NO. 2 LARGE COMPANY
4-TIME WINNER
Fathom Realty turned its two F’s into an A.
This virtual brokerage in McKinney earned high marks from its agents for giving them flexibility and freedom to stake their financial claims.
“I always describe Fathom as the best of both worlds,” said one employee. “You get the competitive compensation of a transactional-based brokerage that still manages to feel like a tight-knit community, and resources and support that are comparable to some of the largest brokerages in the industry.”
“There is minimal to no drama,” another employee said. “The systems and technology are excellent and innovative. The company empowers its team members to be successful.”
“During COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, I was able to still connect with my clients and view homes with them as we socially distanced,” said another. “The schedule is what I most enjoy because I can go on vacation or take time to visit with family without having to truly take time off.”
Such sentiments helped Fathom become our No. 2 winner in the large category — its fourth Top 3 showing in as many years. The company has nine D-FW locations and 1,508 local workers.
Chairman and CEO Josh Harley founded Fathom in 2010, applying biblical principles and recruiting agents who, like him, want to do business with a do-unto-others servant leader’s heart.
“I have people of different faiths and sexual orientations in leadership positions,” Harley said. “Companies become stronger when they recognize the power that comes from differing ideas and experiences and learn to build consensus and a powerful shared vision.”
Harley said Fathom had inclusion well in place before the racial reckoning the country experienced this year.
“It should never have to take a tragedy to open up the eyes of our country,” Harley said. “As a company, we’re proud that we’ve lived out our beliefs of doing the right thing simply because it’s the right thing.”
Agents agree. “At Fathom, the leadership encourages us and treats us like we all matter,” said an agent. “If you want to become great, you must become a servant! The leaders serve us agents very well.”
That’s why its employees gave Fathom their highest marks for the statement: This company operates by strong values.
During the pandemic, Harley reached out to nearly 400 agents and employees.
“The overwhelmingly positive feedback from these personal touch points validated how important human interaction really is and helped us to strengthen our relationships and our culture,” the 44-year-old said. “We plan to continue this high-touch approach for the foreseeable future.”
This communal culture helped create calm in this year of turmoil, he said.
“Real estate was considered an essential service early on, and our agents stepped up, in spite of fear, to help their clients in their time of need,” Harley said. “They also stepped up to help other agents and employees who are the most vulnerable, offering to help them without asking for any compensation for their time. Sometimes it takes a crisis to see the very best come out in others. I am incredibly proud of our Fathom family.”
This national, cloud-based full-service real estate brokerage offers 100% commission, small flat-fee transaction costs, support and training, Harley said. As a result, the brokerage has seen exponential growth.
Fathom, which began trading on the Nasdaq on July 31, will continue to reward agents with stock grants for every home they sell and every agent they help recruit, Harley said. “In other words, the more they help us grow, the more stock they receive. It’s also important that agents and employees own stock because it ensures our values and goals are aligned. Fathom exists to serve, not to be served.”
