As VP of franchise operations for HomeSmart, Britton Sanchez works to ensure that all departments provide high levels of customer service to support the corporate brokerage's more than 11,000 real estate agents. She also played a key role in developing HomeSmart Helps, the company's 501(c)3 nonprofit arm.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanchez and her team quickly switched to a fully remote workforce, improved service metrics and production time for agents, and centralized all five corporate operations so the team at headquarters could provide the highest level of service to agents.
Here, Sanchez discusses how she helped get HomeSmart Helps off the ground and the nonprofit's mission, among other topics.
RISMedia’s Real Estate Newsmakers honors were created to recognize the people who are raising the standards of professionalism in the real estate industry. What does it mean to you to be named among this year’s honorees?
It's such an honor to be named a 2021 Real Estate Newsmaker. I'm extremely passionate about giving back to the community as well as getting others involved in charity work. HomeSmart allows me to do both. We've seen a significant increase in volunteers in the past couple years, especially throughout the pandemic. Being recognized for doing what I love is an added bonus.
You were selected as a Newsmaker within the Inspirations category which is dedicated to the big-hearted and brave within our industry. Could you tell us a little bit about the role you played in launching HomeSmart Helps?
HomeSmart has always given back to the community. With HomeSmart Helps, we wanted to develop an official 501(c)(3) that offers community involvement and outreach for agent and employee participation. I assisted in creating the nonprofit, and then connecting agents and staff with organizations in each of our communities. Throughout the pandemic, I've also been able to assist a number of our franchisees in expanding HomeSmart Helps into their communities and coming together to offer additional assistance for agents across the country who were impacted by the pandemic.
What is the nonprofit's mission?
HomeSmart Helps gives back to our communities to foster a spirit of philanthropy through charities. HomeSmart International is a highly charitable company that believes social responsibility is equally as important as providing our brokers, agents and consumers a seamless real estate experience.
What would your advice be to other real estate professionals about moving forward as the U.S. reopens and the pandemic slowly ends?
My advice as our country begins to reopen is to hold on to what we've learned throughout this pandemic and continue to foster those valuable lessons. We have learned how truly resilient and adaptable people are, especially our agents and team members. Continue to think outside of the box and be flexible. As we continue to move forward to amazing things, be kind and patient as we get back to the new norm.
