Today we’d like to introduce you to Lance Holmon.
Hi Lance, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I had this obsession with the aesthetics of houses, architecture and interior design. As I got older and started working, I went to college but constantly struggled to figure out what I wanted to do as a career. You would think the obvious thing to do would be to study things like architecture or interior design. However, when I was in school I did none of those things. I had a few ideas in mind as career choices but nothing clicked strong enough for me to want to see it through. Once I got my associates degree, I stopped with school until I could figure out what I truly wanted to study. The jobs I had worked were just to get by while in school and even after but had nothing to do with anything I was passionate about.
Then at the start of 2020 I decided to go to real estate school and get my license as a realtor and apartment locator in the Houston & surrounding areas. I loved the idea of being able to see so many unique houses and apartments all over the city mixed with helping people to find spaces they love. I still held on to my 9-5 while building up real estate. I enjoyed it, and thought to myself this will do. After a while, it still felt like something was missing. I would close deals here and there but started to stop feeling like I was thriving as most people dream to be a top producing realtor. I found myself thinking maybe that isn’t the end goal for me which sounds wild for someone in real estate to say. I like real estate but I had a feeling this wouldn’t be the end all be all.
The first time I remember having some kind of inkling or pull was when I attended a luxury brokers open house of a million dollar new construction home. I found myself thinking things like I wish I were the designer or builder of this home or helped with the process somehow. It’s as if I hypothetically felt that I would be more fulfilled being a part of the design process instead of selling it. Going back to my obsession with architectural aesthetics, I discovered the world of architectural visualization. It started with a portfolio website I came across where artists post their work. One of the categories was architecture. There were countless images of 3D renderings which are visual representations of design concepts for buildings and homes on what they will look like before they are actually built. I was obsessed with looking at them and would spend hours looking through different images and artists as well as reading many blogs about topics related to visualization. I would wonder how they did that. I looked into programs that could make these images so I downloaded one that I heard a lot about which was SketchUp. I downloaded the software…and had no idea what I was doing lol. I thought it was so complicated so I ditched that and went with a more beginner friendly program. It was great for a while but it didn’t fit the vision of the content I wanted to make with the renderings long term. Then Andrea Tru, an interior designer that I was following on Instagram created an online course for the very same program I gave up on. Then through her I discover Meg Kinsinger (@thatvizchick on Instagram) who became a mentor for creating any kind of design related business and launched a course all about starting a freelance business. She can teach modeling software as well. Now with a guided way to learn, I eventually understood the concepts and it became second nature to me. I practiced for about a year making 3D mock up models of actual apartments that I would visit as a locator and then eventually created full sized homes in 3D. Once I felt confident with the software, and both courses taken, I was ready to start this business so huge shoutout to them!
After a year of practicing and learning, it lead me to create my 3D rendering business called FreeLance Designs LLC. At the time of writing this, it is a little over 1 year old and already I have discovered so much. I have gotten to work with amazing custom home builders, Interior Designers, Realtors, Architects, Investors and more. I remember thinking to myself I wanted to shift more of my focus into some kind of role where I can collaborate and partner with fellow realtors and others across different but related industries. Well Realtors often work with builders and this became what checked all those boxes of an additional path I have been looking for.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were definitely some struggles along the way. Pivoting and redirection was a huge challenge. When I was let go from my 9-5 job of 7 years in 2024 as I was literally in the middle of interviewing for a new position within the company that seemed likely for me to get, I thought this would be the time to fall back on Real Estate and really go all in. Yet I would struggle to stay afloat as I would see my savings get lower and lower & commission checks immediately go to bills with little room for anything else. I would think to myself I had more time for real estate at this time, why wasn’t I thriving? I truly hit a low during this time and in addition to other losses beyond just career, mental health really started to suffer. I eventually went back to working but I also believe that gave me time to create this business.
Another challenge I would say the simple process of getting started. Learning 3D rendering was often a “one day” thought. I was slightly familiar with computer aided design and even would be encouraged by a former supervisor who could see the desire I had for it probably more than I even knew. Learning this type of work seemed like such a far off thing that I didn’t expect to start anytime soon. Plus starting when AI was being implemented was very intimidating to me but I truly believe nothing beats the quality of a dedicated human artist that can put renderings together and can 100% understand what clients need in their images or animations.
Finally, I would say the process of getting clients. Starting something is one thing but nurturing and growing it is the next part of the challenge. I offer virtual staging services as well and that was the only service I would get inquiries on in the beginning but I really wanted to have opportunities to fulfill rendering services. It wasn’t until a few months down the line that I got my first rendering client. Time management would be another thing. Creating/growing a new business while temporarily balancing real estate work a full time job.
While challenges aren’t always ideal, they still can serve as beneficial purposes along the journey that can serve as fuel. An example of this, when I went back to working, this job had nothing to do with design, yet I ended up with an opportunity to do a huge 3D rendering project for the owner plus a couple opportunities to help a few coworkers find apartments. Then there’s real estate, very high highs and very low lows. Yet this opened so many doors on the renderings side of things.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
FreeLance Designs is a 3D Rendering and virtual staging services business. Based in Houston but I can work with clients from anywhere around the world remotely. On the virtual staging side, I use actual listing photos and dress them up with realistic furniture to market on MLS and other advertising websites.
The 3D rendering services serve as a way to communicate and market residential or commercial projects before construction or while construction is in progress. I provide realistic Images, animations & 3D virtual Tours. One common problem is buyers and many people for that matter have a hard time visualizing something when all they have is a description or a construction site. This gives clients highly detailed images and videos of what their space will look like. This can help avoid costly mistakes by having confidence on selections, avoiding having to make costly changes to a project. This also serves as a good way to increase the odds of selling a home or leasing a space for example before construction is completed.
What sets me apart is my real estate background, eye for detail, and design style. I believe this experience would look pretty different had I not gotten into real estate prior. Sometimes builders will even give me the freedom of furnishing their projects in 3D. I focus on styles that bring comfort and warmth to a space or that would appeal to the masses. From seeing how staging companies and designers stage homes in real life, I use those same aspects to stage in 3D. Real estate also involves a lot of marketing so I use that experience with my 3D projects by using animations & images to market them in creative ways as if they already exist.
I also wanted to mention the meaning behind the business name. One day I was chatting with 2 managers of one of the high rises downtown after I visited to get real estate content there. One of them was kind enough to speak highly of the renderings I created to her colleague and we were discussing the possibility of that becoming a business in the future. (If you’re reading this, thanks Natalie lol) Freelancing was mentioned and then I say “free-Lance?” While pointing to myself. One thing about me, I am a big fan of puns. So my business name ultimately represents 3 things. A freelancer, my love for puns and that doing this kind of work is freeing for me above anything else I’ve done so it literally frees me. (Free Lance)
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory was when a computer game known as The Sims came out. I was 10 years old at the time. For those who don’t know, The Sims is a simulation game where you create a family, build them a house and manage your family characters. I ended up finding the building process to be the most fun part for me. As new versions would come out, it got to the point where I would barely play with the characters. All I would literally do is build multiple houses. There were online forums where you could upload your homes for other players to download. I would then start to recreate notable homes in real life for the game. I would try to follow every detail to recreate it. Little did I know, I was just playing a game when in actuality I was practicing for the business that I would end up starting in the future because what is the main thing I do in my business? Copy details that clients send me to put in their projects. When creating houses in the sims it was nearly the same thing. Copying and inputting details. I mentioned previously how learning visualization software this not an idea I planned to do anytime soon…or so I thought. That came to mind because when playing the game there are limits to things I would want to input for a house so with actual 3D modeling programs I knew the possibilities could be endless. I truly believe this childhood game as it even followed me into adulthood further allowed me to explore my creativity and fascination with architecture/design which played a significant role in leading me to where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: freelancedesigns.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldoflance/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578105430887
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-holmon-a79245283/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LanceHolmon
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@freelancedesigns
