In an industry often driven by numbers and transactions, Evan Essick of the Essick Realty Team, a division of NextHome Triad Realty, has reimagined the role of a realtor as something more community-minded. Beyond showing listings and closing deals, Evan is focused on weaving newcomers into the fabric of the Triad, transforming what can feel like an isolating process into a shared, welcoming experience.
Her journey began at age 23, when she bought her first townhouse through a down-payment assistance program. “I always said that if I got this townhouse, I wanted to use it for the Lord and let Him fill these rooms,” she says. “And He did.” Over five years, Evan offered her spare bedrooms as safe, affordable spaces to women navigating various life transitions—from divorces and engagements to job changes and internships. Evan saw her home not just as shelter, but as a resource to support others.
That insight shaped Evan’s next big decision: Leaving a corporate marketing career to pursue real estate. “I had really good people around me that pushed me,” she recalls. Her father had long predicted she’d be an entrepreneur, and in 2021, she earned her license and went full time shortly thereafter. Evan’s early clients were friends and family, but word spread quickly and she soon saw a considerable number of clients relocating to the Triad. “I started to realize that when you relocate to a different neighborhood or city, you’re kind of starting all over,” she says. She noticed the same question kept surfacing: Where can I find friends?
Evan didn’t just answer the question; she built a solution. She launched a social group called Friends Making Friends, organizing casual gatherings for clients and newcomers to connect and break bread together each month. Attendees bond over shared experiences, offer recommendations (everything from the best dance studio for your kids to the most reliable plumber), and build lasting friendships. What began as a small, close-knit brunch has blossomed into a diverse and family friendly activity. “At first we tried out different restaurants,” Evan says, “but it’s gotten to the point where we need to meet at a park—we’ve gotten too big!”
In December 2024, Evan welcomed a daughter, Simmons, deepening her belief in the power of community. “Just like it takes a village to move, it takes a village to raise a kid,” she says. These days, she leans on her own support system—and Simmons sometimes tags along on showings.
Evan continues to bring the same creativity and care to her real estate business. When she saw clients struggling to figure out where they might settle in the Triad, she created a Buzzfeed-style quiz using real property photos to help match newcomers to neighborhoods and home styles. “It took me four hours to make,” she admits, “but now newcomers can discover their ideal neighborhood in five minutes.”
Noticing a gap in exceptional customer service within real estate, Evan set out to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end support, demonstrating that the realtor-client relationship doesn’t have to end at closing. Her goal is to create spaces—online and in person—where strangers become neighbors. The end result is that she’s built a thriving business by prioritizing relationships over transactions, and she shows no signs of slowing down.