Opendoor welcomes new Phoenix General Manager Rob Reiling

Five years ago, Opendoor bought its first home in Phoenix. Today, in Phoenix alone, we’re proud to say we’re a more than $1 billion business that has served tens of thousands of customers in the Phoenix metro area.

As the Phoenix team hits this exciting five-year milestone, Opendoor is proud to announce that Rob Reiling has taken the helm of Opendoor’s local Phoenix operations. Rob joins Opendoor from McKinsey and Cargill.

His role as General Manager is to lead the Phoenix-based office and ensure that the team is providing an excellent customer experience, as well as manage the overall Phoenix Valley business, which now includes more than 250 employees and totals more than $1 billion in annual revenue.

As we welcome Rob into this new role, he shared about the unique challenges the Phoenix team will face, and how he has a hobby of building bunk-beds for his kids on the weekend.

Q. Why is Opendoor a great fit for Phoenix?

A: Phoenix’s population has grown by more than 500,000 people since 2010, making it one of the nation’s fastest growing cities. That’s both people moving to Phoenix for economic and weather reasons (hello sunshine!) and growing families (Fun fact: Phoenix has a larger population of children under 5 than the rest of the nation.)

All of that means a lot of people need to move, and that’s what makes Opendoor such a great fit for the city. By providing certainty and a simplified experience to buyers and sellers we help all those Phoenicians sell their home, or find a new one, so they can move on to the next step in their lives.

Q. What do you personally love about living and working in Phoenix?

A: There is a certain pride that comes from living in a place that routinely hits 115 degrees on the thermometer. The people here love living in Phoenix because it carries the energy of endless possibility. This city looks nothing like it did 15 years ago – and in another 15 years who knows what we could achieve here? It’s great to be surrounded with that kind of energy.

There is also incredible natural beauty in and around Phoenix which is something I didn’t understand until I got here. There are several major regional parks on the outskirts of town for hiking and mountain biking, and tons of opportunity to take the family to see wildlife. During the summer months, we’re just two hours from the mountains of Flagstaff which means that in some ways, we can control the weather by taking a short trip. When I lived in Minnesota the only way to escape the cold was to wait until Spring.

Q. What attracted you to Opendoor?

A: The incredible promise and the right team to deliver it. I have two small children and two (not small) dogs. Which means that I keenly understand the stress that having to keep my house ready for showings and getting it ready to sell would create. Just thinking about it makes me sweat.

Opendoor’s new Phoenix General Manager Rob Reiling.

The promise that we could take a process as complicated as that and simplify it by making moving much more seamless is something I was very intrigued by. The concept is one thing, but the ability to execute is another. And it wasn’t until I met the team that I was convinced that we had the right group in place to make it happen.

Our group in Phoenix is dedicated to our customers, creative in approaching new issues, and fearless in confronting problems. That’s a great combination when you’re trying to re-imagine residential real estate sales.

Q. What’s the biggest challenge you’re looking forward to solving over the next 6-12 months?

A: We have a lot of age-restricted communities in Phoenix. Many of the residents are only part-year residents, which means that the ‘real estate season’ here is much different than in the rest of the United States.

We’re working right now to expand our services to empower these residents with the freedom to move. It’s a tough problem, but one I’m excited to solve.

Q. What’s your favorite part of being a General Manager (GM) at Opendoor?

A: My team. The team here in Phoenix brings so much energy and creativity that it’s hard not to be excited in the morning coming to work. We have big aspirations at Opendoor to become a leader in the market, and bring our service to more and more people in the Valley and that’s a big challenge. But, I have real estate experts, analytical superstars, and a customer crazy support team that will help me get there.

Q. How has working at Opendoor provided you with the freedom to pursue your hobbies and work/life balance?

A: My wife Joelle and our two kids are at the absolute top of my priority list. One of the big things I thought about when taking this role was making sure I would have the flexibility to devote my full self to them. And it turns out, I do.

I have a big team I’m responsible for and I work a lot. But, I’m home every night for dinner, I play with the kids (mostly wrestling matches … I always win) read books, and put them to bed. Every night. Those are my non-negotiables and I have the flexibility at Opendoor to get that done.

Q. What is your favorite local restaurant and why?

A: Tacos Jalisco is a little family run taco joint right next to the office. Their tacos are great. But their salsa bar is incredible. Plus, I can get in and out of there in 30 minutes and when you’re trying to manage a two and a five-year-old, that’s critical.

Q. What are your hobbies outside of work?

A: In addition to hanging out with my kids, I really enjoy woodworking and doing house projects. Right now I’ve been tasked with building the kids a bunk bed which I’m excited about. Nothing like the smell of sawdust in the morning.

Check out our conversations with General Managers of other Opendoor markets:

• Opendoor’s Las Vegas General Manager on why she’s ‘all in’ on Sin City

• Opendoor’s Charlotte GM on what it’s like to break ground in a hot real estate market

• Members from the Opendoor team in the Twin Cities talk about their work and favorite local activities

• Talent, tech & time travel: Q&A with General Manager Amit Arora

• Opendoor expands its footprint in Florida by launching in Tampa

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