The Go Management Company, which operates Keller Williams franchises in 14 markets across North Texas; New Mexico; and Memphis, Tennessee; today announced a partnership with InsideMaps to provide 3-D tours, high dynamic range (HDR) videos and floor plans to its 4,500 agents.
The agents will have free access to InsideMaps’ basic plan that includes 3-D tours, floor plans and HDR photos. Agents who want a 3-D floor plan must pay $10 per listing.
“Staying at the forefront of technology is a key to our success,” said Smokey Garrett, the operating partner of Keller Williams Realty, Go Management Company, in a press release. “Empowering our agents with InsideMaps will give our listings a huge advantage. As everyone now starts their search for a home online, we have long sought to put every property online in a more intuitive, immersive way.”
“We see InsideMaps as a revenue generator, not a cost; so the decision to provide InsideMaps to our agents was easy,” Garrett added.
How it works
To get started, agents must download the InsideMaps’ free iOS app and purchase an InsideMaps Hero 360 camera rotation device and tripod. Once they’ve downloaded the app and signed in, agents are led to a project dashboard where all of their video and photo projects will be listed.
To create a new project, agents must click the “new project” button. Then, they will be given four options to choose from: the basic package (3-D tour, floor plan and HDR photos), the pro plan (3-D tour, floor plan, HDR photos and 3-D model), HDR photos only or floor plan only.
Next, agents are asked to choose which room they’ll be filming or photographing.
From there, agents are directed to slide their iPhone 6, 6s or 7 headfirst into the Hero 360 camera rotation device and sync it using Bluetooth. InsideMaps suggests agents attach the rotation device to a tripod that is at least 57 inches tall.
Agents can begin scanning room-by-room, usually starting in the corner. All agents need to do is click the “scan” prompt and move out of the camera’s range. Once the initial scan of the room is done, InsideMaps suggests agents place the camera in the middle of the room for a second scan.
To begin scanning a different room, agents must click “I’m done with this space,” and follow the same instructions.
Once an agent is done scanning the entire home, they must click “project” and then “edit details” to give the project a name and an address. Lastly, they’ll click “save” to save the listing’s information and “finish project” to send the scans to InsideMaps to be turned into a 3-D tour. The app must stay open during the uploading process.
InsideMaps says, on average, it takes 15-25 minutes to capture a 1,000-square-foot home, and it takes about 24 hours for a scan to be turned into a 3-D video.
Agents are given links and embed codes to share the video on a social media profile or on their website, and they have the option to add branding to the videos, photos and floor plans.
InsideMaps says agents are able to add voice overs using Keller Williams’ video app or any other video editing software.
“InsideMaps’ innovative iPhone-based capture solution is bringing radical affordability to 3-D tours and HDR videos, enabling Keller Williams Realty Agents to better market their listings and grow their brands,” said InsideMaps vice president Gabe Knox.
“We are proud to partner with Keller Williams Realty’s largest group of Market Centers by transactions to put their agents and their customers ahead in this competitive market.”
