Three Bastogne natives, Romain Lafontaine, Romain Haag, and Thibaut Desemberg, are changing the real-estate game in the Grand Duchy and Belgium with virtual 3D visits, and the future looks bright.
RH Medias’ camera and video technology in the real estate industry is revolutionary for the local markets. “We are the first official offering for virtual real estate visits in Belgium,” said Romain Haag (26), original founder. “Our technology provides a virtual layout,” explained Thibaut Desemberg. “It speeds up the selling process from start to finish by 87% and virtual visits by 79%.”
So what is it?
Given the presence of 3D technology, RH Medias’ idea isn’t completely new. It’s the application style and purchasing packages that set them apart. “Our goal is to offer several packages with different sets of solutions in order to promote real estate goods and purchase thereof,” remarked Haag. “We also want to increase visibility for vacation destinations, such as hotels and Bed & Breakfasts.“
In terms of quality, it’s the person behind the camera that counts. “The AirBnB example is clear. At first, property owners themselves took the pictures. That didn’t work. Then AirBnB send professionals, and the whole system blew up. The visual quality is paramount,” explained Desemberg. “Our product allows potential purchasers to walk around the area, to turn 360 degrees, and to live the space. That’s a game changer.”
How does it work?
The team at RH Medias makes it sound easy. “We regroup the rooms into a simple layout, a process we call home staging. Then we put HD pictures into the layout. Then comes the videos and virtual visits, which amount to our flagship product. We use drones to best capture the most important parts. And of course, we make sure all of the media is compatible online.”
“The AirBnB example is clear. At first, property owners themselves took the pictures. That didn’t work. Then AirBnB sent professionals, and the whole system blew up. The visual quality is paramount,” explained Desemberg. “Our product allows potential purchasers to walk around the area, to turn 360 degrees, and to live the space. That’s a game changer.”
Next Steps: Tripling Activity
“Our main concern is to maximize expansion,” said Haag. “To cover our costs and procure the necessary investments, we need to triple our activity.”
Perhaps the biggest roadblock going forward is the consumers themselves. Some agencies, says Lafontaine, “are still old school, and they are scared to take the first step toward virtual visits. But we’re seeing more and more interest with time.” And with time, the goal is clear: growth at all costs. “We could get a return on the investment right now, but we prefer to grow and spread our services without cutting corners,” expressed Haag.
In the pursuit of tripled activity, Luxembourg is RH Medias’ priority market. Although competition is fierce, the RH Medias team feels confident that their solution has the added value to seal the deal. They have already been integrated into le Pôle Numérique 3D in Liège, which will help build the team’s network and clients. After Luxembourg, the tripling activity will continue across Wallonia, then Flanders, then France.
“Of course,” said Desemberg, “we will expand our employee count as well.” The goal: up to 4 new employees by the end of 2018.
