The method
The E.P.I.C. System: How We Sell Your Home
How The Realize Team sells homes in Summit County, Ohio: Equity, Presentation, Impact, and Campaign. Four steps, three sisters, and no surprises.
Overview: Four Steps, No Surprises
Selling your home is one of the biggest financial and personal decisions you'll make. You deserve to know exactly how it's going to go before you sign anything. So here it is, step by step.
We call it the E.P.I.C. system: Equity, Presentation, Impact, and Campaign. It's how we sell every home, whether it's a starter home in Cuyahoga Falls or a house someone has loved for 40 years.
We're The Realize Team at Key Realty, three sisters based in Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, and every deal gets all of us. Abby and Jessica come to your listing appointment together and both stay on every message. Once you're under contract, our sister Lauren takes over the paperwork, the deadlines, and every closing detail. One real estate fee, three professionals, and you're never handed off to a stranger.
Through all four steps, one thing stays the same: we make the suggestions, and you make the decisions.
Request my Home Value Report
Equity: Know Your Number
Everything starts with knowing where you stand, and that starts with a Home Value Report at your home.
We always meet at the house. An online estimate can't see that you finished the basement, added a room that isn't in public record, or that the kitchen is a bright pink a buyer may want to change. We can. We walk through your home, look at the condition, the layout, and the updates, and tell you plainly what's worth fixing and what isn't.
We compare it to homes that actually match. Your report includes comparable homes in your area, chosen by square footage, age, type of home, type of lot, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. We look at them together, so you can see why each one belongs.
You leave with your number and your net. A suggested value for today, the comparables, our suggestions, and an estimated seller net sheet showing what you could expect to walk away with at the price we suggest. For a lot of sellers, that net is what decides the next move, whether that's downsizing, trading up, or waiting.
We price it right the first time. The right price widens the window of buyers who come to see it. Once you're live, we watch how online interest turns into showings, and if it isn't, we talk about it with you right away.
Not ready yet? We can send you a new Home Value Report every six months until you are. See planning a future move.
The E.P.I.C. System: How We Sell Your Home
Presentation: Your Home at Its Best
Buyers decide fast, and most of them see your home online first. Presentation is how we make sure what they see makes them want to walk through the door.
A home feature consultation. We identify the upgrades and special details that matter most, so they're noticed instead of overlooked.
Getting it ready. Most of the time the best preparation is the three Ds: declutter, depersonalize, and deep clean. Our seller guide walks you through the rest, from small repairs and fresh neutral paint to curb appeal and organized closets. If something needs a professional, we connect you with people from our trusted vendor list: handymen, painters, inspectors, landscapers.
Staging. Light staging is included at no additional cost to you, and full staging is available for an additional cost if your home needs it.
Professional media. Professional photography inside and out, video, drone footage, a virtual walkthrough, and detailed floor plans, so buyers can understand your home before they ever visit.
Impact: In Front of the Buyers Who Are Looking
A listing on the MLS is the starting point, not the plan. Impact is how we put your home in front of the people actually looking for it, online and in your neighborhood.
Online.
- Neighborhood-focused marketing funnels, with social media and paid ads aimed at buyers actively searching in your community
- A dedicated website for your home, with a photo gallery, virtual tour, property map, and printable brochures
- Your home's video tour on our YouTube channel
- Your listing on the major real estate sites, kept accurate and up to date
- Shareable marketing materials, so you can post your home on your own social media
With other agents. E-flyers to local and out-of-area agents that link straight to your home's website, promotion to agents across Summit and the surrounding counties, and the MLS's reverse prospecting to find agents whose buyers may be a match.
In your neighborhood. Open houses, a high-quality four-page brochure, "Just Listed" postcards to your neighborhood, brochures hand-delivered to your immediate neighbors, and a lawn sign that points people to your home's website.
Campaign: A Launch, Not Just a Listing
The first days on the market matter most, so we treat your listing like a launch, and we run it until your home is closed.
Coming Soon. Before your home goes live, we let buyers who are already searching know it's on the way.
You always know what's happening. A question we hear a lot from sellers is "Did you hear anything?" You won't have to ask. Every Monday you get a full marketing report on the activity, the exposure, and the results, and every Friday you get an update. We ask agents for feedback after every showing and pass it along, and we keep you current on rate changes, neighborhood trends, and anything else that may affect your value.
When offers come in. We review and compare every offer with you and explain the pros and cons of each. We call the lender and the buyer's agent to confirm the buyer's qualifications, make sure the financing works for your home, check proof of funds for the down payment and closing costs, and make sure the closing date fits your plans.
Under contract. Our sister Lauren takes over the paperwork, the deadlines, and every closing detail. She sends reminders about inspections, the appraisal, the final walkthrough, and closing documents, so nothing sneaks up on you. If the inspection turns up repairs you agree to make, we recommend contractors to get them done.
Our Easy Exit Listing Agreement. We don't hold you to a minimum marketing period like 60 days, 90 days, or 6 months. As long as we haven't found a buyer, you can ask to cancel your listing and we'll release you, with no cancellation fees and no bill for the marketing we've already done. Once we've found a buyer, the agreement stands.
Ready to talk about your home? Request your Home Value Report or give us a call at (234) 200-6477. You can also read more about selling your home in Summit County.
This page describes our general process. It isn't legal, tax, or lending advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does E.P.I.C. stand for?
Equity, Presentation, Impact, and Campaign. Equity is knowing your number with a Home Value Report. Presentation is getting your home ready and showing it at its best. Impact is putting it in front of buyers who are looking. Campaign is launching it and keeping you informed until closing.
How often will I hear from you once my home is listed?
Every Monday you get a full marketing report, and every Friday you get an update. We also pass along showing feedback as it comes in.
What if I want to cancel my listing?
With our Easy Exit Listing Agreement, as long as we haven't found a buyer, you can ask to cancel and we'll release you, with no cancellation fees and no bill for marketing already done. Once we've found a buyer, the agreement stands.
Do I have to stage my home?
No. Light staging is included at no additional cost, and full staging is available for an additional cost if your home needs it. We'll tell you what we suggest at your Home Value Report.
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