Should You Create Real Estate Floor Plans In-House or Outsource?

If you work in real estate, you already know how important floor plans are. They’re now one of the first things buyers look for. A clear, accurate floor plan helps people picture themselves in a space, understand the flow of the rooms, and decide faster whether a property feels like home. In many cases, a good floor plan can make the difference between casual browsing and serious buyer interest. 

But once you know you need them, the big question is: how should you get them done? Should you create real estate floor plans in-house, build your own team and processes, or outsource the work to a specialist? Let’s walk through what each approach really looks like. 

1. The Basics of Real Estate Floor Plan Production 

Floor plans can be created in a few different ways, depending on your budget, tools, and time. Knowing these methods is key because whether you go in-house or outsource, the workflows, tools, and investments differ drastically. 

• Manual Sketching: This is the most traditional route: You measure each room by hand, sketch it on paper, and then digitize it later. While inexpensive, it’s slow and leaves plenty of room for human error because accuracy depends heavily on the individual’s measurement skills. 

• Laser + LiDAR Measurement: Faster and more precise. Many professionals now use laser measurers or LiDAR-enabled devices (like the latest iPhones or iPads) to capture dimensions. These measurements are then processed with CAD software or real estate floor plans creation platforms. It takes training but is a big step up from pen and paper. 

• Mobile Floor plan Tools: Solutions like CloudScanner simplify your workflow by letting you scan, upload, receive and adjust a property with your smartphones. Once scanning is done, you can get 2D or 3D floor plans automatically. Quick and scalable, though sometimes you’ll still need to double check the results a bit. 

• Full Outsourcing Models: Here, you submit raw scans, sketches, or even photos, and a post-production team will deliver completed floor plans — sometimes with extras like interactive floor plans. This model prioritizes speed and professionalism, but you need to consider your needs more carefully. 

2. In-house Floor Plans Creation 

Creating real estate floor plans in-house gives you the most control. You get to oversee every step, from how measurements are taken to how the final drafts look. You’re free to define your own standards, put in real-time feedback, tweak styles as you want, and keep sensitive data under your roof. That level of control is especially attractive when consistency and brand identity matter to you. If speed is critical and your team is efficient, this control can also mean faster turnaround, since there’s no waiting for an external provider to deliver files. 

However, this control comes at a cost. Sustaining an in-house team means constant investment in training, software licenses, hardware, and management. If your workload fluctuates, your team may sit idle in slow months or get overwhelmed during peak seasons. Burnout is a real risk, and replacing skilled staff is never easy. In-house makes the most sense for businesses with steady demand and enough budget to support a dedicated team. 

3. Outsourced Floor Plans Production 

A sample of 2D floorplan

Outsourcing looks very different. Instead of building an internal team, you partner with experts who specialize in real estate floor plans. You focus on collecting the raw data — whether that’s photos, sketches, or scans — and they handle the technical side of converting it into a polished floor plan. 

The biggest benefit of outsourcing is expertise. Service providers focus exclusively on floor plans and often employ experienced editors who are already familiar with advanced tools, scalable workflows, best practices and quality control. You don’t have to worry about hiring, licensing, or keeping staff busy year-round. Turnaround times are generally fast, with many providers delivering within 12 to 24 hours. Real estate floorplan outsourcing also allows businesses to scale instantly. Whether you need a handful of floor plans one week or hundreds the next, outsourcing partners can adjust without requiring you to hire or retrain staff. 

On the flip side, outsourcing does mean you’ll have less direct control. Communication with external teams can occasionally create delays, and costs may add up if you’re working with premium providers. However, for businesses looking for flexibility, speed, and consistent quality without heavy overheads, outsourcing is often the smarter move.

4. Comparing the Two Approaches  

A sample of Esoft’s 3D floor plan 

The choice between in-house and outsourced production is rarely black and white. In-house gives you more direct control but requires ongoing investment in people and technology. Outsourcing reduces those burdens while providing access to specialists but comes with less direct oversight and recurring costs. 

For many companies, the decision hinges on workload and strategy. If you consistently produce large volumes of  real estate floor plans and want full creative oversight, building an internal team may eventually pay off. If your needs fluctuate or you want to keep your core team lean and focused, outsourcing provides the flexibility to grow or shrink output without the risk of overstaffing.  

Another important angle to consider is expertise and specialization. A dedicated floor plan provider likely has deeper experience, more refined QA processes, and domain expertise (3D layouts, interactive formats, etc.). They’ve seen edge-case real estate floor plans, different architectural styles, and unique constraints; that experience helps them anticipate challenges before they materialize. It’s very hard to replicate that learning curve in-house unless you commit heavily. In-house teams might struggle when confronted with unusual or highly technical projects if they aren’t large and exposed to many contexts. 

5. Where the Industry is Headed 

Floor plan production is evolving quickly. The industry is transforming as technology and buyer expectations evolve side by side.  

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are being built into scanning apps, making it easier to create accurate layouts in just minutes. What used to be premium add-ons, like 3D and immersive real estate floor plans, are quickly shifting into baseline expectations from buyers and sellers alike. They have grown accustomed to richer digital experiences. They want to walk through a property virtually, rotate a 3D model, or even test different furniture layouts before they book a showing. 

At the same time, accuracy and transparency are also rising to the top of the priority list. MLS organizations and regulatory bodies are tightening rules around misrepresentation, and buyers are more skeptical than ever. A floor plan that exaggerates room sizes or omits key details can damage trust — and by extension, an agent’s reputation.

For real estate media businesses, this means that floor plans can’t be treated as standalone diagrams anymore. They’re part of a bigger marketing ecosystem — one that integrates photo, video, virtual staging, and now even AI-assisted marketing. Teams that approach real estate floor plans as a strategic piece of this workflow — rather than an afterthought — will be better positioned to meet rising client expectations. The way you handle them today will define how well you keep pace with tomorrow’s market, as both a creative asset and a trust-building tool. 

6. Wrapping It All Up 

So, should you produce floor plans in-house or outsource them? The answer depends on your resources, your volume, and your growth plans. In-house gives you tighter control but demands ongoing investment. Outsourcing gives you access to specialists and scalability but requires trust in external partners. Many businesses find that a mix of both works best. 

What matters most is not the method but the outcome: real estate floor plans that are accurate, professional, and appealing. These are the assets that help buyers connect with a listing, speed up sales, and build trust in your brand. 

If you’re considering outsourcing, Esoft’s floor plan solutions are designed for real estate media companies of all sizes. With a team of 1,000+ seasoned editors specializing in real estate marketing, we deliver fast, accurate, and scalable results, from simple 2D diagrams to full 3D and immersive experiences. That way, you can spend less time worrying about production and more time growing your business. To explore how we can support you, reach out to us at sales.vn@esoft.com.