Homely.com.au posts impressive WA results, announces backing by four REIWA presidents.

MELBOURNE – February 11, 2022

Homely.com.au reports strong growth in WA and announces the support of four REIWA presidents.

Homely.com.au, the country’s largest industry-backed portal, has welcomed a number of new strategic investors from WA including current REIWA president Damian Collins as well as industry titans and ex-REIWA presidents Alan Bourke, David Airey and Hayden Groves. 

Ex-REIWA President, current REIA President and strategic investor in Homely Group Hayden Groves, says, “The real estate portal market has been long dominated by Domain and REA. Competition is a good thing and the arrival of Homely maintains downward price pressures for agents using portals to advertise.”

“Homely has come along well supported by the industry from the get-go and brings a real point of difference. From suburb reviews to the portal’s design, Homely is refreshing and most importantly, community-focused,” Groves said.

Last year, Homely announced an industry partnership with REIWA at large. This partnership has seen an automatic feed of all reiwa.com.au listings on the Homely.com.au website, adding more value to buyers, sellers and renters interested in WA properties. 

Mr. Groves says, “Given REIWA is a not-for-profit member organisation, Homely compliments REIWA’s platform given its unique community-focus approach to property classifieds.”

Fast-growing platform

In the last six months, Homely saw a 220% increase in online listing enquiries on WA properties and a 20% increase in sessions overall in WA, compared to the same period of the previous year. 

The online real estate marketplace has also seen an exponential increase in agencies choosing to list on Homely as well as those adding Homely to their marketing schedules.

Operationally, Homely has made some key appointments in the region to service its customers, including Ross Bulman as Senior Partnerships Manager, previously National Sales Manager of rent.com.au and CEO of RealestateWA Newspaper, as well as Anthony Tascone to the role of Business Development Manager. 

Ex-REIWA president David Airey comments, “I think there is an enormous appetite for a fresh challenger in this arena which, as we know, is dominated by the “red team”. Even big players like Domain haven’t been able to break their stronghold, but over time Homely, with its industry ownership, will penetrate the internet property market in a different way to the other players.” 

Homely’s Head of Industry David Webb says, “The whole country really respects what REIWA have done over the years as an exemplary industry body, with each of our new partners contributing to that reputation. At Homely, we value the opportunity to work with these influential industry leaders to ensure we continue to build a platform and a business that solves the big problems and supports agents along the way.” 

“The fact that all four of the REIWA’s most recent presidents chose to partner with us is testament to our dedication to supporting the WA market and providing a cost-effective alternative to high VPA – not just in WA, but Australia-wide,” Webb continued.

Homely’s growing list of more than 600+ strategic industry partners nationally now includes more than 24 in Western Australia, with names such as Harcourts, RE/MAX and Professionals joining the portal as it continues to challenge the Australian property landscape.