Berkshire Northwood Invests in Technology

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Northwood Realty anticipates 2020 to be a big year as it focuses on growth through agent recruitment and the acquisition of new offices. 

Last year the company grew by acquiring two new offices, in Medina and Wadsworth, reports MacKenzie Deller, marketing coordinator.  

“Our key challenges in 2020 will be the growing market,” she says. “We are starting to notice a larger demand for homes in the first-time homebuyer price range. The challenge is that few houses for first-time homebuyers are hitting the market right now. Our agents will have to work smarter and harder to find homes for their clients in the northeastern Ohio market.”

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network provides agents with the most advanced technology, training and tools in the industry, according to Deller. “We are on the forefront of digital advertising and analytics,” she says.

The company has invested in a mobile app that allows agents to stay connected with homebuyers as well as Call Connect. This exclusive program, launched last June, allows an agent to differentiate between a robocall and someone calling specifically for real estate business. The calls come from a number assigned to the agent that he can save to his phone. 

In 2018, Berkshire Hathaway had 6,018 calls from people clicking the button on its website; in 2019 that increased to 22,128.

“Technology helps advance our business, but technology won’t come between the relationship of our agents and homebuyers. Our business is centered around building good relationships,” Deller says.

That’s why Berkshire Hathaway empasizes training, she continues, and has a department dedicated to continuing education. Agents value the Zoom classes provided and gain valuable information geared toward increasing their business.    

2019 brought numerous company recognitions. Among them: Tom Hosack, president and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, The Preferred Realty and Northwood Realty Services, was ranked in the 2020 Swanepoel Power 200 as one of the most powerful leaders in residential real rstate brokerage. He was also named to the board of the Broker Public Portal and elected president of the West Penn Multi-List.  

Also last year, Kevin Leonard was named president of the the company’s Ohio Division and director of luxury collection in Pennsylvania.  

As it does every year, Berkshire Hathaway gives back to the community, most notably through the Northwood Charitable Foundation annual bowl-a-thon that raises about $40,000 a year for the foundation, Deller says.

Last April, the Salem office received the Salem Area Chamber beautification award. Agents at this office volunteer at nursing homes and parks and and host community events.  

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.