The HomeSight Dealer Network
The HomeSight dealer program has been developed in response to the growing demand by the real estate community for Interactive Floor Plans (IFPs). Interactive floor plans include photos embedded within the floor plan itself.
HomeSight has been providing Interactive Floor Plans to the real estate community in Central Illinois for the past 8 years and to date has completed well over 20,000 IFPs. The system was developed for a local real estate company who wanted to offer a unique service for both buyers and sellers that would help it capture more internet traffic. By providing IFPs on all their listings, this real estate company was able to double its volume and more than triple its website traffic within a year.
Word quickly spread, and now HomeSight maintains 5 exclusive contracts within Central Illinois and completes approximately 5,000 IFPs per year. We have developed very efficient methods for completing the field work as well as processing and publishing the IFPs to the Internet. We receive numerous inquiries from all over the country regarding our service, but cannot adequately provide the service outside of our local market.
The need for innovative marketing procedures is higher than ever as more and more real estate agents look for creative ways to market their existing listings and to get new listings. In response to this demand, we have created the HomeSight IFP Dealer program.
Our dealer program allows local entrepreneurs to start their own IFP business without having to go to the great expense and time commitment of developing the tools necessary to create and publish the IFP to the web. The HomeSight RSS is a totally web based platform that allows agents to place and maintain orders, get statistics on their IFPs, download our photos, upload their own photos, download PDF flyers, download PDF floor plans and create CDs of their IFPs. It allows our dealers to manage their orders, set appointments, obtain maps to the property and much more. It enables our processing staff to communicate with clients and dealers, to manage orders, and to create and publish the IFPs.
HomeSight dealers pay no upfront costs or monthly fees and are only responsible for marketing their floor plan business and completing the field work. Field work consists of setting appointments, visiting the properties, taking pictures, and drawing the floor plan. HomeSight’s processing staff takes it from there. We will take the floor plan drawing and raw photographs and create a complete interactive floor plan for your client. HomeSight will provide your client with both a branded and unbranded link via email that they may post to any website they wish. We host the IFPs on our servers and will not take the IFP down until instructed to by the client. If the client desires we will post the IFP to their website for them, and we can also make arrangements in many cases to send it directly to their MLS system. As HomeSight is a PicturePath Provider with Realtor.com, we can also post the IFP to Realtor.com for the client.
There are no upfront costs to becoming a HomeSight dealer and we do not charge our dealers monthly fees. The HomeSight dealer is free to set their own fee structure; however, HomeSight will provide guidance in setting fees if requested. We collect all fees for our dealers via credit card at the time the order is published. This means the dealer always gets paid. HomeSight will direct deposit all fees earned by the dealer in the previous month directly to the dealer’s bank account. HomeSight charges a $30.00 processing fee per order, and deducts that amount from the dealer’s proceeds prior to completing the deposit.
The tools needed to complete the field work include a computer, laser measuring device, computer drawing program (HomeSight fully supports Apex, but other programs can be used) and a wide angle camera. Basically, if you already own a computer you can realistically get started for around $500.00. HomeSight has designed marketing materials for dealers to use and will forward master files at no charge. We will even include the dealer’s name and logo on the materials upon request.
Upon becoming an approved HomeSight IFP dealer you will receive a welcome packet which includes suggested measuring guidelines, suggested photography guidelines, recommended cameras, instructions on how to use the HomeSight RSS system, and sample marketing materials. We provide telephone and WebeX support and onsite training is provided at our home office located in Decatur, Illinois. Onsite training includes physically inspecting actual properties and Apex training.
If you are interested in becoming an approved HomeSight IFP dealer, please click on the link below.
Tom Brinkoetter
President, HomeSight Interactive Floor Plans
