Jacki's Top 5 Ways to Stay Sane During Covid-19

Social restrictions have opened the door to some of my newfound favorite hobbies and new go-to spots around town. I think a lot of us are feeling a little stir crazy and maybe a bit overwhelmed with everything we’re experiencing in the world right now. So, if you’re itching for some fun things to try, hopefully my Top 5 list can inspire you!

1.   Christina Tosi’s Bake Club – You might recognize Christina from MasterChef or Chef’s Table. She’s an amazing chef and the owner of the famous Milk Bar. Every day for the past 3 months, she hosts an Instagram live at 2 p.m. where she bakes something new with her audience, and she doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. The night before, she posts the ingredients you need. If you have them on hand, join in the next day to bake! Don’t worry, all her recipes can be found on her website if you can’t make the 2 p.m. time slot. It’s been such an awesome pick me up, really positive, and fun to do with kiddos too. Check out christinatosi.com!

2.   Order Take-Out from a Local Restaurant You’ve Never Tried – This is my favorite. I love good food. It’s a great excuse not to cook dinner AND you’re supporting local business. Google restaurants near you and give a new place a shot. I worked in locally owned restaurants for many years and have a huge soft spot for them- especially during this difficult time. My newest spot? 1928 Cuban Bistro. I could eat their empanadas every day. If you order with them online, they’ll bring it right to your car!

3.   Shopping at Riverside Arts Market – The Riverside Arts Market is up and running under the bridge every Saturday morning. Now, they are offering two ways to shop. Not only in person (with social distancing and masks) but also on their online market! If you haven’t checked out what RAM has to offer, I highly recommend giving their social media a look over. I know you’ll find some cool local artists and vendors and when you do, reach out to them directly or wait until Saturday morning when the online shop is live on Facebook to get all the goodies.   

4.   Painting with Watercolor – If I’m looking to get a little creative, painting is my go-to. I picked up some supplies forever ago and finally have been putting them to use the past couple of months. Order a few beginner watercolor supplies and then let the creativity flow. I've found that a glass of wine usually helps! If you need some inspiration on what to paint, check out @shaydacampbell. She has free art tutorials on YouTube. All her videos are really satisfying to watch and a lot of fun to follow along! 

5.  Going for a Walk Somewhere New- Even though it's blistering hot outside, getting out in nature makes me feel better every time. There are so many beautiful spots around town to take a stroll or ride your bike. I think it's fun to switch up my normal walk around my neighborhood, and I know my dog likes the adventure too! My most recent discovery is Castaway Island Preserve. It's located in the heart of Jax on the Intercoastal with wildlife to spot and picnic tables for snacks. The trail loop has an accessible boardwalk for wheelchairs and strollers!

Let me know what you’re doing to stay sane and #StayHome! Also, if you’re interested in resources about what Root Realty is doing to maintain safety check out this post and this post.

Guest Blog: While the World Is Ever-Changing, Home Is Where the Heart Is

Our owner/broker, MaryAnne Rodriguez, wrote a guest blog for Jacksonville Mom explaining life and work during the world of Covid-19. Check out the excerpt below!

Real estate agents are constantly adapting to a job that is flexible but non-stop. We adjust our days, appointments, time with family, and much more to help people through an incredibly important decision. As a mom and owner/broker of Root Realty, I’m constantly juggling 100 moving parts, sometimes in a single day! In today’s constantly changing world of COVID-19, we’re adapting even more in all of our many roles. For some of us, it’s our first time teaching our children formal schooling within the walls of our home. For others, it’s adapting to a temporary new normal of not walking into the doors of our businesses. For all of us, it’s unusual, it’s strange, it’s different, and it requires a few things: adaptability, flexibility, grace, patience, and innovation. For me, this time includes changes to the way I run my business, the way I am teaching my children from home, and how I am learning to innovate and stay safe (and sane!).

Real estate is deemed an essential business as people will always need a place to live. While it’s certainly a blessing and privilege to still be working, it is, most importantly, a responsibility that we are taking very seriously.

How We Are Adapting to the Changing Times

At Root Realty, we have adapted our business practices to ensure safety and health are our number one priority. One way we have adapted is by taking our usual in-person buyer consultation online! Usually, buyer consults take place in our client’s favorite coffee shop or restaurant. We develop a relationship with our customers and dive into what they really want (and don’t want) and overall want to ensure we are both a good fit for one another. Now, we’ve taken that opportunity from a coffee shop right into your living room! We are utilizing Zoom and FaceTime to connect with potential buyers and get to know them on a deeper level. We’re still utilizing purposeful questions, mindful listening, and other strategies to connect from your home. We have also changed the way we “show” homes right now — we are providing FaceTime and video tours to our buyers as well as practicing social distancing during in-person showings while utilizing gloves, masks, and ALL the hand sanitizer.

READ MORE here!

How to Buy A House During Covid-19

Are you wondering how to buy a house during Covid-19? We know these can be scary times, but as always, Root Realty is here for you! We want to ensure you can still achieve your real estate goals while following the best practices for safety. We’re using technology and innovative practices to still bring you the incomparable Root experience.

How to Buy a Home During Quarantine

If you’re looking for a bigger home, relocated for a job, or simply want something new, we can help you buy a house during Quarantine! Here are some options on how to buy a home during Covid-19.

• Schedule a virtual buyer consult with one of our Root Agents. It’s important to find a real estate agent that best suits you, and as the Void #1 Best in Jax Boutique Brokerage, we know anyone on our team can help you find your home. We’re connecting with buyers through Zoom chats to get to know one another (foodies, favorite movies, etc.!), talk through your wish list, and to walk Once you through the Root Path to Home Buying. Feel free to ask our agents any questions about their experience and knowledge of the business. Once you’re confident in the Root process, you’ll sign a Buyer/Broker agreement and get to the fun parts!

• Search for Houses to Buy online. Once you’ve decided to work with Root, your agent will start putting together a list from MLS that will compile your wish list with what’s available in the current market. Take virtual tours through listing photos and even tour homes virtually with videos of select listings!

• Narrow your search. If you are loving a property, you and your agent will come up with a plan for you to see the home! First, your agent can give you a FaceTime tour of the home to get a better feel for the location, the closet space, the layout, and all of the fun details, so you can stay safe and #StayHome!

• Schedule a showing safely. Once you are ready to move forward on a property, we’ll schedule a showing of the home. It’s important for your safety and the safety of our team that only necessary personnel attend the showing. Your agent will wear masks, booties when available, and make sure that necessary doors are already open. We would encourage you to do the same! Throughout the showing, we’ll maintain a safe 6 foot distance from one another while still giving you the full experience of picturing yourself in this potential home. We’ve outlined our best practices for Root Buyers!

• Make an offer digitally. Your Root agent will handle all things offer related! She will work directly with the Listing Agent and ensure your offer will be presented properly. Everything from this point forward can be done digitally! You can connect via email, phone, text, or Zoom to discuss the process. Once an offer is accepted, our incredible Transaction Coordinator, Beckie Hyatt, will make sure every element is in place for a stress-free closing!

• Close on your new home! Our amazing Preferred Partners J. Riley Law, PLC. are offering Drive-Up Closings, so you can stay in your own vehicle but sign your documents! There are also options for mail away closings and digital notaries. Talk to your agent about the option that you’re most comfortable with!