Ireland Sees Increase in Real Estate Drones

This past December, the Irish Aviation Authority successfully rolled out the world’s first online drone registration module. Since then, nearly 2,000 uavs have been registered with the IAA. Per the registration tool, users only have to provide the weight of their system not the purpose of the drones’ flights.

But it’s pretty clear, according to both the IAA and the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, the purpose for a lot of these drones is to take pictures and video for buyers and sellers of real estate.

“Since the end of December, when drones had to be registered with us, we are definitely seeing queries on how they could be used to sell property whether commercial or residential,” IAA spokesman Tony Lane told The Irish Mirror.

The increase in photographic capability and ease of use combined with the decrease in cost has resulted in the explosion of prosumer drones found all over the world.

And when it comes to drones in the real estate business, they have a snowball effect; as more aerial pictures and videos appear online next to house listings, more real estate agents and companies will see the value of owning a drone which will make the pictures and videos even more common… and on and on until a drone is a necessity for any listing.

“We’ve had hundreds of inquires by those working in property and those hoping to buy or sell,” IPAV chief executive Pat Davitt told The Mirror. “It is not the IPAV pushing for their use, it is all demand driven by the customer and so far people living in the country. We are already seeing an urban/rural divide on their use, with many of our auctioneers using them for larger properties with acreage. But that undoubtedly will change with greater numbers in cities in towns when they realise what drones can do.”