The short answer: usually yes, and in Colorado the cost is often zero. Drone photos are included free with every Media Home Tours package where weather and FAA airspace allow. But not every listing benefits equally, so here is how to decide what to do with them.

What drone photos show that ground photos cannot

Interior and ground-level exterior photos show the home. Aerial photos show what surrounds it:

  • Lot size and shape. Buyers can see how much yard there is and where the property lines fall.
  • Location and context. Parks, trails, golf courses, open space, schools and the street pattern all become visible.
  • Views. Mountain views, city lights and water are hard to capture from the ground.
  • Outbuildings and land. Barns, sheds, fences, pastures and driveways make sense from above.

This matters most in Colorado, where many buyers are choosing a location as much as a house: foothills, open space, a mountain view or a quiet cul-de-sac.

When drone photos are most worth it

  1. Acreage and rural properties. Land is hard to understand without aerial photos. Our Parker and Greeley pages explain how this works for larger lots.
  2. Homes backing onto open space, a creek, a golf course or a park. The setting is part of the value.
  3. Homes with mountain or city views. A higher vantage point shows the view buyers will have.
  4. Luxury and large homes. Aerials show the scale of the property, the pool and the landscaping. See our luxury estates page.
  5. Neighborhoods where location is the selling point, such as homes close to downtown, trails or a lake.
  6. Commercial and multi-family properties, where parking, access and neighboring buildings matter.

When drone photos matter less

Drone photos add less to a condo in a multi-story building, a townhome with no private outdoor space, or a home on a very small lot where the aerial view shows little more than a roof. Even then, an aerial can show the neighborhood and nearby amenities. Since drone photos are free with every package, there is usually no reason to skip them if the flight is allowed.

What drone photos cost

At Media Home Tours, drone photos are free with every package, from the $129 starter to Diamond. A typical booking looks like this:

  • Ruby, $209: 25 HDR photos plus free drone.
  • Sapphire, $264: adds a floor plan.
  • Platinum, $549: adds a 1-minute video and three virtual twilights.
  • Diamond, $699: adds a Zillow 3D tour.

There is no separate flight fee and no travel fee within a 2-hour drive of Longmont. Details are on the pricing page.

What can stop a drone flight

Airspace

Much of the Front Range is near controlled airspace. Parts of Denver, Aurora, Broomfield, Arvada, Westminster and Colorado Springs are near major airports or military bases. We check each address before the shoot and request FAA authorization when it is available. Sometimes a flight is not possible, and we tell you before the shoot.

Weather

Wind, rain and snow can ground a drone. If weather prevents a flight, we can reschedule the drone portion at no charge.

Licensing

In the United States, commercial drone work, including real estate marketing, requires an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate. Agents should ask any photographer about their credentials. See our drone photography page.

Questions to ask any drone photographer

  1. Do you hold an FAA Part 107 remote pilot certificate? It is required for commercial drone work.
  2. Do you check airspace before every shoot? Many Front Range addresses are close to airports, and some need FAA authorization before a flight.
  3. What happens if you cannot fly? Ask whether you are charged, and whether the rest of the shoot goes ahead as planned. With us, ground photos are delivered in 24 hours or less either way, and a weather-delayed flight can be rescheduled for free.
  4. Are aerial photos included or an extra charge? Included free with every Media Home Tours package.

Use aerials in the listing description, too

An aerial photo works best when the listing text points to what it shows. If the photo shows a home backing to open space, say so. If it shows how close the property is to a trail, a park or the foothills, mention it. Buyers who see the same detail in a photo and in the description trust the listing more, and they are more likely to schedule a showing.

Photos or video?

Drone footage can also be part of a listing video. A 1-minute listing video is $349 and a vertical social reel is $299, and both are good places to use aerial footage when the airspace allows. Read more on our listing video and reels page.

How to get the most from your aerial photos

  • Tell your photographer what the highlights are: the view, the trail access, the barn, the lake.
  • Ask for a shot at a time of day with good light, usually earlier in the afternoon.
  • Use one or two aerial photos early in your MLS gallery, not all at the end.
  • Combine with a twilight photo for a standout cover image.

The bottom line

Yes, drone photos are worth it for most Colorado listings, especially homes with land, views or open space nearby. At Media Home Tours they are free with every package, so the real question is whether airspace and weather allow a flight. Packages start at $129, and photos arrive in 24 hours or less. See pricing or book online.