HomeVestors® of America, the “We Buy Ugly Houses”® people, is a network of franchises that makes up the largest and longest-running cash homebuyer in the country. By Patty Horansky
HomeVestors® of America, the “We Buy Ugly Houses”® people, is a network of franchises that makes up the largest and longest-running cash homebuyer in the country.
Founded by Ken D’Angelo in 1996, the business began with billboards in the Dallas area. According to Adam Benshoof, senior director of franchise development, calls came rolling in from people who needed something more than a traditional listing; they wanted to sell “as-is.” A few years later, the slogan “We Buy Ugly Houses” was born.
Today, the brand boasts more than 1,100 franchises nationwide, with more than 140,000 “ugly” houses purchased quickly and for cash.
The business isn’t so much about ugly houses but rather “ugly situations,” Benshoof said. “The people that come to us call us for personal reasons.”
They may be facing a myriad of issues, such as death or divorce. HomeVestors franchisees step in to help in all situations.
“HomeVestors is a business with a heart,” Benshoof said. “This is about the person, not the house.”
Unlike a traditional sale involving a real estate agent, there are no commissions, showings or months-long listings. Property owners can close quickly, sometimes in as little as two or three weeks. The HomeVestors franchise pays all closing costs.
HomeVestors franchisees are trained live at the brand’s headquarters in Dallas. They are taught from the ground up how to be successful. Franchisees at HomeVestors are buying a trifecta: a national brand, support and tools.
HomeVestors has proven to be recession proof. “We help people, and that’s why this business model works in any economy. That sets us apart and makes us a very profitable business,“ Benshoof said.
Patty Horansky