Engel & Völkers Atlanta formed a partnership with Opendoor, a smartphone app that streamlines the process of selling a home, to better serve its core consumer, who is sophisticated, tech-savvy and expects the next generation of services.
 
Engel & Völkers Atlanta, led by veteran housing advisor Christa Huffstickler, is known for embracing technology. By partnering with Opendoor, Huffstickler and her team, also based in Atlanta, have uncovered a new way to reach buyers and connect them with their dream homes.
 
“Opendoor has been hailed as the Uber of house hunting, which immediately intrigued us,” said Huffstickler, president and CEO of Engel & Völkers Atlanta. “While some agents might see Opendoor as a competitor, we see this partnership as an opportunity to serve today’s buyers who are looking for an easy, efficient, high-tech way to buy or sell a home.”
 
Opendoor is available in six markets, having launched in Atlanta last year. The app allows buyers to access hundreds of homes that fit specific criteria and schedule an in-person visit with just a few taps, offering flexible visiting hours every day of the week rather than traditional open houses. When a buyer is ready to commit, Opendoor guides him or her through the home buying process.
 
“Everything we do now has to appeal to tech-savvy buyers. We’re focusing on digital integration, virtual reality and other products and services that can bring a new home buying or selling experience to our clients,” added Huffstickler.
 
Engel & Völkers Atlanta uses the app to help its clients find and view homes, eliminating many scheduling issues. This partnership allows its advisors special access to homes before they are officially listed. Additionally, if buyers don’t find a home they love on Opendoor, the app can connect them with an Engel & Völkers Atlanta agent to keep the house hunt going.
 
“Opendoor Homes is an online real estate marketplace offering maintained, move-in ready homes for sale via the growing Opendoor Homes’ network. Engel & Völkers Atlanta works with Opendoor Homes to offer our buyer-clients efficient solutions to access, present a procure home at the convenience of our clients between 6:00 AM & 9 PM daily,” said Engel & Völkers Advisor Erik Dowdy. “For Engel & Völkers Atlanta sellers, we work with Opendoor Homes to present market-rate offers and negotiate rapid closing dates that align with our seller-clients’ exit strategies.”