The marketing arm of a group of telecommunications and home warranty companies, among others, is launching Homes.org, a Web site that is intended to assist home buyers, sellers and renters in switching utilities and researching cities, schools and neighborhoods.
The Elephant Group, which works with such companies as Cingular, Motorola, Sony, Nokia, HBO, EchoStar, Showtime and Comcast, is a direct-marketing company that assists in the sale of cell phones, satellites, credit cards, home warranties and continuity programs, according to a company announcement.
The Homes.org Web site, in addition to free utility-switching services, also offers free home buying and moving research, neighborhood and city statistics, home valuations, local school information, employment information, local news and weather, and a “household bill-lowering concierge service,” according to a Web site description.
A company announcement states that the utility-switching services and other services at the site are free, such as community directories, city statistics, home buying and moving research, and employment and school information. “Homes.org offers direct access to a dedicated concierge service and a … pre- and post-move checklist.”
Based in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., the Elephant Group reaches out to 30 million homeowners each month through television, direct mail, Internet, catalog and other marketing, according to the announcement.
Another unrelated Web site, WhiteFence.com, also offers utility-switching and moving services. Eric Danziger, former CEO for real estate brokerage company ZipRealty Inc., is now the CEO for WhiteFence.
