Before you start
Sign in and open Dashboard. Free accounts can build and preview up to three maps; downloads require Pro.
Follow along
Step 1 of 5Start from Dashboard
Click New Map. Search for the subject property address and select an autocomplete result.
Start from Dashboard
Click New Map. Search for the subject property address and select an autocomplete result.
How-to 1
Choose the map you want to make
Start with one property and one presentation purpose. A neighborhood overview needs a wider view than a site-access diagram. For your first project, build a simple availability map with a subject marker, a few nearby businesses, one availability label, and a clean base style.
Have the address, property name, availability text, and any images you want to upload ready. You can build and preview on Free; downloading the finished map requires Pro. Set up your profile before making a PDF if you want the layout to include your contact details.
How-to 2
Create a map from an address
- 1
Start the address flow
From Dashboard, click New Map. In the address search, type enough of the address to distinguish the property from similarly named places. Select the intended autocomplete result; merely typing an address does not select a location.
- 2
Check the selected location
Read the selected address and confirm the city and street. If it is the wrong property, select the correct result before continuing. The address establishes the subject location used for centering and nearby-business distances.
- 3
Name and mark the property
Enter Property Name if you want a label. Choose Use Marker for the pin, star, or shape presets; use your profile logo when available; upload your own image; or choose Property Name for a text treatment. Review the selection before clicking Continue.
- 4
Enter the editor
Click Continue. The editor opens around the chosen property. Check the subject location and framing before adding tenants. Give the map a recognizable title in the field above Save, such as Market Square availability.
How-to 3
Find the right editor tool
The dark sidebar holds the creation tools. The floating toolbar above the canvas holds undo, redo, and controls that affect existing overlays. On a smaller screen, Open panel reveals the sidebar.
| Tool | Use it for |
|---|---|
| Property | Edit the subject label, image, and container. |
| Search | Find a specific business location and add its name or reviewed artwork. |
| POIs | Reuse saved locations, or save this map's businesses with Pro. |
| Logos | Search for standalone brand artwork. |
| Text and Image | Add your own labels and uploaded illustrations. |
| Shapes | Draw areas, lines, and directional arrows. |
| Groups | Build a collection of tenant logos. |
| Style | Change the base map, map labels, and highway highlighting. |
How-to 4
Build a complete first composition
- 1
Add a few businesses
Open Search and choose a category such as Grocery. Read each result name and address. Click one result to choose artwork or Use Text Only. Reopen Search for the next business. Start with a small, reviewed set so the map remains easy to arrange.
- 2
Add the availability label
Open Text, enter the actual availability description, and choose a preset. For practice, use AVAILABLE 2,400 SF. Click Add Text, then drag the label into a clear area close to the property. Use Edit style to revise it.
- 3
Simplify the base map
Open Style and try Light or Silver. Hide Business Labels if they compete with the overlays you added. Keep enough street information to orient the reader. Your own text and logos are separate from the base-map labels.
- 4
Arrange and check
Move logos apart and inspect their leader-line anchors. Keep the subject property visible. Pan and zoom to frame the area needed for your presentation, then check all labels at that scale.
How-to 5
Save, reopen, and prepare a download
- 1
Save deliberately
Click Save above the sidebar tools. Wait until Saving finishes and the Saved status appears. If an error appears, keep the editor open and retry after checking the connection. A pending autosave is not a confirmed save.
- 2
Verify the saved project
Go to Dashboard and reopen the map card. Confirm the title, subject marker, and added content. Dashboard opens the last successfully saved map; its thumbnail is a preview, so open the map for a detailed check.
- 3
Preview the destination
With Pro, click Download. Choose an image layout or PDF template and examine the export preview. Framing and output quality are separate choices. Use the export guide to prepare the dimensions needed for your destination.
How-to 6
Resolve common first-map problems
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Continue does not open the editor | Select an autocomplete result and resolve any message in the setup form. |
| The map is centered on the wrong site | Correct the address during setup. Editing the title or property label does not perform a new address search. |
| The canvas is crowded | Remove nonessential overlays, shorten text, or group tenants from the same center. |
| Your last change is missing after reopening | Check whether the previous save completed. A refresh cannot recover a change that never reached a successful save. |
| Download asks for an upgrade | Free includes building and previewing. Use Pro when you need downloadable images or PDFs. |
Check your result
Your saved map appears in Dashboard. Reopen it and confirm the property, title, and overlays are present.
Tips and troubleshooting
- Search saved maps by title, property name, or address. Sort by Last modified, Date created, or Name.
- To recenter, open More and choose Center on Property. Delete is in the map card menu and requires confirmation.
Read the quick walkthrough as text
- Start from Dashboard. Click New Map. Search for the subject property address and select an autocomplete result.
- Set up the subject property. Review the address. Enter a property name and choose a marker, image, or Property Name, then click Continue.
- Find your tools. The desktop sidebar contains Property, Search, POIs, Logos, Text, Image, Shapes, Groups, and Style. Save and Download are above these tools. On smaller screens, open the editor tools drawer.
- Add a first label. Open Text, enter a label, choose a style, then click Add Text. Drag the label into position on the map.
- Save and verify. Click Save above the sidebar tools and wait for Saved to appear. Autosave also runs after changes settle; check for a save error before closing.
Explore the retail map software overview for the full workflow.