Before showing clients homes in Epic Realty's newly built neighborhoods, the company's realtors make it a point to drive through neighborhoods it built nearly 20 years ago.
The tactic helps illustrate to clients just how well the homes hold up over time, said Helena Rice, who along with her husband, Rob, own Epic's parent company, Gemini Corporation.
"You drive through neighborhoods we built in 1989 and the homes just look beautiful," Rice said.
The company makes sure that standard stays true in today's market, also. Instead of selling all the homes in the communities, Epic holds on to a few, which it rents out. Rob also sits on homeowners' association boards in several communities.
"We're very vested in our communities," Helena said. "It makes a big difference if the builder is involved."
Epic features properties located in Olympia, Lacey, Tacoma, Tumwater, Puyallup, South Hill, Chehalis and Centralia.
"The number one factor for us is location," she said. "We like to be a short commute for military folks."
The company also prides itself on appealing to families. That includes building parks in many of the communities and giving families between seven to 12 floor plans to choose from. Homes in the Evergreen Heights neighborhood in Lacey feature both rambler and two-story with square footages from 1,926 to 2,336 square feet. The Villages at South Hill community in Puyallup features an off-leash community dog park within walking distance.
"We also put a lot of work into the landscaping and all the open spaces in our communities," Helena said.
While some homebuilders look to sell homes by catering to customers looking at getting in at a target price, Epic is more concerned with overall value.
"We don't fit a mold," Helena said. "Our buyers aren't driven by price. We're more about the long-term investment."
Epic's neighborhoods include Evergreen Heights and Kensington in Lacey, Holloway Springs in Chehalis, Stadium Estates in Napavine, Villages at South Hill in Puyallup and the soon-to-be-completed Steilacoom Ridge in Lacey.
For more information on Epic Realty, visit www.homesfromepic.com.
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