Client Spotlight: Hommati
For us, one of the most rewarding parts of being in the insurance industry is the personal relationships we cultivate with our clients. Because of these meaningful connections, we can’t help but brag on our clients from time to time!
Today, we’re chatting with our friend, Paul Guerrein: franchise owner of Hommati, a company that delivers stunning visual real estate services. And we’re not using the word “stunning” lightly; check out this drone video and then read on to learn more about Hommati and Paul!
Q. Tell us about Hommati and more about the inspiration behind your name.
“The company name, ‘Hommati’ is a blend of two words: ‘home’ and ‘ommatidia.’ Ommatidia are the structures found within the eyes of certain insects that allow them to see in all directions. Our founder came up with the name because the services we offer allow one to see homes from all directions.”
As far as what we offer, I like to say Hommati is a one-stop shop for real estate agents. Our main goal is to generate more traffic to their listings by adding dynamic visual/video content, such as aerial drone video, HD photography, 3D virtual tours, virtual enhancements, floor plans and guided tours. On Hommati.com, buyers can search for houses, too.”
Q. Who typically uses Hommati’s services?
“Primarily, real estate agents and brokers. The Hommati franchise model was built to help them sell houses more quickly and scale their business up. Our clients also include other individuals though – for instance, we’ve helped AirBnB owners with refreshed photos and 3D tours for their listings, and have done 3D tours for event venues and for individuals needing roof insurance documentation.”
Q: How long have you been in business?
“I’ve owned a Hommati franchise since February 2021. Hommati on a broader scale has been in business for four years, with 140 franchises in 38 states, and counting.”
Q: What has been one of your biggest challenges since the pandemic hit?
“When I first started, the world was starting to open back up (slowly), so I was hoping to have more face-to-face meetings with my clients, but that was a challenge for obvious reasons.
Since the pandemic began, one significant advantage Hommati has for realtors and brokers is that they could safely show their properties to potential buyers remotely with our 3D tours or other imagery services, so that was an unexpected uptick in the demand for our services that we saw as a result of the pandemic.”
Q: What is one challenge you didn’t expect as you began to get your franchise up and running?
“One thing I didn’t expect is that many agents didn’t immediately find the value in our services. I heard several say they didn’t need 3D or aerial photos, and that standard photos would do the job. So convincing them of the benefits of using newer technology was a challenge.
There’s data that suggests that homes with 3D tours typically sell for more than their asking price. We’ve also heard from many realtors that they see more traffic to the listings that have our 3D tours.
That, combined with the fact that younger generations have come to expect higher-tech, interactive imagery means there really is a demand for our services.”
Q: What have you enjoyed most about working with Concannon Insurance Agency?
“I’ve known Jim Concannon for quite a while and I trust his advice. The agency is a partner in my success; they’re not just trying to sell me insurance. I’ve even referred other franchises to Jim because of how much I believe he can help other independent business owners. I think Jim and his agency do a great job of getting us what we need, and not steering us in a direction of something not beneficial to us. He’s genuinely concerned about my success as a business owner.”
Know a property owner or realtor who might benefit from Paul and Hommati’s incredible work? Contact him here!
