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Amazon Now In The Business Of Selling Homes

It was only a matter of time before people started buying houses on Amazon! On Tuesday, the online retail giant announced a partnership with Realogy, an online realtor. The partnership, called TurnKey, will offer $5,000 worth of Amazon home-improvement projects to customers who find a realtor through TurnKey.

“Customers can be overwhelmed when moving, and we’re excited to be working with Realogy to offer homebuyers a simplified way to settle into a new home. The Amazon Move-In Benefit will enable homebuyers to adapt the offering to their needs – from help assembling furniture, to assisting with a smart home device set up, to a deep clean, and more,” Pat Bigatel, director of Amazon Home Services, said after Amazon announced the partnership with Realogy.

Realogy faces stiff competition from existing online realty businesses, such as Zillow. Consumer demand for sites that allow people to buy and sell homes online is growing rapidly, and it was only a matter of time before Amazon entered the business. Business analysts speculate that Amazon is getting involved in real estate to increase demand for its Amazon Home Services product line, as well as for its “smart home” services like Amazon Alexa.

“Realogy’s great affiliated agents serve their clients during one of the most important moments in their lives, and Amazon’s services and products can transform that moment to make it rewarding in a way no one ever has before,” Ryan Schneider, CEO of Realogy, said.