word-of-mouth and hashtag strategies, too, can help.
How are the potential clients in the real estate industry?
- Social media friends: Post amazing videos and photos on social media, your friends will share widely, attracting clients to your business. Once they get in touch with you, you must be able to convince them enough for them to give you a job.
- Developers: Partnering with a developer is difficult but not impossible. Simply identify a new development, take a few minutes of film, edit it, polish it up thoroughly, and send it to the developer as a gift. A catchy video can become your pathway to landing a new job.
- Realtors: Real estate dealers are the greatest beneficiaries of your services, and usually, each has several properties at a time. Therefore, partnering with these industry professionals can provide attractive job opportunities for you.
- Photographers: You can work with photographers as they have a wide range of clients who are your potential clients. While they focus on normal photos, you can focus on reality aerial shots.
These customers will market your business to their colleagues, friends, and family, expanding your market reach.
10. Stay updated with drone developments and trends
Drones are continually getting upgraded, and so is their market. Thus, you must stay updated with every change in the industry. That way, you can know developments and trends on demand and adjust accordingly.
What Type of Drones are Ideal for Real Estate?
1. Contixo F24 Pro
The drone is ideal for low-budget starters yet takes top-notch photos and videos. Sadly, the device lacks obstacle avoidance, making it difficult to use.
However, Contixo F24 Pro has some state-of-the-art attributes like gesture control and automated flight modes that you would only find in more expensive drones.
See Also: Photography Marketing: 10 Ways to Get More Clients This Year
Contixo F24 Pro has a 28-minute flight time, 8.3MP camera quality, and requires an intermediate skill level. Special features include a remote control that you can fold and a bag for storing the gadget.
2. DJI Phantom 4 Pro
DJI Phantom 4 Pro is one of the best drones for real estate business. Its multiple intelligent sensors and 1” CMOS 20MP camera quality allow you to capture clear and sharp videos.
DJI Phantom 4 Pro has automated functionalities and flight modes and specialized propellers that minimize footage noise by 60%. It has a remote, so you can use it to control your drone.
The device has 30 minute flight time and is suitable to beginner’s skill level. Other notable features include the ability to trace its route after losing signals and taking photos while recording videos.
3. Autel Evo 2 Pro
Autel Evo 2 Pro is the best for longest flight time (40-minute) with high-quality footage. Its camera quality is 1” CMOS 20MP allowing sharp recordings and images to be captured.
The drone’s basic functions do not need a smartphone, as its controller has a screen (built-in). Also, it has an automated flight mode, so you can focus more on capturing footage than drone flying. Its fly skill requirement is intermediate.
Other special features include gesture commands and obstacle avoidance of 360 degrees. It also has a foldable design and aperture range, which is adjustable to take top-notch images in all lighting situations.
4. DJI FPV
DJI FPV is different from other camera drones, giving you a fantastic first-person view. Moreover, it has DJI FPV goggles, allowing you to shoot accurately and take error-free videos. Although it has a remote, you can still use a motion controller if you wish.
The drone’s camera quality of ½” CMOS 12MP allows you to take stunning ultra-HD 4000 pixels photos and videos. Its small size makes it ideal for indoor use due to its ease of control.
DJI FPV has a flight time of 20 minutes and requires an intermediate skill level.
Other fantastic features include an extra wide vision field at 150° and three different skill levels of flight modes. In addition, this drone has ADS-B AirSense, which senses any aircraft around and can, thus, avoid it.
5. DJI Air 2S
DJI Air 2S is an extremely user-friendly and pocket-friendly drone with safety measures and built-in modes. It lets you take precise photos and videos with its 1” CMOS 20MP.
You can fly Air 2S automatically using the DJI Fly app. Thus, you can easily fly the gadget in a predetermined pattern or circular in a specific area easily. That allows you to take shots without worrying where the drone is flying.
Also, the drone flight restrictions limit its capabilities in zones automatically. Even so, you can switch off the function.
The device requires beginner skill level and a flight time of 31 minutes. Other special features include a master shot feature that converts your shots into a short video and ADS-B AirSense, which alerts you about nearby drones.
Conclusion
Drone flying and real estate can be a good combination of a profitable business opportunity. Worry no more if you have considered venturing into this market but do not know where to begin as an African.
We have curated a guide on how to start a drone business for the real estate market. Following the guidelines and selecting an ideal drone above, you will have the proper footing in the real estate industry.
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