IRVAN Provider Information Page

IRVAN is poised to set worldwide standards for the video home tour industry.   By following a few simple guidelines, we can help ensure that you are properly positioned to take advantage of this new market.

Q)  What equipment do I need to be an IRVAN provider?
A)  The equipment requirements to be an IRVAN provider are relatively simple.  You need a DV or mini-DV camera, a tripod (preferably fluid head), and a business card.  We can purchase equipment in bulk from various providers so let us know if you find yourself in need of equipment.  We would be happy to assemble an equipment quote.

Q)  How do I get started?
A)  It is not difficult to start creating video home tours.  Your first step is to send in a sample tape.  Once you are approved as an IRVAN provider you can start using our name, logo and sales materials.  The tours that you sell and shoot are edited in our studio (or by an approved production house) and posted to our servers.

Q)  There are four key steps to creating a REVIS video tour.

1. Sales-  Obviously, a tour can not be created until someone approaches an agent and sells the idea.  Luckily, the product generally sells itself.  Your ability to explain the technology and its benefits will have a direct effect on your success as a sales person.
2. Videography-  Once an agent agrees to purchase a video tour, a time should be scheduled to capture the footage.  Your videographer needs to show up on time and work expeditiously.  Please speak with a member of the REVIS support staff  for some ideas on how to ensure that you are capturing the highest quality footage possible.
3. Editing- Once captured, the footage needs to be assembled in the appropriate order.  Music-beds are added as well as voiceovers (if requested).  
4. Compression, posting, hosting and development-  This is the nuts and bolts of ensuring that this product is successful.  The same compression settings and delivery methods will be used for every tour created.  All tours are uploaded to our servers and the appropriate contact information is added.  We will be responsible for creating and maintaining the network of IRVAN agents and advertising the REVIS brand.  We will also strive to keep up to date on the most current codecs, compression options and industry trends.

Q)  What am I responsible for?
A)  As an IRVAN provider, you will be responsible for 50% of the production process.  In other words, you will need to handle the first two steps (sales and videography).  REVIS will be responsible for the last two steps of the process (editing and posting).  If you are editing your own tours as an approved production house, then you are responsible for steps 1, 2 and 3.

Q)  How do we (you and REVIS)  make money?
A)  As an IRVAN provider, you will bill approximately $100 per tour for the first five scenes and $25 for each additional scene.  Our basic tour ($99.95) includes the following:

• Professionally Edited Video Tour (5 Scenes)
• High & Low Speed Internet Compression Of  The Tour
• Background Music
• 3 Months Of Web Hosting
• Email Link To Forward To Potential Buyers
• Posting To MLS (if available in your area)
• Membership in the International Real Estate Video Affiliate Network

The following items can be added for an additional cost:

• Additional Scenes: $25
• Text Overlay Of Key Features: $10/Scene
• Professional Quality Voice Over: ~$100 [sample]
• 3 Additional Months Of Web Hosting: ~$30
• Sketch Rendering/Special Effects: $25/effect [sample]
• Watermarking: $50
• Mini-CD (Business Card or Hockey Rink): $150 one time set-up + $3 per disk (50 disk minimum order)

These samples below should help you understand the process.  Call us if you have any questions.  Here is a simplified tour invoice for a typical REVIS video tour:

Here is an overview of how that cash would be distributed:

You will be responsible for paying REVIS 50% of the total tour cost.  You will retain the other 50%. As a standard IRVAN Provider, you would make $162.50 on the above sample.  If you are an authorized IRVAN editor / production house and will be editing your own tours, you will retain 75% of the tour cost.  For the sample above, you would make $243.75.

Q)  Why do I need to be approved as a REVIS provider or editor?
A) As a company, REVIS has a vested interest in making sure that there are adequate quality control measures in place.  This ensures that our tours look and function better than our competition.  This is an important part of our responsibility to protect our brand and your reputation with your clients.  By utilizing only authorized IRVAN Providers we can be confident that our products will stand out.

Q)  How does the process work?
A)  All applicants will be asked to submit a sample tape to our selection committee.  This seven person committee consists of two full time real estate agents, three members of  the general public and one representative from our management staff.  The selection committee is responsible for determining which editors are approved and will attempt to provide feedback for those who are not.  Your REVIS representative can give you some guidelines that can dramatically enhance the likelihood that you are accepted.  Applicants interested in being an IRVAN provider can simply send in their raw footage on mini DV or DV tape.
If you would like to be considered as an IRVAN editor, please contact us via telephone or email.

Q)  What should I include in my sample tape?
A)  Follow these important guidelines when creating your sample tape:

• Use a tripod.  We do not post tours that are shot without the use of some type of quality image stabilization.
• Use a wide angle lens.  There are a number of manufacturers that create wide angle adaptors for most prosumer and consumer DV camcorders.
• Keep it simple!  Do not add any voiceover tracks or still images to your tape.  Concentrate on smooth pans and useful angles.
• Pick your scenes before you shoot.  For your sample tape, 5 - 10 scenes is adequate.  For regular video tours, the agent or homeowner will determine the number of scenes to be filmed.
• Do not use any on camera talent.  (In other words. do not film the Real Estate Agent as they try to walk you through the house.)

Q)  Can you make some suggestions on how I can make my first tour a success?

• Shoot smooth pans of each scene.
• Pick the best angle for the room you are shooting and pan slowly from the left to the right.
• If you bump the camera or the pan is not smooth enough, simply start again.
• If you make a mistake, simply stop recording, reset the camera to your start point and begin again.  Do this until you are happy that you have captured a useable pan in both directions.
• Repeat this from right to left.  Be sure that you provide our editor with enough options to select opposing directions for each successive scene.  The last thing users want to see is a tour that constantly spirals in the same direction.
• Use your zoom button sparingly.  It is OK to focus on a particular room feature and slowly pull away while you pan in either direction.  Just remember not to overuse this effect.
• DO NOT REWIND YOUR TAPE ONCE YOU GET STARTED!  If you rewind the tape once you begin recording, it can invalidate your time code.  Our editors rely on this time code to capture your footage to our computers.  Keeping the time code consistent helps make this an easier task.

Q)  What scenes should be included in a REVIS Video Tour?
A)  A typical tour might include the following scenes:  

• Front of the house / front yard
• Foyer or entry
• Formal dining room
• Living room
• Kitchen
• Master bedroom
• Master bath
• Bonus Room / Recreation Room
• Backyard

Feel free to view some of the sample tours in our portfolio to get a feel for the types of scenes that we like to incorporate in our tours.  You can access some sample tours here.

Q)  Can I be a part-time IRVAN provider?
A)  Yes, however, most providers are surprised at the amount of business they able to produce with a little effort.  Many providers initially try to function as both a salesperson and a videographer to cut costs.  If you fall into this category, don't be surprised if you find that you do not have time to do both jobs.  Don't be afraid to hire a sales person early on. 

Q)  Can I edit my own tours?
A)  In order to edit tours on behalf of REVIS you must be an approved production house.  We want to ensure that all REVIS tours are similar in style and structure.  If you are an approved IRVAN video editor you can edit your own tours.  As an IRVAN editor, you will be asked to adhere to a very specific set of rules.  

Q)  Will I receive sales support from REVIS?
A)  Absolutely!  We speak with agents everyday and can help prepare you for any objections that you may run into.  You can also count on us to keep you up to speed on industry trends and emerging technology.  You will have access to our logos and corporate branding, and we can provide you with marketing and promotional flyer templates.  Let us know what you need to be successful and we will do our best to make it happen.

The Next Step...

The next step for you to become an IRVAN provider is to fill out our registration form and submit your sample tape.  Mail the tape to:

Real Estate Video Imaging Systems, Inc.
ATTN: IRVAN
2207 Baycourt Trail
Suite 200
Hillsborough, NC  27278

Remember,  the tape format should be DV or mini-DV.  The footage should be an unedited video tour of a house, condo, townhouse or apartment.  Please do not send a “generic” portfolio tape or a tour that is already edited.    We need to see the raw footage of a particular property in the same style that you would be sending to us once approved as a provider.       
Tapes are reviewed monthly.  The sooner you are approved, the sooner you can begin creating tours.  
               
Our purpose in establishing an international standard is to ensure that there are consistent elements in each REVIS branded tour.  Our goal is to  maintain quality standards and consistent delivery mediums.  For this reason, we do have some basic standards that must be adhered to by all IRVAN providers.  These standards are not a static set of rules.  These standards will fluctuate as the industry develops.  They are not complex or difficult to adhere to, however, in order to ensure the highest rate of success for our product, we insist that they be followed.  All tours must be shot using a wide angle lens or wide angle lens attachment and the camera must be mounted to a tripod.  Send your tapes on the same day that the tour is captured and provide us with your feedback.

As an IRVAN provider, you retain your autonomy.  You have the ability to run your business as you see fit.  We will not interfere with the manner in which you operate your business, however, we do ask that you keep your appointments, show up on time and deliver your product expeditiously.  Please do not promise what you can not deliver.  Our name will be branded on the tour and we reserve the right to chose the providers that we do business with.  We will periodically perform quality control surveys and reserve the right to refuse or remove IRVAN membership at any time.

Sign up as an IRVAN Provider. 

Sign up as an IRVAN Agent.

More information about video home tours is available online at www.RealEstateVideos.com.