Most listing agents who skip drone photography do it because they are not sure it is worth the extra cost. Most agents who always include it have seen what it does on the right property and will not go without it.
The gap between those two groups is not about budget. It is about understanding which properties the data actually applies to.
The Stat Is Real
The 68-percent-faster claim comes from multiple industry data sources and it is consistently cited across the real estate photography industry. Properties with aerial photos sell 68 percent faster than those with standard ground-level photography only.
That number is real. It is also not universal. The premium that drone photography delivers varies dramatically based on the property type and what the aerial view actually shows.
When Drone Photos Earn Their Cost
Drone photography creates genuine value in these situations:
Properties on acreage. A two-acre lot looks small in a ground-level exterior photo. The aerial view shows the full footprint of the property, the relationship between the house and the land, and the usable outdoor space in a way that no ground-level frame can communicate. For buyers specifically looking for land, this is not optional. It is the primary piece of marketing.
Properties with views. If a home has a view of a lake, a city skyline, mountains, or open country, the drone photo is the image that sells it. Ground-level photos can hint at the view. Only an aerial image shows it.
Properties in neighborhoods where the setting is part of the value. HOA communities, golf course properties, homes near parks or trails. The aerial shot shows the neighborhood context that buyers in these markets care about as much as the house itself.
Luxury listings. In the upper price tiers, buyers are making a significant lifestyle decision, not just a housing decision. Aerial imagery communicates the lifestyle dimension in a way that interior and ground-level exterior photos cannot.
Waterfront properties. This is the clearest case. The lake view, the dock, the shoreline, the relation of the house to the water. Drone is not optional here, it is the entire point of the listing.
When Drone Is Harder to Justify
Drone photography adds less value on:
Standard suburban lots. A 0.2-acre lot in a neighborhood where every house sits on the same-sized lot does not have much to show from the air that a ground-level hero shot is not already showing. The aerial view is not wrong, it is just redundant.
Tight urban lots. Rowhouses, townhomes, and narrow lots where neighboring properties are visible from above and the aerial view shows rooflines and HVAC units rather than usable space.
Listings with significant exterior condition issues. A drone shot that reveals a roof in poor condition, an overgrown yard, or drainage problems from above is not a flattering image. If the property has exterior deferred maintenance, the aerial view may do more harm than good.
The Drone Plus Video Combination
Drone still photography and drone video are different products and they do different jobs. The still aerial image communicates scale and context. The drone video communicates movement, flow, and the experience of approaching the property.
The combination of drone photos plus drone video is one of the highest-impact visual packages available for the right property. For a luxury listing or a property with significant acreage or views, this combination is the marketing foundation rather than an add-on.
The FAA Side of Things
Professional real estate photographers who include drone coverage hold a Part 107 FAA Remote Pilot Certificate and carry liability insurance that covers drone operations. This is not optional in commercial drone work, and any photographer who cannot produce their certificate on request should not be flying over your listing.
Minnesota-specific airspace considerations near MSP airport and other controlled airspace areas can affect drone flight at some properties. A professional drone operator will check airspace before the shoot and flag any restrictions before they become a problem on site.
The Decision Framework
Ask one question: does the aerial view show something about this property that buyers cannot see from the ground?
If the answer is yes, book the drone. If the answer is no, save the budget for twilight or video instead.
Most Minnesota listings in the $350,000 to $600,000 range fall somewhere in the middle. For those, a drone exterior plus drone video is the combination that covers all the bases without over-investing on a single property.