From person-centric service to staying ahead of the tech wave, Re/Max Realtor Katy Dix Brahler has her own unique way of getting the sale

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By utilizing every trick of the trade and then some, Realtor Katy Dix Brahler can get the job done. (Photography: Benjamin Margalit)

By Patricia Nugent

According to a recent article in Forbes Magazine, one of the best ways for home buyers or sellers to find a perfect-fit Realtor is to seek referrals from other homeowners.

“Despite the technology that seems to take over much of the searching for a home, the right real estate agent is still a human-to-human choice,” the article states.

“Referral is best. There’s no bigger compliment to an agent than a referral from a past client.”

Local Re/Max Realtor Katy Dix Brahler is pleased to report that for the past 20 years, word-of-mouth referrals have driven her business. And the drive has been a wild one, from her selling more than $12 million in homes, to being named a Top Agent by Cleveland Magazine and appearing on two HGTV episodes of House Hunters.

For this story, she said she’d like to thank one of her many fans in the word-of-mouth business: Josh Harkleroad (pictured with Katy in main photo).

In 2016, Katy helped Josh and his husband, two dogs and two cats find their ultimate dream home in the West Park neighborhood.

According to Josh, the experience was fantastic.

“She was patient and perceptive, taking the time to get a feel for what we were looking for,” he recalls. “In fact, this home hadn’t even come on the market and she said we had to look at it fast. She had a gut feeling this was the one and she was right.”

He said his experience with her was night-and-day different than his experience with his last Realtor, who didn’t really spend much time with him and seemed to just be looking for a fast commission.

“Another thing about Katy is she’s extremely nit-picky, but in a good way,” he says. “When we would go through any home, she would stop in each room and point out the smallest details she would want fixed. I feel as if she protected our interests throughout the process.”

Since buying their home, Josh has referred countless friends and family Katy’s way, because he says he wants others to have as great an experience as he did.

Staying Ahead of the Tech Wave
In addition to personal referrals, another factor that is tops on people’s minds when looking for a Realtor is whether or not that person is tech-forward, staying up-to-date on the new internet-intensive world and how that impacts real estate.

“It’s always been my modus operandi to look forward, see what’s coming around the corner,” says Katy. “And investing in the latest tech to the market is the best way to do that.”

To that end, Katy is pleased to introduce Matterport 3D virtual tours to her home sellers.

Want to take a tour yourself? Look no further than one of her latest listings at KatyBrahler.com: 31501 Lake Road in Bay Village.


Next Best Thing to Being There
“This immersive experience takes people through every room of the home,” she explains. “It’s really the next best thing to being there. With the push of a button, I can put potential buyers in the homes and they can keep going back to areas of interest.”

Functionality features include 360-degree views, floor plan peeks, dollhouse views and social sharing tools.

Want to take a tour yourself? Look no further than one of her latest listings at KatyBrahler.com: 31501 Lake Road in Bay Village.

A large front porch and spacious decks on the first and second floors of this four-bedroom, three-bathroom Colonial make the most of those Lake Erie sunsets and breezes. Spacious rooms with hardwood floors, loads of windows, pastoral murals and updated bathrooms with decorative glass mosaic tilework and built-in bowl sinks make this home perfect for families with an artistic flair.

“I live on a street off Lake Road in Bay, so I can appreciate what buyers are looking for in this area,” says Katy.

Staging 101: Declutter, Declutter, Declutter
Katy has earned a reputation of being a master stager and takes her clients room to room making suggestions to make any home look like a model home. She comments that people are often blind to what is cluttering their homes.

“Kitchens and bathrooms are the primary spaces to declutter,” she says. “The eye should see nothing but clean lines…no appliances on the counters, no toothbrushes or hair products in the bathrooms.”

And she says toss the phony scented candles, plug-ins or room sprays, as they can become bothersome. “I’d suggest making things real and homey instead. Try baking a pie,” she says.

Expanding Her Team
Managing her growth is a constant effort for Katy, and she’s pleased to introduce Sue Olson.

After helping Sue sell her home, also on Lake Road, in 2016, the two remained close.


As an artist, business owner and industrial designer by trade, Sue was looking for a part-time job as she eases her way into retirement.

“She is my right-hand person,” says Katy. “Already doing an excellent job helping clients from contract to closing, Sue operates instinctually to keep operations running smoothly.”

Re/Max is located at 25021 Center Ridge Road in Westlake, OH 44145. Katy Brahler is a multi-million-dollar producer and is a distinguished member of the President’s Club and Executive Club of Re/Max. Call her direct line at 440-724-4313. Visit KatyBrahler.com for more information.

Categories: Westside Home & Garden