10 Reasons to Use a Root Realty Realtor

If you are looking for a Realtor to sell your home or buy your next home, you have probably read tenths of articles with “Reasons why you Should Hire a Realtor”, but you shouldn’t just go with the first one you meet, you should choose one that TRULY understands your Real Estate desires, needs and goals. So really, you should choose a Root Realty Realtor. Here are ten reasons why: 

1. When you hire a Root Realty Realtor, you get more than one of us; we are constantly supporting each other, so in a way, when you hire one, you get the combined experience and knowledge of all of us, and together, we can find a solution to just about ANYTHING (Real Estate related, we might not be able to solve your personal problems LOL).

2. We are invested in the community way beyond Real Estate transactions, we support local charities like Sulzbacher and Rethreaded, and that’s one of the reasons why this year we won Companies with Heart (award given by Jacksonville Magazine).

3. We were recently voted the #1 Real Estate Brokerage by our community, and also included in USA TODAY as a TOP TEAM in the USA.

4. We TRULY love our customers and like to build long term relationships with them; sometimes what starts as a Realtor-Buyer-Seller relationship, turns into a friendship. and who doesn’t want more friends?

5. Have you seen our social media content? it’s not only useful but also FUNNY, when you check out our Instagram, read our blog or listen to our podcast, you get to meet us and see not only how smart and knowledgeable we are but also how much fun we have working in Real Estate and working together.

6. There are 15 of us but our diversity makes us RICH; we have agents that were born and raised in Florida, but we also have agents from Texas, Georgia, NYC, even Mexico (ahem, me). Before working in Real Estate, one of our agents worked in Medical sales, another one in the Food industry, another one as a Media Specialist, we have a former Nurse, a Psychology professional, a Mortgage Lending professional, an Adult Learning Expert, Teachers, you name it! We have an agent that served full time before joining Root Realty (go Jamie!). Do you know the amount of skills and expertise that these diverse backgrounds give us?

7. If you’re a foreigner and English is not your first language, guess what? we have 2 agents that are fluent in Spanish and one in French. Así que llámanos! Appelez-nous!

8. We don’t only work with homebuyers, or sellers, we also help Real Estate Investors reach their goals. We have long term relationships with investors that focus on Buy and Hold, Rental properties, and/or Fix and Flip. Most of them don’t live in Jacksonville, so if you are looking to invest in JAX but don’t live in town, don’t let that hold you back.

9. Our preferred vendors are the best in their field, we can refer you to the best Mortgage Brokers, Lenders, Home Inspectors, Home Warranty, Home Insurance and Title companies in town; companies like J Riley Williams, Biltrite Home Inspections, and Old Republic Home Warranty, to name a few…

10. And last but not least, our mission is to empower and educate every person before, during, and beyond a transaction and to help ALL achieve their real estate goals. We value more than your home’s value: we prioritize honesty, education, organization, communication, and support every step of the way.  Our unique team of strong women advocates for our customers, our community, and one another.

So, what are you waiting for? Call us, slide into our DM’s, stop by our office (have you seen how cute it is?), whatever works best for you. We got you.

-Dany Amparano

Top 10 Fun Places With Kids

Jacksonville is a fantastic place to raise kids! Take it from me, I’m a mama to four! I have a 12 year old, Abigail, an 8 year old, Adelaide, a 5 year old, Leo, and a 2 year old, Beatrix. When it comes to keeping them occupied, I like to find activities that the whole lot of them will enjoy and with any luck, ones that won’t break the bank!! From parks and candy making to toy stores and museums, Jax has it all!

1. Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop

400 N Hogan St Jacksonville, FL 32202

Sweet Pete’s is an experience that you’ll be sure to remember! Sweet Pete’s is located in downtown Jacksonville in the historic mansion formerly known as The Seminole Club. Here, you can indulge in a wide-array of handmade candies, take candy making classes, watch candy being made, and host stellar birthday parties! Oh, and if you’re hungry for lunch you can also enjoy a bite to eat at Fizzies & Fare, the restaurant right inside Sweet Pete’s. They offer burgers, hotdogs, sandwiches, and a unique selection of bottled sodas. There is truly something for everyone here!

Sweet pete’s

2. Jacksonville Public Library: Main Branch

303 N. Laura St Jacksonville, FL 32202

The public library is an enriching and affordable way to spend your day with your kids. The Main Branch is an especially fun experience for my family! The Library offers a myriad of children’s classes and events each month. This month they’re featuring “Sensory Friendly Storytime,” “Homeschool Art Club,” and “Drop-in Movie Day: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” to name a few. Duval County alone boasts 21 locations so find your neighborhood branch and the adventures will never end!

https://jaxpubliclibrary.org/

3. Ride the JTA Skyway over the river

Riding the Skyway is always a hit with my crew! The Skyway is a monorail that travels across The St Johns River from San Marco to Downtown. It operates from Monday to Friday from 6:00am- 9:00pm. The Skyway cars arrive every 4 minutes and are FREE! Park at Kings Avenue on the Southbank of San Marco and hop on the Skyway for a fun little outing! You can even make an afternoon of it by hopping off at The James Weldon Johnson Park Station and hitting up Sweet Pete’s, The Main Library, Chamblin’s Bookmine, and/or MOCA!

https://www.jtafla.com/ride-jta/skyway/

4. Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA)

333 North Laura St Jacksonville, FL 32202

This modern art museum is great for all ages! Their exhibitions are ever-changing, but this past weekend we got to experience Project Atrium: Milagros, The Flutter Zone! This project featured a giant air filled painted-fabric bubble that we got to ENTER!!!! It was so cool! The colors and patterns surrounded us from every which angle and each of our senses were engaged from the touch of the foam creatures and blocks, the feel of the fan wind whooshing around us keeping the blob-like creation inflated, and the sound of the neon-painted organ that we played. There are a ton of opportunities to gain free entry to this attraction making it an accessible activity/experience for all!

https://mocajacksonville.unf.edu/visit/

MOCA

5. Catch a movie at Sun-Ray Cinema

1028 Park St Jacksonville, FL 32204

Sun-Ray is a locally-owned movie theatre featuring two movie screens. It’s located in Riverside’s historic Five-Points and in 1927, it was the first theatre in Florida to screen “talking pictures!” What’s super fun about going to this theatre is their unique food delivery system. You order your food at the counter (which is totally delicious by the way), then you take your seat in the theatre, and a staff member brings your order out to you as you’re enjoying the movie! Wooden tables are situated in front of the movie chairs so you can comfortably eat.

https://www.sunraycinema.com/location/sunraydrivein

SUN-ray cinema

6. Hey Day Toy Store

2016 San Marco Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32207

I don’t know how many times I’ve thrown my hair into a “mom bun” and loaded my littles into the car for a fun filled jaunt through Target to look at the sights. But all the same items lose their luster after a while. Hey Day Toy Store is the perfect switch-up! They have a great selection of toys and clothes. Many of the toys are right at kid eye-level so they can sample the toys for themselves! The best part is that It’s locally owned and the staff really knows how to make a magical kid-friendly experience! After we poke around the store, we like to grab a coffee at Bitty and Beau’s and walk down to Landon Park to play! This’ll get ‘em niiiiiiice and ready for nap time!

HEY DAY TOY STORE

7. Walk the bridges

Did you know that Jacksonville features a whopping NINE bridges!? One of my family’s favorite pastimes is walking the downtown bridges! We like to park at The YMCA’s riverfront parking lot or The Fresh Market’s lot in Riverside. From there and on foot, you’ll head North on Riverside Ave towards downtown. Stay on the right side of Riverside Ave and head up the walking path to The St. Elmo W. Acosta Bridge. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a glimpse of the historic train bridge to the right of The Acosta being lowered for the train to cross the river and oh boy, that’s a SIGHT! Once across the first bridge, use your GPS to get you to The John T. Alsop Jr Bridge (or the Main Street bridge). The Main Street Bridge is a traditional draw bridge and it has to be raised to allow taller boats to go underneath it. It’s such a treat when you get to see the drawbridge rise up while you’re at the foot of the bridge!! Witnessing the mechanics of it all will spark a ton of questions from your kids. If you’re quick enough, you can catch one of the bridge operators on the bridge and enjoy a quick lesson on how it all works!! Once back on the Northbank of the river, you’ll pass through an outdoor, riverfront exercise station. Climb the staircase just beyond it and you’ll land right in the middle of an impressive local art installation by David Nackashi! Nackashi’s vibrantly painted path will lead you back down to your car where you can call it a day OR grab lunch at First Watch! Did you know that The St Johns River has brackish water which makes the perfect home for DOLPHINS? Be sure to keep an eye out for dolphin pods on your journey!

david nackashi’s art- northbank of river

8. Riverside Park

753 Park St Jacksonville, FL 32204

What kid doesn’t love a day at the park! Jacksonville is dotted with fantastic parks. One of our faves is Riverside Park! It features a sizable playground, plenty of trees to climb and observe, and an huge spring-fed lake with ducks and turtles galore!!! There’s even a dog park where you can let your pup run freely if you’d like! The one downfall to this park is that there are no restrooms so plan accordingly!

Riverside park

9. Wicked Barley Brewery

4100 Baymeadows Road Jacksonville, FL 32217

Wicked Barley is a brewery/restaurant located on Goodby’s Creek in the Baymeadows area. You can reach this place by car, paddleboard, or boat! What’s so fun about it is a little sandy beach area right on the creek! We like to take our kids to eat there and while we visit with the adults at the picnic tables, the kids like to play on the beach and down in the creek. They like to climb up on the Cypress Knees and collect minnows and tadpoles. This is really a fun place for the adults to relax and let the kids interact with nature! The waitstaff is really incredible and they deserve alllllll the tips for dealing with kids running around as they expertly serve everyone! Keep an eye on Wicked’s Instagram for all the events they host throughout the year!

https://wickedbarley.com/

Wicked Barley brewery

10. Riverside Arts Market (RAM)

715 Riverside Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32204

Riverside Arts Market is an ultra fun marketplace that’s located underneath the Fuller Warren Bridge and takes place every Saturday from 10:00am-3:00pm. Here, you can find dozens of local creators, fresh local produce, and food trucks! Often times, there are performances scheduled on a stage right on the river. Enjoy river breezes while supporting Jacksonville’s art community!

Riverside arts market (RAM)

Top 10 Organization Must Haves

I met Alejandra Rivera from Your Organizing Studio (http://www.yourorganizingstudio.com/) at a Galentine’s event two years ago, when I learned that she is from Guatemala (I’m Mexican) we connected and bonded right away; so when I started thinking about this blog post, I immediately thought about collaborating with Ale, since she is a professional organizer. I honestly couldn’t think of a better person to tell us about the Top 10 Organization Must Haves. Here is what she had to say:

“​​It can be hard to keep everything organized when many things demand our attention. Disorganization can lead to an increased stress level and depression. However, being organized can benefit our health and help us feel happier and more relaxed. Here are my Top 10 Organization Must-Haves to start organizing your home and simplifying your life:

1. Closet Systems with adjustable shelving

Elfa Classic 6' Platinum Walk-In Closet The Container Store

A closet organizer system includes a combination of rods, shelves, and perhaps drawers, shoe shelves, and other accessories built into your closet. Adjustable shelves will enable you to maximize vertical space and create a fully customizable storage solution that can change over time as your needs change. There are many closet systems. My favorite closet system is: The Elfa system at the Container Store

2. Hooks

I use hooks anywhere and everywhere throughout the home.  I use them in my mudroom to hang coats and keys or in bedrooms to hang belts and scarves, or jewelry.  I especially love to use command hooks.

3. Drawer dividers

Drawer organizers use storage space more efficiently, allowing you to find items quickly. They are ideal for organizing small things within a larger area. I routinely use them in dressers, kitchens, and desk drawers.

Drawer organizer

4. Door rack systems

Adjustable door rack systems drastically increase storage space by utilizing that often-forgotten area. I have installed these in clients’ homes on the backs of doors.

5. Lazy Susan

Lazy Susan allows you to easily access several items in your cabinet without having to move them around or reach into the back. A Lazy Susan can be a great option if you have limited space in your kitchen, pantry, and bathrooms, and it is one of my absolute favorites.

pantry organized by your organization studio, using baskets, lazy susans and can containers

6. Storage Bins and Baskets

storage bins and baskets are essential for organizing your home. They help you to store items neatly and protect them from damage. They are also helpful in reducing visual clutter.

7. A Vertical Filing System

The vertical Filing system is an excellent storage solution for important documents, receipts, and other paperwork. The vertical file system will help you stay organized and ensure you can quickly find what you need, reducing paper clutter and preventing it from piling up.

8. A Calendar or Wall Calendar

It is vital to keep track of import dates, appointments, and events. It can also help you plan your week and stay ahead of deadlines. There are many written calendar options, but if you are more tech-savvy, my favorite is the Cozy app. Cozi makes it easy to keep on top of everything and track everyone’s activities in one shared place. You can even share your grocery lists!

9. A Command Center

A command center is a designated area in the home where you can keep a family calendar and everyone in the family's vital information, homework, to-do lists, meal plan, activities, and more—think of it as your family record of where everyone needs to go and what they need to get done.

10. Hire a Professional Organizer

Do you have a hard time getting organized and staying organized? There’s no shame in admitting that. If organizing your home or office is too overwhelming, think about calling a professional organizer. Hiring a pro will be an investment at first, but it will help you get your life on track quickly and will save you time and stress”

So what do you guys thing? I loved every single one of Ale’s suggestions, and I use most of them at my home already, but I am already thinking about hiring her as a professional organizer. If I do, I will be sure to post about the results!

Dany Amparano in collaboration with Alejandra Rivas (follow her IG @yourorganizingstudio)