YOU SAID IT: Drones Dandy, But Regulation A Must

It would be premature for the FAA to crack down on drone use in commercial real estate, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t regulate it, according to our recent reader poll. (If the sky is filled with drones how will any of us get a tan?) Almost 700 readers responded, and 64% said the FAA should not put the kibosh on the remote-controlled aircraft in CRE. Drones could be invaluable marketing and asset management tools across the industry, saving brokers a whole lot of time and money on gas (no more spending your whole day touring far-flung sites), readers say. But they aren’t without risks. They mention Big Brother-esque privacy concerns, potential collisions with commercial planes, the risk of terrorism (a la this season of 24), and lack of certification and registration for operators.

DC-based Transwestern EVP, government services group, Pete Marcin (snapped in Nashville) has two drones (one’s a backup) that get property views unachievable only a year or two ago. Clients can have live tours with first person view goggles, and it’s useful to check out upper floor or roof conditions (better than a cherry picker), he says. While the FAA has taken the position that drone use for commercial purposes is restricted, a recent NTSB court decision calls that into question, says Pete (oh yeah, he's also an attorney). The future lies in whether the FAA can develop (and Congress can pass) more concrete rules. If all goes well, Pete expects them to be widespread in a couple years (you can already pilot via iPad app), but would remind operators you’ll probably crash your first before you become a savvy pilot. (His first is at the bottom of the Patapsco River.)

In Plano, Texas, Milkes Realty Valuation’s Joe Milkes (snapped with his wife Shelley and latest grandson Drake) recently saw a drone demonstration that showed the gadget’s promise. (Especially if you’re appraising a Texas ranch bigger than a county.) One really cool trick: If the building’s still in planning stages, developers’ can work with digital artists to create a movie adding it into the real-time landscape. Safety and privacy are key, he says, so you don’t have frat boys flying a drone a little too close to the sorority house window (no more ladder like in Animal House). Commercial real estate’s best bet is to be proactive and help guide regulation, just like it would with planning or zoning issues, he says. Joe and his wife just adopted a six-month-old “bagel,” a Basset Hound/Beagle mix.