Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Widdows.
Matt, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In 2000, I established HomeSmart in Phoenix, Arizona, thanks to my combined real estate and technology background. In the early 1990’s, I created a technology company that focused primarily on accounts receivable systems for the medical industry. During that time, I was licensed as a real estate agent and after selling the tech company in 1994, I focused my efforts full time in real estate. I’ve been in the industry for 26 years and in this current position as Founder and CEO for 17 years.
I believed that the real estate industry had been left behind in technology and systems to support real estate agents in their day-to-day business needs. Agents and their clients lived and communicated online, and they now expected to find answers and resources at their fingertips. I wanted to combine traditional real estate concepts with innovation and a technology approach. This thought gave birth to the HomeSmart “low-fee, high-value” brokerage model.
I realized the opportunities the real estate industry provided and wanted a brokerage model that welcomed every individual. My vision was to utilize technologies that supported systems and services to make both the agent and the brokerage successful. This approach would provide long-term growth and stability for the brokerage and ensure success for the agent.
HomeSmart International’s proprietary technology stands apart from anything else offered in the real estate industry. The systems minimize redundancies to make life easier for the agent and for the brokerage. At HomeSmart International, technology and SMART execution is a way of life. The franchisor takes pride in offering excellent support to our agents and brokers, so they have the time and resources they need to provide the best service available to their clients.
Today, the brand has more than 120 offices in 16 states and more than 13,000 agents nationwide.
Great, 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?
When I founded HomeSmart in 2000, I had two agents, a receptionist, and the dream of a new real estate brokerage model with low agent fees and efficient technology to drive high level customer service.
I strayed from the traditional brokerage model, charging agents high-spit commissions, and instead built a business on the 100 percent commission model. I combatted those who referred to the model as “low service, discount brokerages.”
Top agents find our customer service and technology are worth the move and the money they save with us is a bonus the can spend on retirement or the vacation they’ve been wanting to take. We changed the way people view the 100 percent model.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about HomeSmart International – what should we know?
I founded HomeSmart International back in 2000, and today HomeSmart is ranked as one of the top real estate brokerages in the United States by reputable organizations like the Phoenix Business Journal, Real Trends and RISMedia. Based in Scottsdale, AZ, we’ve grown by offering real estate agents efficiency and innovation coupled with the systems and technologies necessary to succeed in the ever-evolving real estate industry. Above all else, HomeSmart emphasizes a high level of customer service to exceed the needs of real estate consumers and agents alike.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Innovation.
When it comes to innovation, HomeSmart is an industry leader. Our innovative technology allows us to enable all HomeSmart agents to have successful real estate careers without paying high fees- this is what sets us apart from the competition. Not only do we provide the systems and support from marketing to transactions for our franchises and agents, but it’s this forward-thinking idea that also allows our franchises to function with a low overhead. We build our efficiencies and processes directly into our systems, enabling our franchises in 16 states to integrate their agents with our centralized services team so that the process of home-buying can be a seamless one for their clients. Investing in creating proprietary technology, so we can always be moving forward, is part of what makes our systems as successful as they are.
I’m the kind of person who’s never satisfied with the business standing still, even when I’m pleased with where we are. I look at what we’ve done, but then ask how we can do it better.
Contact Info:
- Address: 8388 E Hartford Dr., Ste 100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
- Website: https://homesmart.com/
- Phone: 800.865.9025
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homesmart
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HomeSmartIntl
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
