Kelly Polk, Florida Realtor

04/13/2026

UNLICENSED COMMERCIAL DRONE OPERATOR WARNING!

As a licensed Realtor® and someone currently studying Aviation Safety & UAS Operations at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and preparing to take my Part 107 exam, this is something I take very seriously. I’ve seen so many people I know illegally using drones for business purposes and want to get the word out to professionals as well as consumers!

Per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), if you’re flying a drone for ANYTHING other than recreational use, you MUST have a Part 107 Remote Pilot License. That includes:

📸 Real estate listing photos
🏡 Marketing videos
💼 Promoting a business
💰 ANY activity tied to money, exposure, or benefit

⚠️ A lot of people think they can buy a drone off Amazon and start using it for real estate listing videos or side income “just to help out.” But the moment there’s any business purpose, it becomes commercial use and falls under FAA regulations.

⚠️ The consequences are real:

💰 Fines → Up to $32,666 per violation (and they can stack quickly)
⚖️ Legal action → Civil penalties and potential lawsuits
🚁 Drone seizure → Equipment can be confiscated
🚨 Criminal charges → In serious or reckless cases, this can escalate further

⚠️ Liability doesn’t stop with the pilot:

🚁 Drone Operator has the Primary responsibility but….the person or company that employs you can also be liable!

🧑‍💼 Realtors / Brokers/Businesses → Can be held liable for hiring or benefiting from illegal operations or having an agent that conducts commercial business without proper licensing.

🏠 Clients / Sellers → May be pulled into legal issues depending on involvement

💡 Bottom line:
If money, marketing, or business is involved… it is NOT recreational and falls under FAA regulations.

Operating without a Part 107 license puts you at risk financially, legally, and professionally.

And as someone entering this field, I believe it’s on all of us to educate others and follow the rules to protect people, property, and the future of this industry.

✔️ Always verify your drone pilot is Part 107 certified before hiring

🔍 Want to check for yourself?
Follow Link 1 in the comments, simply search their last name (no need to fill anything else out), and see if their name appears.
If it doesn’t show up, they are NOT licensed and may be illegally conducting commercial drone operations.

🚨 See something that doesn’t seem right?
If you have proof someone is operating commercially without a license, you can report it using Link 2 in the comments.

02/05/2026

Can we talk about agent follow-up and etiquette for a second? Because whoa…

This past weekend I tried to schedule showings for buyers in Pensacola and:

• 2 listing agents never returned calls
• 1 texted for two days then ghosted me
• 1 finally text on Monday and said they don’t work weekends and turns their phone on do not disturb!

What?! Dont work weekends! In Real Estate!! Um hello! Weekends are PRIME home shopping time.

Result? FOUR homes my buyers never even got to see. Not because they didn’t want them… but because no one answered the phone.

If you’re listing your home and your agent isn’t responsive, you could literally be missing buyers and never even know it. Explains why these four houses have been on the market as long as they have!

Just know that if I am willing to drive 6 hours away from home to show houses… you best believe I will be responsive to my clients near and far and will return calls. Thats my job and my personal guarentee.

I broke down exactly what happened (and how agents can serve clients better) in my new YouTube video. Link in the comments 👇

01/29/2026

Don’t forget your FREE money, Florida homeowners!

If you bought a home in 2025, make sure you file for your Homestead Exemption by March 1st.

It can save you hundreds (sometimes thousands) every year on property taxes — and once you file, you’re set moving forward.

It only takes a few minutes with your county property appraiser’s office.

12/05/2025

Pricing your home right from the start is one of the most important factors in a successful sale.
Recent trends are showing more and more sellers pricing their homes too high—even against the advisement of their agent. The result? Their homes sit with little to no showings, they get frustrated, pull the listing… and then hire a new agent who lists the home at the exact price the first agent recommended in the first place.

Your agent watches current trends, buyer behavior, and neighborhood data every day. Using that expertise early keeps your days on market low, your showings strong, and your selling power high.

If there’s a big gap between what you think your home is worth and what the market is showing, the smartest move is to get a pre-listing appraisal.

I can provide a free home valuation today to build a strategic pricing plan that gets your home SOLD.

12/04/2025

It's International Cookie Day!
Share your favorite recipe below!

12/04/2025

When I work with buyers, I don’t just unlock doors. I listen, I ask questions, and I get to know your lifestyle so I can match you with a home that truly fits. That’s why my clients don’t waste weekends touring houses that were never right for them in the first place.

Because when your agent is actually paying attention, finding your dream home doesn’t take luck — it takes intention. 🏡💛

12/03/2025

12/02/2025

Today is extra special because my clients just closed on their forever home, and I could not be more proud of how everything came together. We were complete strangers and on our first meeting, they trusted me enough to share their hopes, their must-haves, and what “home” really meant to them.
My job as a realtor is to ask questions in order for me to know what you are looking for, listen carefully to what is most important and match those wants, needs and hopes with homes so that I can find the perfect one. In this case after only three showings, we found the perfect one—and within six days of meeting this family and showing them the first, they were under contract.

Special thanks to the listing agent (and my broker!) for being incredible to work with, and to my partner Rick for stepping in to help while I recovered from surgery. This was truly a team effort from start to finish.

Now this wonderful family gets to make holiday memories in their new home!

12/01/2025

Cyber Monday Tip:
Add your dream home to your cart… then message me so I can help you actually check out. 😄🏡

Happy shopping, friends!

11/29/2025

Happy Small Business Saturday!
If you want to support local today without spending a dime…
just hit share, tag someone who might need me, or drop my name the next time someone says “I’m thinking about moving.”

Your referrals are my strength 💪🏻
Your shares are my secret weapon 💥
Your support is my superpower 💫

Grateful for you, and grateful to God for every bit of support.
May He cover you with grace and blessings this season.