Hometap Company Culture & Values

How would you describe your company’s approach to remote-first work? What have been the greatest successes thus far and what obstacles have you overcome in building a remote team?

Hometap takes an intentional, structured approach to remote-first work that centers on transparency, alignment and our “good owner” and “good neighbor” values. We make sure to document the norms for both synchronous and asynchronous communication in our culture guide, so people get the clarity they need to do their best work from anywhere. Our monthly all hands meeting keeps the entire company connected through transparent updates on progress and challenges, along with recognition of teammates who exemplify our values. We also rely on regular pulse surveys to understand what employees need and strengthen culture as we grow.

One consistent win has been the maintenance of a strong sense of connection and shared purpose at scale. The main challenge is supporting different time zones and work styles, which we address through structured communication practices and thoughtful meeting guidelines.

How does your team stay connected in a remote-first office? Are there specific tools you rely on to communicate and collaborate together?

Staying connected matters a lot to us, so we use our tools in ways that make collaboration feel natural rather than formal. Most of our daily conversations happen in Slack and our channels are set up to make it easy for people to ask quick questions, share progress or celebrate success across teams. We also leverage Slack for community channels, where Hometappers share everything from pet photos to parenting tips to weekend wins, helping us connect as humans, not just coworkers. Zoom and Google Meet enable face-to-face conversations when it makes more sense to talk things through, while Guru and project management tools keep our knowledge and documentation organized so everyone can access the information they need.

We also lean on clear communication norms from our culture guide, so people know when something should be handled live versus asynchronously; this helps reduce meeting fatigue and gives teams more flexibility. Our people team rounds it out with Fantastic Friday, a weekly newsletter that highlights milestones, announcements and key moments. All of these tools and habits work together to help our remote-first team stay aligned, collaborative and genuinely connected.

How does your company build culture in a remote-first office? What specific rituals or initiatives does your team use to create a more inclusive, engaged environment?

Our culture is rooted in our “good owner” and “good neighbor” values and we bring those to life through rituals that help a remote-first team feel connected. Weekly standup is one of our longest-running traditions. It gives us time to share updates, welcome new teammates and end with our “one clap,” a simple collective moment that reinforces our shared commitment to our mission of making homeownership less stressful and more accessible.

We also nurture community through Slack channels where people share wins, celebrations and life moments. Company-wide recognition is built into our monthly all hands meeting, where we highlight teammates who embody our values and contribute to our culture. At least once a year, we gather in person for a company-wide event that includes an all hands meeting, team building and a service-focused project that reinforces our values. All of these touchpoints reinforce the culture we’re building: one rooted in ownership, connection and showing up for one other — and the homeowners we serve.