Kent & Associates Realty is located at 1927 Park Avenue in Orange Park.
NEW LOCATION?
They just relocated to this new address in July. Previously they were located on Kingsley Avenue in Orange Park. The office opened in 2001.
WHY MOVE TO NEW LOCATION?
“We wanted to branch out and provide closer neighborhood services to the area.”
WHO ARE THE BROKERS/OWNERS?
Susie Kent and Rachel Rogers. They are both active agents and heavily involved in both the mortgage company and real estate company.
WHO IS THE OFFICE MANAGER?
Marcia Gierisch is a Realtor and manages the office. “I oversee the basic day-to-day activities of the full-service general real estate office. I handle the paperwork, support the agents, schedule meetings and perform individual training.”
WHAT DOES THE OFFICE DO?
“We are a full-service office and the bulk of our business is general residential real estate. We do handle commercial properties, business brokerage and property management.” Rogers is also the broker/owner of a mortgage company, First South Financial. Geirisch said it is helpful for the agents to have the opportunity to assist their customers with their mortgage needs if they need it. They have another office in Cedar Key operated by Jaymie and Joe Brunofsky. “Jaymie and I used to work together at Watson Realty. She moved to Cedar Key. I was approached by Kent Realty to manage the office so I recruited Jaymie to open a branch office in Cedar Key.”
They also have a satellite office in Flagler Beach where owners Kent and Rogers own Flagler Beach Motel. They are also opening an office on Edgewood Avenue to cover the Riverside/Avondale/Murray Hill and Westside area later this year. Chuck Rogers will be the office manager. They are also planning to open an office in Middleburg to service the Green Cove Springs and Oak Leaf Plantation area early next year.
LENDING A HELPING HAND?
The Flagler Beach Motel was recently hit by Hurricane Charley’s storm surge. “They’ve owned it for a few years and of course when Charley came through, it went right through Flagler Beach. The water came up over A1A and went into the parking lot, the rooms and the swimming pool. Our office banded together and went down there to the motel to get it back into operational shape.” The 11 people who went ripped up the carpet and put down tile during the two weekend visits. “We hauled off debris and helped the neighboring properties. Fortunately, the motel wasn’t in as bad as shape as those on either side of it. It was great that everyone kicked in and tried to help. Since we are a small office, we feel very close to one another. It was a very close-knit family atmosphere while trying to pitch in and help.”
WHAT TYPE OF AGENTS DO YOU HIRE?
Geirisch said she hires new and seasoned agents who are team players who have an outgoing personality, are conscientious, professional, service oriented and accommodating.
ENCOURAGE PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT?
“Yes. We are very supportive of any professional organization and our agents being an active part of that. We are involved in the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors Southwest Council, Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Council of Realtors.”
WHAT MAKES YOUR OFFICE UNIQUE?
“We all act like we are brothers and sisters in a close-knit family. Although we are conscientious of our professionalism, we are very laid back. We don’t have dress restrictions. Our office has a very homey feel to it. When you are more relaxed and natural, you have a tendency to be more yourself as opposed to being something that you are not. When you are yourself, you are going to listen to people better, you are not worried about the image you are trying to project.”
WEBSITE
www.jacksonvillehomesandland.com
-by Michele Newbern Gillis