Eric Cross was nominated for a 2022 Rock Star Award by the HomeVestors of America franchise leadership team under the Freshman Franchisee category. He was chosen by Franchise Business Review from among 200+ nominations for his outstanding achievements as HomeVestors franchise owner in Dacula, GA.
What advice do you have for someone considering investing in a franchise?
You will be more successful with the support of HomeVestors of America instead of doing it on your own.
If you could start all over again, which mistake(s) would you avoid? What were your best decisions?
If I had to do it again I would have become a HomeVestors of America (HVA) franchisee sooner. I was flipping houses on my own, and I only had a few deals a year with very little income. I even lost money on one particular job. Since joining HVA I have closed so many more deals than ever before and I have so much more support. Joining HVA was the best decision for me and my family.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome as a business owner?
The paperwork and internal reporting part of my business was the biggest challenge that I had to overcome. I now have back-office help. It gives me the freedom to be out getting deals done and frees up the clutter on my desk.
Is there a book or podcast that has helped you in starting or building your business?
I have listened to Zig Ziglar for years and continue to listen to him when I am driving in the car. My favorites are: How to Stay Motived – Developing the Qualities of Success and Secrets of Closing the Sale.
What is your proudest achievement in your franchising career so far?
As a franchise owner coming in second place as ‘Rookie of the Year’ nationwide! During that year, we were dealing with Covid-19 so I was especially proud of my accomplishment.
What was your work history before you entered franchising? How did you apply prior skills to your franchise?
I have always been in the real estate industry, loans, and finance. Prior to HomeVestors of America, I was fixing and flipping homes. I did have the experience and some skills which I have developed more since joining HVA.
Did the pandemic and recession impact your business and, if so, what were the lessons learned from the experience?
The pandemic did not slow my business down at all. I actually had the best year of income by more than three times.
What do you like most about your franchise organization today?
The organization exceeds my expectations from corporate to local support and the friendships I have made. The HVA organization has great reporting of all their numbers all the way down to the exact number of leads that come into each franchise and closing ratios.
What was the turning point in your life or career that led you to choose franchising?
My turning point was when an HVA member named Scott Sekulow contacted me. He was a superstar with HVA and encouraged me to start my own franchise. Scott showed me the type of leads he was getting. I was taken aback by the number of appointments he had compared to me. His leads from HVA were A+ sellers. My leads were C and D leads.
What unexpected opportunities or challenges have you encountered since starting your business?
I have had opportunities to partner up and assist other franchise owners to close their own deals.
How has becoming your own boss changed your life?
I will never go back to working for a corporation or having someone else dictate my schedule or compensation. I can set my own schedule based on my family’s needs.
