Rhonda Plake Brokered by Epique Realty

04/20/2026

The average American moves 4-6 times between the ages of 18 and 45. Personally, I've moved 8 times in just my adult life alone!

How many times have you moved?

-Rhonda

04/20/2026

5 reasons your dollar is best spent locally.

5) About $0.68 of every dollar spent locally gets reinvested in your community. This isn't just about keeping money in the same spot. It's about making that money the most effective. When you spend your money inside of your community, it creates an economic synergy. You decide what businesses survive with your hard earned dollars.

4) You create a better place to live. Towns thriving with local, small businesses are just more interesting, culturally vibrant places to live. No one wants to live in a city dominated by national chains and big box stores. Ironically, if you want more variety and specialty options, think smaller. Not bigger.

3) Local businesses have to serve their communities well. They literally can't afford to offer a bad product or a substandard service. They don't have big, fancy marketing budgets to make up for it. So, every dollar and every customer counts. Most small businesses literally have their name on their buildings, so it's their reputation that's at stake, not just the bottom line.

2) Your dollar spent locally buys you access to real people, not a customer service line. Small business owners are passionate about what they do, so they are your best source of expert information on the subject. You don't have to worry about your call or your concern being outsourced to an overseas center. Chances are you'll be speaking to a knowledgable business owner or employee when you shop locally.

1) Your dollar directly influences a life, not a logo. There is a person and a family behind every small business. What's more, 2 out of every 3 new jobs have been created by small businesses since 2014. So your dollar creates local jobs for other people in your community. Spending your dollar locally is the best investment you can make in your neighbor's life.

-Rhonda

03/31/2026

Who are your favorite local contractors? 🔧🔨

03/29/2026

Have you eaten at this BBQ restaurant yet? It's one of the highest rated in Cleveland!

BBQ in Cleveland, OK

03/27/2026

Building your perfect home isn't just about finding a house—it's about finding the right partner to guide you. From location to lifestyle, the right real estate agent makes all the difference. Let's find your dream home together!

03/25/2026

When it comes time to start thinking about purchasing a home, it's not always easy to quickly know how much the whole process will truly cost. Take a look at this blog to get an idea of which expenses occur once and which are ongoing.

It would be nice if houses for sale came with giant price tags so a buyer could easily compare “all-in” costs. Imagine trying to buy a gallon of milk and having to separately compute what it costs to feed the cow, distribute the inventory and stock the shelves.

03/23/2026

Thinking about selling your home? Get your seller guide today and learn about the process of home selling!

Everything you need to know about selling your home in one place! Learn from the experts

03/21/2026

🏡 Selling Your Home? Don’t Skip This Step! 💰

If you’re putting your home on the market, skipping this one crucial step could cost you thousands! 😬👇

✨ Professional Listing Photos & Staging – First impressions matter, and homes with high-quality photos and proper staging sell faster & for more money!

📸 Listings with professional photos get 47% more per square foot!
🏠 A well-staged home can sell for up to 10% more!

Thinking about selling? Let’s make sure you maximize your home’s value! 🏡💰

Tag a homeowner who needs to see this! ⬇️

03/19/2026

If you want to add value to your home quickly, focus on the spaces that matter most: the kitchen and bathrooms. ✨

💡 Fresh paint, modern fixtures, and updated hardware can make these rooms feel brand new without a full renovation.
💡 Even small upgrades — like swapping outdated lighting, adding a stylish backsplash, or refreshing cabinet doors — can dramatically increase appeal.
💡 Pair those updates with simple curb appeal improvements (fresh mulch, a bold front door color, clean landscaping), and you’ve got a winning combo.

These changes are cost-effective, quick to complete, and can make a major impact on resale value. Would you update the kitchen first, or the bathroom?

03/17/2026

Do you really need a reason to update your kitchen? 😃