Real estate mergers and acquisitions usually make headlines for agent count and market share. Chris Kelly and Brian Boero argue that the deals that last start somewhere else entirely: with the people.
Chris Kelly, President and CEO of HomeServices of America, and Brian Boero, co founder of 1000WATT and now HomeServices’ Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, join James Dwiggins and Keith Robinson to discuss HomeServices’ acquisition of 1000WATT. They also share what they’ve learned about real estate mergers and acquisitions along the way.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why culture and fit should come before the numbers in any deal
- How to tell whether an acquisition is truly additive
- How OnePoint connects brokerage, mortgage, title, and insurance
- Why mortgage servicing is becoming the new top of the funnel
- Why Chris calls the private listings debate a manufactured crisis
Brian describes HomeServices as a company that spent 25 years building the infrastructure everyone in the industry is now chasing, without ever connecting it into a single experience. Chris compares the old model to a convenient strip mall: every service is next door, but consumers still had to walk into each building separately. OnePoint is designed to change that.
Both guests believe the winning approach to an integrated experience starts with people, not an app or a call center. As Brian puts it, most consumers don’t want one of the defining moments of their lives compressed into an app.
On private listings, Chris argues that “seller choice” is self interest framed as altruism. He also warns that a fragmented listing market could damage the consumer agent relationship the industry depends on.
Links mentioned during the episode:
- HomeServices of America Acquires 1000WATT (Inman)
- Chris Kelly’s recent interview with Inman
- Real Estate Insiders Unfiltered with Rob Hahn and Greg Robertson: CRMLS vs. Compass: Rob Hahn and Greg Rober…
Connect with our guest, Chris Kelly
Connect with our guest, Brian Boero:
Learn more about HomeServices of America:
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