Would You Use A Competitively Priced Aerial Photography/video Service?

Dano007

Hello, I'd really appreciate any feedback from builders or home owners about a new business I'm considering starting.

In summary, I'd provide aerial photography/video footage of your property. The idea is that you have a need- to inspect hard to reach areas of your property (like roofs, high walls etc) for suspected damage and to understand what needs repairing.

Traditionally either the builder or home owner would have to hire expensive equipment like lift platforms, scaffolding just to inspect the area. My service is to provide and operate a remote control quadcoptor, basically a small flying helicopter with 4 blades and a camera (3ft x2ft).

The controller can fly over, hoover, zoom, pan around the area of interest and take multiple photos or video footage. This is then recorded and can be reviewed straight afterwards or saved to dvd/memory stick or even printed for later reference. The complete standard service would cost between £99-£150.

I've only given a few examples of what the service could be used for, others could be aerial site photos, inspections of areas impossible tor each by other means etc etc.

I'd really like to hear from people if they think they'd a/ use this service b/ believe that there is a demand for it c/Believe that its cost effective

Thank you Dan

Hintza

It probably has some merit but I would have thought mainly with commercial applications which is where I would concentrate my energy.

As for home owners.........think I would risk life and limb hanging off a ladder before I splashed out, unless it was impossible.

Your biggest problem for the domestic market is cost effective advertising to get folk to think about it. Interestingly our village fete is today and that would be a great place to sell the idea and it keeps the kids amused too.

PasturesNew

As a buyer - Googlestreetview and a pair of binoculars from the road's good enough.

Or get a webcam strapped to a cheap remote control helicopter - there are plenty on the market.

Generally, people won't bother - unless they're buying a castle. Then they'd just expect a remote control helicopter and webcam.

Norman_Castle

I checked an inaccessible part of my roof recently by fitting my camera to a long pole. Very effective. Remote camera operation and a better pole (carbon fishing rod?) would have helped. Not a bad idea as health and safety can now insist on expensive scaffolding but its unlikely to be profitable at £150 due to travel costs, you are unlikely to get regular local work, and insurance etc.

olias

TBH, I think its a good idea, but as with anything new it will be a long hard struggle to persuade people to change their ways and unless its a sideline you would probably need at least a dozen clients a week to make a business out of it.

Commercial sector is probably your best bet.

Personally, I think that as it is likely to be seen currently as a 'gimmick', you may get more business out of things like weddings and events.

Olias

mymedi

Just a thought, but wouldn't you need a special permit to fly this low and this close to buildings? Are you sure they would just give you that covering anywhere you might want to go? I would be quite concerned if something like that was flying around my house, not to mention the multiple hazards like trees, power lines, birds, etc...

sillygoose

Wouldn't pay £150, not when a Parrot Drone with HD camera is £270, two goes with your service would better than break even and I would still have the drone to use again.

£65 would be tops to me. but due to the fragile nature and short flying time of these things I would expect you to have 2 or even 3 of them on hand plus spares.