FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HomeSmart International Tapped by NAR to Vet Emerging Industry Tech

Personnel from Tech-Based Franchisor Invited to Judge iOi Summit Pitch Battle

PHOENIX -- HomeSmart International was asked to participate in National Association of Realtors’ inaugural Innovation, Opportunity & Investment (iOi) Summit in San Francisco on August 29 and 30.

As a leading provider of proprietary brokerage software, HomeSmart was asked to bring its unique point of view of industry and agent-focused technology to the summit’s Pitch Battle.

Chief operating officer Wendy Forsythe served as a judge on behalf of HomeSmart International for the iOi Pitch Battle, at which 16 emerging tech companies presented to the judges in hopes of winning a $15,000 cash prize and booth space at the annual National Association of Realtors® Conference and Expo this November.

“We heard from so many companies that show how the real estate industry can embrace technology to make business more efficient, which is exactly what we’ve been doing with  our own proprietary software platform since 2005,” said Forsythe. “The winner, BoxBrownie, offers a great a la carte service for agents to enhance property photos, 3D tours and floor plans based on what the agent needs. It’s refreshing to see other like minded companies help to advance and enhance the home buying and selling process through agents.”

BoxBrownie is an on-demand photo-editing service for real estate. The Australian-based company offers digital retouches to listing photos -- whether that means removing a framed photo in a room or virtually staging a vacant room.

For more information on the ioi Summit, visit www.nar.realtor/events/ioi.

About HomeSmart International:

Founded in 2000 by entrepreneur Matt Widdows, HomeSmart International quickly became the fastest growing real estate brokerage firm in Arizona. HomeSmart is ranked in the top 5 real estate brokerages in the United States and the No. 1 brokerage firm in the Phoenix market. From its international franchising headquarters based in Scottsdale, HomeSmart International offers franchisees efficiency and innovation coupled with the systems and technologies necessary to succeed in today’s evolving real estate industry. HomeSmart has 133 offices in 20 states and more the 15,500 agents. For more information about HomeSmart’s end-to-end proprietary systems and technology, visit www.homesmart.com