with respect. Preservation of that culture is hugely important, and we protect it with a vengeance. It took a long time to get here, but it’s real and company-wide.
MP: I get the 100-percent
MP: How can HomeSmart
MW: It’s all about scale and smart business. We run a business that happens to be in the real estate industry. I think that’s a unique viewpoint. We build business processes that allow us to be efficient and lean without sacrificing service. Then we scale it. The technology is what enables us to do so at a profit.
brokers manage such a large volume of transactions with such a lean staff?
MW: Technology allows our departments to maximize their output by focusing on their specific roles within the transaction. This keeps our brokers on high-level calls, file review and legal matters while the rest of our team handles the other aspects of the transaction. We also have a dedicated support team to answer calls about anything non-transactionrelated. When each team is hyperfocused, we can do more with less. That’s the beauty and one of the key differentiators of our proprietary end-to-end systems. As the fifth-largest brokerage in the United States, we’re able to manage a 9,788-plus agent brokerage with 100-percent agent tech adoption. We processed 36,064 transactions last year, answering our phone 92 percent of the time before going to voicemail with a team of only 38 brokerage employees. We’ve figured out a smarter way to run a brokerage.
model and why it’s a benefit to agents, but how can you run that model, still make a profit and provide leadingedge technology?
‘HOMESMART IS THE COMPANY TO WATCH THE NEXT 20 YEARS.’ “We’re not interested in a few key stories or wins. We’re in this for the long game. We know the industry, brokers, agents and consumers. We’re here to ease the path to homeownership while revolutionizing the industry as we go,” says Widdows. MP: Why push yourself so hard? What are you trying to accomplish?
MW: I’m working to revolutionize the real estate industry. I want HomeSmart to be the brand that does so—the brand that made real estate better for brokers, agents and
consumers. HomeSmart will stand the test of time and will continue to innovate through the ever-changing industry landscape. MP: What is your day-to-day involvement in HomeSmart’s tech and systems?
MW: Technology is one of my passions. I’m heavily involved in the design, development and implementation of our software. I meet with the team regularly and strategize with our leadership group about what’s needed to improve our technology. I have a clear vision of the different areas in our business that have processes that can be made better and faster for clients. As the industry continues to change, brokers, agents, buyers and sellers all experience different pains, so we adapt our technology to keep up and relieve them. Creating productive and useful tech is my most significant focus. It’s the biggest impact I have on the company
Left: Matt Widdows and Development Team Manager Gina Ippolito collaborate on advancing HomeSmart’s in-house technology. Below: HomeSmart International Senior Leadership team plans strategic corporate initiatives.
RISMedia’s REAL ESTATE October 2019 33