HomeAdvisor Doubling Down on Indy
The company opened an office in downtown Indianapolis late last year.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowJust four months after opening an Indianapolis sales office, Colorado-based HomeAdvisor is looking to expand with a second location and additional jobs. The Angie’s List Inc. (Nasdaq: ANGI) rival opened a downtown Indy office in February as part of a multi-city sales expansion and Chief Executive Officer Chris Terrill says it is already the company’s highest productivity office. In an interview on Inside INdiana Business Television, Terrill said he is now actively looking for a second office with plans to significantly increase staff beyond the current 70 employees. “I can see us potentially doubling, maybe getting to 150 or 200 soon,” said Terrill.
In November, HomeAdvisor’s parent company, New York City-based IAC/InterActive (Nasdaq: IACI), made an unsolicited $512 million cash offer for Angie’s List, an offer the Angie’s List Board rebuffed.
When HomeAdvisor announced plans to open an Indianapolis office in December, there was speculation it was linked to acquisition plans.
Terrill says that’s not the case.
"We’d always looked at Indianapolis and thought it was an interesting place," said Terrill. "It was really an independent exercise and just happened to be similar timing."
HomeAdvisor employs about 1,900 people, most at its Golden, Colorado headquarters and also has offices in Colorado Springs, Kansas City and New York City.
Competition is heating up in the home services market, which is estimated to be a $400 billion business and is attracting big names like Amazon and Google.
But Terrill says the Indianapolis expansion is about more than attracting market share. It’s part of a strategy aimed at attracting and keeping top talent.
He describes the "vibe" and work force as compelling reasons for locating in Indianapolis, in the Wholesale District, close to entertainment, dining and some of the city’s iconic attractions.
"I think it’s a great city," said Terrill. "It has the dynamics we are looking for… cool spaces, walkability, places that Millennials who want a cool environment want to be. It’s a great place for us to grow."