As a follow up to my earlier article about using drones in real estate, just read that there are a few drone operators in California already doing it, and they list a few interesting uses:

1. Marketing – To take sweeping aerial shots, particularly of a large development site or building
2. Show Progress – Take aerial shots over time of a site in progress, to show in time lapse fashion how a project is progressing or to check that your contractor is doing what he is supposed to do.
3. To Spy on Tenants – This is one idea the article mentions but doesn’t really expand upon. On the one hand, whatever is visible from the air is arguably in plain site, but certainly this could run the risk of invasion of privacy. I’m thinking a few rent stabilized landlords in NYC might use (abuse) this to see if their tenants are doing something to violate their lease.