Are drones worth it?

When the pandemic hit, the demand for residential lots skyrocketed. During this time, I thought getting a drone would be a good idea–so I did. I've had the drone for over a year now. So is it worth getting a drone?

Here are the pros and cons based on my experience:

Pros

- It's an excellent way to differentiate your services; only a small number of brokers have one.

- It could save you money since hiring a drone pilot is quite expensive–north of Php5,000.

Cons

- It's a hefty investment–Php32,000 for an entry-level model that could take 4K videos.

- Most villages don't allow the operation of drones due to privacy issues.

- A large part of Metro Manila (Makati, Paranaque, Manila), where some prime villages are located, is a no-fly zone due to NAIA and Sangley airports.

- Usage is dependent on the weather. Non-FPV drones are not water resistant, and if it looks like it's going to rain, you won't use them.

- It's hard to operate. If you think you could replicate the cinematic videos you see on Instagram, think again.

- Drone footage requires a lot of post-production time. Most of the time, you'll use snapshots rather than videos.

In summary, the disadvantages clearly outweigh the advantages of owning a drone. I've used my drone less than ten times in the past year. You're better off getting a 3-meter selfie stick if you wish to take overhead shots of residential lots. Getting one is all a matter of marketing, and I could think of several other ways to spend Php32,000 on marketing your services.