(Late) Fall vs. Spring Photos Normally, Realtors wait for the trees to open, lawns to green up, etc. to take home photos. All that color is more flattering than brown, leaf-less trees and landscaping. The exception? When in-season foliage obscures the home (or, at least some angles). No More Garage Shots Then, it can actually...Read More
TWO Types of Drone “No Fly” Zones Unbeknownst to me until this morning, there are actually TWO types of “no fly” zones governing the use of drones. They are: 1) permanent “no fly” zones — typically adjacent to airports, where drones could interfere with low-flying commercial aircraft; and 2) temporary “no fly” zones, which are...Read More
Not Just Inclement Weather “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” –Mail carriers’ motto Unlike mail carriers, there’s actually a list of weather conditions that will cause home photographers to scrub. Like rain, snow, fog, and — especially for interior shots...Read More
DIY Drawbacks Do-it-Yourself always has perils, but particularly so when it comes to using a drone to take home photos. Here’s just a partial list of the drawbacks and other considerations that come to mind for Realtors tempted to try it themselves: 1. The $5k required to buy a commercial-quality drone. 2. The $5k that’s...Read More
Double Whammy: Zillow’s Revenue, Realtors’ Expense* [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced.] One of the biggest reasons that Zillow and Trulia — Websites that aggregate real estate listings and whose stocks are publicly-traded — make a...Read More
Drones may be controversial in modern warfare. But, there’s at least one field where they’re an unmitigated blessing: residential real estate. Specifically, drones — or at least their first cousins, remote-controlled helicopters — have dramatically reduced the cost of getting shots like the ones of this home, in Golden Valley’s Hidden Lakes neighborhood. See also, “Show >...Read More
