Thinking about drone photos for your house sale? Short version: on the right property they measurably lift buyer interest, they cost less than most vendors expect, and your agent may not offer them unless you ask. Here’s the plain guide for home sellers.
When drone photos help a sale (and when they don’t)
Aerial shots earn their keep when the property’s value lives partly outside the walls: a big or unusually shaped block, a corner position, acreage, a pool and outdoor living, proximity to parks, water, schools or transport, or a new estate where context sells the lifestyle. From the ground, none of that fits in one photo; from 40 metres up, all of it does. For a small unit in a large complex, spend the money on great interior shots instead — an honest operator will tell you that before quoting.
What they cost
In Melbourne, a professional aerial add-on to a listing shoot typically runs $250–$450 for a set of edited, portal-ready images — several angles and altitudes, with an aerial view of your house showing the full block, and boundary-highlight versions if you want them (indicative only for marketing; not a survey). Against a mid-six-figure sale price, it’s one of the cheapest presentation upgrades available.
Ordering it: through your agent, or directly
Most vendors get aerials through their agent’s photography package — ask specifically whether the package includes licensed drone work, because much of Melbourne sits in controlled airspace where an unlicensed operator either can’t fly legally or shouldn’t. You can also commission the aerial set yourself and hand the files to your agent; you’ll own the images outright, which matters if you re-list later with a different agency.
Three questions that protect you
- Are you CASA-licensed and insured for commercial drone work?
- Have you checked the airspace at my address?
- What do I receive, at what resolution, and who owns the images?
We’re a CASA-licensed Melbourne operator — aerial stills and aerial video for private vendors and agents, airspace and approvals handled, files delivered ready for the portals. Send your address and we’ll confirm what’s flyable and quote same day.