RISMEDIA, January 8, 2009-HomeSmart Realty, one of the largest real estate brokerages in the U.S. Southwest has grown to over 3,400 agents and six locations and now ranks among the 10 largest brokerages in the country. HomeSmart continues to increase its market share of agents while many other brokerages are either shrinking or exiting the industry as a result of current market conditions. Beginning with only two agents in 2000, HomeSmart has experienced phenomenal growth due in large part to its unique combination of technological advantages and broker support provided to all of its agents.
According to the company, HomeSmart agents enjoy the benefits of the company’s dedication to the latest technology. This makes transaction management more efficient and helps keep company costs and, hence, agent fees low. One example – arriving clients are greeted by a virtual receptionist on a flatscreen display in each office lobby. The receptionist is actually miles away at the HomeSmart corporate headquarters performing the same task via closed circuit for all of HomeSmart’s offices, thereby significantly reducing overhead.
HomeSmart agents, says the company, keep 100% of their commissions and have very low transaction fees. This and a miniscule $25 monthly fee leaves HomeSmart agents able to keep so much more of their gross real estate income.
What’s more, every HomeSmart agent receives a company-provided direct phone number as well as a separate e-fax phone line for submission of all transaction documents to corporate headquarters. Online transaction management between the corporate office and each agent is also a big advantage for HomeSmart agents in providing accurate accounting of the documentation associated with each transaction.
“Technology sets us apart,” says Matt Widdows, owner and president of HomeSmart. “Even with over 3,400 agents and growing, we are able to provide each of our agents an ever-expanding array of tools and benefits due to the efficiencies provided by HomeSmart’s technological savvy. This gives HomeSmart agents a considerable edge in the current challenging market.”
Additional important advantages HomeSmart agents enjoy involve marketing and continuing education. HomeSmart offers the services of its own in-house marketing department free to all of its agents. Whatever farming/marketing materials an agent seeks are able to be designed and produced by HomeSmart’s in-house marketing staff. The quality of the marketing produced rivals that of any outside advertising agency.
HomeSmart University provides HomeSmart agents a complete array of all the continuing education courses needed for regular license renewal. With at least three or more courses scheduled each week, HomeSmart University makes it very convenient for HomeSmart agents to remain abreast of the latest and best information available in virtually all facets of the real estate industry. The quality of the education is second to none and is scheduled mornings, afternoons, and evenings and at different office locations for the convenience of agents. Of note would be the 8 classes in the Code of Ethics alone that HomeSmart conducted in December to assure its agents the opportunity to fulfill the NAR-required course by December 31, 2008. HomeSmart arranged for the former Professional Standards Administrator for the state association of REALTORS® to teach all 8 classes!
Measured by most any standard, HomeSmart’s business model continues to be a tremendous success. HomeSmart’s technological innovation, low fees, and superior broker support and dedication to providing quality education have proven to be a value package that agents are finding irresistible.
