You hear about drones everywhere. Amazon is planning on using them for local deliveries. And of course, people using them to buzz the White House or other troublesome or illegal uses. But did you know that using them as a Realtor of luxury homes and especially of waterfront listings can seriously give you the edge on other Realtors?

Drones are hover crafts in varying sizes

They do many things, but most have a small camera attached that can record what it “sees” as it flies. Since a drone can fly in places where people can’t walk, the videos can be really cool to watch.

They are also invaluable for the luxury Realtor who specializes in waterfront homes. Think about it… most waterfront homes have the front of the home facing the water.

Isn’t that the first impression you want to make on a prospective buyer? Have you ever tried to take a photo on a boat? Unless it’s a big one, those photos won’t be very good. A drone can hover in place and take a fantastic photo of that property frontage. A drone can also show the neighborhood, the condition of your roof and other perspectives that you can’t get from the ground.

Find a service

Now you need to find a service, unless you have and are good at using a drone yourself! There are services out there that can provide the drone and video/photos for a fee. Generally it should run you about $300-$500, depending on the location. Obviously big cities will cost more than smaller ones.

Make sure it is legal in your area

Be sure that you can actually legally use a drone for these purposes. Check with state and local authorities. There are some areas where you can’t use them. For instance, if you live near a military base, airport or other restricted area. Also be sure that any service you hire has the FAA licensure they need to be able to operate.

So show off that luxury home in a way competitive listings don’t.