MIAMI—Amazon and Facebook recently made headlines with drone plans, but could these flying vessels give commercial real estate agents an edge? They may, if success in the residential real estate world spills over.

Joe Janson of Stirling Sotheby's International Realty is proving the point. He's using drones to cover the Brevard, Indian River, and East Volusia markets. Specifically, he uses the remote-controlled aircraft to take pictures and photos of the homes he's listing.

“Most home buyers never see an aerial view of the home they are about to buy,” Janson says. “But an aerial view can add an impression that stays with you. A home owner can view an entire property. It's much more impressive than just a photo of the front of the home.”

Janson began playing with remote-controlled aircraft many years ago as a hobby. He considers himself an “extremely technical” person. That may be an understatement—Janson is a member of worldwide Mensa organization and cut his teeth on the personal computer revolution during his 20s.

“Drones can provide distant affluent buyers with a 'bird's eye view' of your luxury home—without the feathers,” Janson quips. He's a member of the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce and co-chairman of the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Committee. He also served as chairman of the Surfside Stars, a Chamber-affiliated professional networking group. He currently serves as president of the Board of Directors of a worldwide publisher of boating-related books.

So, do you envision a day when commercial real estate professionals can gain a competitive edge using drones? Sound off in the comment box below.