Homes.com and Realty Times have signed a multi-year agreement designating Homes.com as a preferred distributor of Realty Times' lead generation and customer contact/lead retention products for real estate professionals.

"We believe that Realty Times has an excellent reputation in the industry, and we are delighted to have entered into an agreement with them. This Distribution Alliance further demonstrates Homes.com's commitment to continue providing the most effective marketing tools for our customers to help them grow their businesses," said Tom Orsi, president and CEO.

Homes.com is known as an efficient sales and support machine, with about 135 employees, 45 of whom are a telesales subsidiary. The company manages Web lead generation packages for over 16,000 real estate agents and 600 brokers representing 30,000 agents. The company plans to incorporate Realty Times' Market Conditions and Real Estate Update newsletter products as valuable additions to Homes.com's top-level lead generation packages.

Homes.com is emerging from a reorganization that began in March 2001. By May, the company was already turning around, ending every month but April, in a cash-positive position. It will apply to its creditors to be released from bankruptcy by summer 2002, making it a dot-com survivor in a very difficult and challenging market. What kept it above water was the company's reputation for providing quality services and dedicated customer support.

"We're doing $1 million a month in sales, we have a million-dollar credit line with Hummer Winblad Venture Partners, and $2 million cash in the bank," says Darin Scott, vice president of business development for Homes.com. "Our focus through 2001 has been interacting with our customer base."

John Giaimo, vice president of business development for Realty Times, says, “In order to insure success, one must surround themselves with proven, capable leaders. Homes.com, as an organization, has proven their ability to produce quality products, services and support. Realty Times is pleased to have them join our partnership program as we launch exciting new tools for the real estate professional”.

"This is a prestigious alliance for us, and our distribution agreement is further evidence of Homes.com emerging from its reorganization as the pre-eminent technology service provider for the real estate industry," says Scott. "Homes.com now is focused on its core product line of agent and brokers web sites and providing exceptional customer service to its customers.

"Customer satisfaction is our primary objective. We want to help our customers stay ahead of their competition by giving them the best e-marketing and productivity tools available. The Realty Times Market Conditions and Real Estate Update are exciting tools that will help agents boost their marketing efforts and increase exposure in their local markets.

"Our strategy is to help the agents attract more customers through an effective online presence and e-marketing training," says Scott.

Published: December 21, 2001

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