Using Drones for Home Inspections
Drones (also known as UAVs or unmanned aerial vehicles) have many uses in the professional world — especially in industries like home inspection, where agility, versatility, and different vantage points are highly valued.
Why Drones Are Becoming Popular For Home Inspections
Many industries are embracing the use of drones, from insurance companies investigating sites of insurance claims to property appraisers doing an aerial survey to assess a piece of real estate’s value.
For home inspectors like us, using a drone to inspect a building’s roof quickly and safely adds a great deal of value to the services we offer our clients.
A building’s roof is often too inaccessible (due to its height, slope, material type or condition) for an inspector to get a complete look. Before drones were an option, inspectors who ran into inaccessible roofs had to apologize and suggest the client hire a roofing company if they wanted more information on the roof’s condition.
Now, homeowners and home buyers alike have the option to choose an inspector who is also a federally licensed drone pilot, which helps ensure that the customer is getting as complete a picture of the condition of the property as possible.
What Do Drone Roof Inspections Include?
General assessment of the roof’s appearance
Inspection of fascia, gutters, chimneys, vents, drains and downspouts
Search for damaged or missing parts
Inspection of roof valleys where water damage can occur
Search for damaged, loose or missing shingles
Benefits of a Drone Roof Inspection
Drones continue to be one of the most useful tools available for roof inspections. They allow the home inspector to:
Thoroughly inspect areas of the roof that are hard to reach or unable to be walked on due to the nature of the roof covering materials. Using a drone provides a better vantage point for the inspector to accurately assess the condition of the roof, gutter, and chimney.
Conducting a roof inspection when climbing the roof is not feasible: Certain conditions, including weather, prevent inspectors from safely accessing the roof. In these conditions, a drone provides a unique opportunity for the roof to still be inspected.
Increase safety precautions: Climbing onto a roof can be extremely dangerous, especially if the roof is two stories or higher. Utilizing drone technology allows the inspector to go as high as they need to get the footage all while staying on the ground.
The Future of Home Inspections
Drones are far more than toys for children or hobbyists. These tiny, agile, flying robots can help make many industries safer and more efficient — and home inspections are no exception.
Homeowners and prospective home buyers can benefit from drone usage because it helps ensure thorough inspections of hard-to-reach areas.
Contact Spraggins Home Inspections to inquire about our services! (828)482-7239
