Drone photos look impressive, but they don't help every listing equally. Here's when aerials make the biggest difference for a Las Cruces property, and how to get the most out of them.
At REP Media, drone aerials are included with every listing photo shoot, flown by licensed drone pilots, so you never have to decide whether to pay extra. The question is just how to use them.
The short answer
Aerials matter most when there's something about the property you can't show from the ground: the size of the lot, the view, the setting or what's nearby. When the best features are all inside, aerials play a supporting role.
When aerials are worth it
- Land and acreage. For a vacant lot or acreage, aerials are often the most important photos in the listing. Buyers want to see the shape of the land, access roads and what surrounds it.
- Large lots. On bigger lots, ground photos can't show the whole property. One aerial shows the house, yard, outbuildings and boundaries in a single frame.
- Views. Homes with views of the Organ Mountains, the valley or city lights. An elevated shot often captures the view better than a photo from the backyard.
- New construction and builder communities. Aerials show the layout of a development, open space and how homes are positioned.
- Location selling points. Being close to a park, golf course, school or trail is easier to show from above than to describe.
When aerials play a smaller role
- Tight infill lots where the aerial mostly shows neighbors' roofs
- Condos and townhomes where the unit isn't distinguishable from above
- Homes where the selling points are all interior finishes
What to order
- Aerial photos from a few heights and angles, typically front, back and a higher overview
- Aerial video clips to open a listing video or hook viewers in the first seconds of a reel
- Lot-line graphics that outline the property boundaries, which are especially useful for land and large lots
How to use aerials in your listing
MLS photos: In most cases, keep a strong front exterior as the lead photo and put the best aerial second or third. For land, an aerial with lot lines often works best as the lead.
Reels: A slow aerial pull-back makes a strong first two seconds, and that's when viewers decide whether to keep watching.
Listing video: Open with an aerial establishing shot, then move inside.
Timing and weather in Las Cruces
Drones need calm air. Spring afternoons can get windy, and summer monsoon storms tend to build in the afternoon, so mornings are often the most reliable time to fly. If the weather isn't cooperating, the aerial portion can be scheduled separately from the interior shoot.
A note on rules
Commercial drone flights in the U.S. must follow FAA rules, and some locations need extra authorization. REP Media's drone pilots are licensed, and every flight is planned around those rules. Whoever you hire, make sure they are too.
Thinking about aerials for a listing? See our drone photography and video or book a listing shoot online. Aerials are included.