What an aerial actually proves in Kentwood
Kentwood is the southeast Grand Rapids suburb people pick for value and access. It is one of the most diverse communities in West Michigan, sits on the Woodland Mall and the 28th Street and East Paris retail corridor, and moves fast — well-priced homes here do not sit. Kentwood listings sell on value and livability.
An aerial frame is the only one that shows the convenience that is Kentwood's whole pitch: minutes from Woodland Mall, the 28th Street corridor, and the highway, shown in one frame instead of claimed in the remarks. That is the whole argument for drone here: it is not a prettier photo, it is a different piece of information. A buyer scrolling a gallery on their phone can read a lot line, a tree canopy, or a five-minute commute in one frame, and cannot read any of it from a front elevation.
Kentwood airspace: what actually applies
Most of Kentwood sits under Gerald R. Ford International Airport (KGRR) Class C controlled airspace, because the city wraps around the airport. Commercial drone flights here almost always require LAANC authorization before takeoff — it is not optional, and a pilot without it should not be flying your listing.
Practically, that means authorization is required for most addresses here. Every ECS flight is flown by a Part 107 certified Remote Pilot in Command, the airspace is checked against the FAA UAS facility map for your specific address before the shoot, and authorization is filed in advance where the grid calls for it. The flight is planned before the shoot day, not improvised in the driveway. For the full rundown see drone laws for Grand Rapids real estate agents.
What we fly in Kentwood
- Established ranches and split-levels, the bread and butter of Kentwood — a high frame that reads as a lot map, so the parcel and the setting arrive together
- Condos and townhomes that read best on a mobile MLS scroll — mid-altitude context showing how the home sits against what is around it
- Family homes in the Kentwood Public Schools zone — a low approach that keeps the architecture the subject rather than the roof
- Rentals and investment properties in a tight market
- Homes near Woodland Mall and the 28th Street / East Paris corridor
Drone pricing for Kentwood listings
Drone aerials are a $125 add-on to Essential or Showcase and are included in the Signature tier. Every flight is Part 107 compliant, with LAANC filed ahead of time where Kentwood airspace requires it. See the full breakdown.
How the flight is run
The aerial is captured during the same visit as the HDR stills, so there is no second appointment and no second invoice. Standard coverage is a set of context frames at varying altitude and angle: a high overhead that reads as a lot map, a mid-altitude three-quarter that shows the home in the neighborhood, and a low approach that keeps the architecture the subject. Weather calls are made the morning of, and a scrubbed flight moves rather than becoming a rushed one in bad light.
Delivery is the same as the rest of the shoot: edited and back to you the next business day, sized for MLS and for social.
How to book in Kentwood
- For agents listing in Kentwood regularly: join the Preferred Photographer Program — standing 3-tier pricing, priority calendar, and a $50 referral credit.
- For a one-off listing: book on the Kentwood real estate photography page.
- For a free critique first: submit a free listing photo audit and get a video back within 48 hours.
Kentwood is inside the free travel radius. Or text Kaden directly at (616) 258-4578.
Kentwood drone photography FAQ
Do you need LAANC authorization to fly a drone in Kentwood?
Most of Kentwood sits under Gerald R. Ford International Airport (KGRR) Class C controlled airspace, because the city wraps around the airport. Commercial drone flights here almost always require LAANC authorization before takeoff — it is not optional, and a pilot without it should not be flying your listing. We handle the filing before the shoot, so the answer for an agent is simply yes, it is covered.
How much does drone photography cost for a Kentwood listing?
$125 added to an Essential ($245) or Showcase ($375) package, and included at no extra cost in Signature ($525).
Is the drone pilot licensed?
Yes. Every flight is flown by an FAA Part 107 certified Remote Pilot in Command. Commercial real estate drone work without Part 107 is not legal, and it is a fair question to ask any photographer before you hire them.
How fast do I get the aerials back?
Next business day, the same as the rest of the shoot. Aerials for Kentwood listings are delivered edited and MLS-ready alongside the interiors and exteriors.
