SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage, today announced the launch of its home-buying and selling services in Tampa and Orlando, expanding its one-of-a-kind combination of real estate expertise, technology and customer service to another region in the Sunshine State. With the addition of Tampa and Orlando, Redfin now serves five major cities in Florida, including Miami, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
“Redfin launched in South Florida one year ago and we’ve been blown away by the amount of growth and opportunity that we’ve seen in the market,” said Southeast District Manager James Marks. “We see similar opportunity in Tampa and Orlando, with both markets on the path to recovery and growth. We’re excited to deliver great customer service to the people of Tampa and Orlando.”
The Redfin model is different from that of other brokerages because it uniquely aligns agent and customer interests. Redfin agents are paid a salary and benefits, with customer satisfaction ratings — not transactions — determining each agent’s bonuses. All reviews for all Redfin agents are published on their online profiles, and 97 percent of customers would recommend their Redfin agent.
MaryDell Rose joins Redfin to spearhead operations in Orlando. Rose comes from a management background and has 13 years of experience working in Orlando real estate. Most recently, she transitioned to an agent training and mentoring role for a brokerage before joining Redfin. People can now work with Rose in Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties in the greater Orlando area.
“What I enjoy most about being a real estate agent is the opportunity to help make it easier for people to make the biggest financial purchase of their lives,” Rose said. “By combining knowledge of the local market with cutting-edge technology, Redfin streamlines the homebuying and selling experience.”
Wendy Peterson, who will be leading the Redfin business in Tampa, spent 18 years in the insurance industry, most recently as corporate director at MetLife Auto & Home, before becoming a real estate agent five years ago. Her new role at Redfin will put to use her vast knowledge of business and legal transactions from her time in the insurance world, as well as her customer service skills and real estate expertise. People can work with Peterson to buy or sell a home in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties in the Tampa area.
“I’m looking forward to joining the Redfin team and helping people buy and sell homes in Tampa,” Peterson said. “Redfin gives me all the tools, technology and team support to get the very best for my clients from their real estate transactions.”
Redfin also works to put money back into the pockets of both its buying and selling customers. Redfin refunds homebuyers a portion of the buyer’s agent commission. To date, Redfin has saved its customers more than $175 million in real estate fees. For a $300,000 home, a Redfin home buyer in Orlando or Tampa would save $2,000. For listing clients, Redfin agents charge 1.5 percent rather than the typical 3 percent of a traditional agent, while providing the full listing service, from pricing and staging advice and professional photography through the negotiation and closing processes. Someone selling a $300,000 home would save $4,500.
With the arrival of Redfin, people in Tampa and Orlando can now use state-of-the art online and mobile tools to quickly access the most accurate and up-to-date information about homes for sale:
- Mobile Home Tour Scheduling: Request an in-person home tour with a Redfin agent using the iPhone or iPad app.
- Instant Updates: Receive smartphone or email notifications when new homes are listed or when the status or price of a “favorited” home changes.
- Offer Insights: View real-time statistics and notes from Redfin agents about their home offers to understand what it takes to win a bidding war in a given neighborhood.
- Tour Insights: Read comments left by Redfin agents about homes they have seen in person.
- Search by School: See all homes for sale within the boundaries of a particular school with one easy search. This feature is coming soon.
- Home Value Tool: Estimate the value of a home based on up-to-date home sale prices, details and photos used by real estate agents.
- Deal Room: Helps agents and their clients coordinate and track the tasks that need to be completed to successfully close the home purchase transaction.
To learn more about working at Redfin and to apply for open positions in Florida, visit redfin.com/jobs. To find or sell a house and to connect with a local agent, please visit redfin.com.
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About Redfin
Redfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate broker that represents people buying and selling homes. Founded and run by technologists, Redfin has a team of experienced, full-service real estate agents who are advocates, not salespeople, earning customer-satisfaction bonuses, not commissions. Redfin.com features all the broker-listed homes for sale, as well as for-sale-by-owner properties that don’t pay brokers a commission. Redfin also offers online tools that make the entire process of buying or selling a home easier and more fun. The company serves 25 U.S. markets and has closed more than $13 billion in home sales. In 2012, Redfin was named one of The DIGITAL 100: World’s Most Valuable Private Tech Companies by Business Insider.
