Drone Property Inspection or Drone Documentation?
Many owners who search for a drone inspection of a commercial property need something different: a dated aerial record of the whole site. Here is how the two differ, and how to tell which one you need.
The short answer
An inspection is a professional judgment about a property's condition, made by a qualified inspector, consultant, or engineer. Aerial documentation is a dated, repeatable visual record of what the property looked like on a given day. FlyCRE provides documentation. We do not inspect, assess, or diagnose. Our records give you, and the professionals you hire, a complete overhead view to work from.
What an inspection is
Inspections are defined by who performs them and what they conclude. California law describes a home inspection as a "noninvasive, physical examination," performed for a fee in connection with a transfer of real property (Business and Professions Code section 7195). For commercial buildings, the industry guide most lenders and buyers reference is ASTM E2018, which frames a property condition assessment around a walk-through survey by a field observer and research by a consultant.
In both cases, a person with the right qualifications looks at the property and reaches conclusions about its condition. That conclusion is the product.
What aerial documentation is
Aerial documentation is a record, not a conclusion. On each flight, FlyCRE captures RGB, thermal, and multispectral imagery and processes it into orthomosaic maps and 3D models. Every capture is dated and georeferenced, so the next flight can be compared to the last. Flights are flown by remote pilots certificated under FAA Part 107.
The record shows what was visible from the air on that date. It does not grade the property, explain causes, or recommend repairs.
Side by side
| Inspection | FlyCRE documentation | |
|---|---|---|
| Product | A professional opinion about condition | A dated visual record of the whole site |
| Who | Licensed inspector, consultant, or engineer | FAA Part 107 certificated remote pilots |
| Timing | Usually one visit, often tied to a sale or claim | On a schedule, so changes show over time |
| Coverage | The areas the inspector reaches | Roofs, grounds, slopes, and open space from above |
| Output | A written report with findings | Orthomosaics, thermal and multispectral layers, 3D models |
When documentation is what you need
- Insurance renewals. A dated record of roofs, grounds, and defensible space to share with your broker or carrier.
- Vendor and contractor work. Before and after captures of roofing, landscaping, or fuel modification work you paid for.
- Portfolio baselines. The same view of every property, flown on the same schedule, filed in one place.
- Before and after events. A record of the site before storm season, a construction project, or a sale.
- Giving your inspector more to work with. A full overhead view, including thermal, that your inspector or roof consultant can review alongside their own work.
If you need someone to tell you what is wrong with a building, or what to fix, you need an inspector, roof consultant, or engineer. FlyCRE's record supports that work. It does not replace it.
Common questions
Does FlyCRE do drone roof inspections?
No. FlyCRE captures and delivers dated aerial records of roofs and sites. We do not inspect, assess, or make findings about condition. Many clients share our records with their own roofing professional.
Can my inspector or roof consultant use FlyCRE imagery?
Yes. Your records are delivered through FlyCRE Intelligence, and you can share them with the professionals you work with.
Where does FlyCRE fly?
Orange County first, then across California and the Western United States. See Orange County and who we serve.
Sources
- California Business and Professions Code section 7195
- ASTM E2018, Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments: Baseline Property Condition Assessment Process, ASTM International
- 14 CFR Part 107, Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, eCFR
This page is general information, not legal, insurance, or engineering advice. FlyCRE documents conditions and does not provide inspection, condition assessment, maintenance, repair, or land surveying services.