H
omeSmart CEO Matt Widdows attributes the company's quiet rise to its centralized approach, which has fueled growth while shaping its culture. Key points include:

    * HomeSmart is the 12th-largest brokerage and 10th-largest franchise brand by sales volume in the U.S., according to T3 Sixty rankings.

    * The company prioritizes transaction efficiency and an integrated experience through its proprietary tech stack.

    * Widdows emphasizes the importance of keeping pace with AI advancements, stating that it's "moving at the speed of light right now."

    HomeSmart was founded in 2000 by Matt Widdows, who aimed to create a brokerage that operated differently. The company launched with a 100% commission model and a focus on transaction-based efficiency.

    The centralized service model has helped HomeSmart cut costs, maintain cultural consistency, and improve responsiveness. Agents receive local support in major markets, but core systems and staffing are centralized at the Scottsdale, Arizona headquarters.

    HomeSmart's technology is deeply embedded in its infrastructure, covering transaction management, CRM, document processing, and compliance. The company built its proprietary system from scratch, integrating all tools to create a seamless experience for agents.

    Widdows emphasizes that HomeSmart's goal isn't to build flashy tools but effective ones. The company continually tweaks its tools based on feedback from users, ensuring they meet the needs of its agents.

    HomeSmart is already leveraging AI to generate marketing content, automate compliance reviews, and audit transaction data. Widdows acknowledges the challenge of implementing these advancements faster than competitors, stating that "AI is moving at the speed of light right now."