the home isn’t just four walls, its what’s inside — the smells, the music, the laughter, the textiles that become memories, the art on the walls, all of it.

— that's what we are selling.

Our

At ROOT, our story begins with friendship. What started as a shared passion for real estate grew into something much bigger—a team built on trust, family, laughter, and the belief that life is better when we lift each other up.

We believe success isn't just measured by homes bought or sold, but by the relationships we build along the way. We celebrate each other's wins, learn from every challenge, and are committed to continuous growth—both as professionals and as people. Positivity, integrity, and genuine care are at the heart of everything we do.

You'll never find us putting on a sales persona. We're organically approachable, genuinely invested in people, and believe kindness isn't a weakness—it's one of our greatest strengths. We lead with empathy, communicate honestly, and treat everyone with respect because that's the kind of experience we'd want for our own friends and family.

If you're looking for a shark, we're probably not the right brokers for you. We believe real estate doesn't have to be adversarial to be successful. Our goal is for everyone involved to walk away feeling respected, heard, and good about the outcome. We advocate fiercely for our clients while creating solutions that leave all parties feeling like they've been treated fairly.

Our clients often come to us looking for an agent, but they leave with something more. They become part of the ROOT family. We take the time to understand your goals, support you through every step of the journey, and celebrate alongside you when those dreams become reality.

Whether you're buying your first home, selling a place full of memories, or searching for what's next, we're here to guide you with honesty, encouragement, and unwavering support. At ROOT, you're never just another transaction—you become part of a community that believes in helping one another grow, celebrate, and thrive.

Because home is about more than where you live. It's about the people who stand beside you, the relationships you build, and the roots you plant along the way.

Story
Old metal weight scale on a dark table in front of floral wallpaper.

  • "I have purchased and sold a home with Valerie and both times, things went smoothly. My initial purchase closed in about 3 weeks, including the Christmas holidays. Valerie kept in touch over the 5 years I lived in that house and helped with recommendations for contractors etc as I fixed it up. When it was time to sell, she was very helpful getting the house ready and proposed a sale price that generated multiple offers within the first few days it was on the market. She gave invaluable advise regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the multiple offers I received. The sale closed within a month without any glitches."

    JH, buyer & seller

  • “I found Aarde to be very professional and outstanding in helping me to understand both the housing market in the greater Tacoma area, and the home purchasing process. She did an excellent job in providing the understanding of the process steps all along the way. She is excellent in answering questions and very patient in answering repeated questions over time. When it came down to winning the final offer she provided the gentle push needed to get me over the top.”

    James, buyer

  • "Val is the no-nonsense agent you want on your team! She shared us with a Seattle agent, who referred us to her because she didn’t cover the same territory. Val worked seamlessly with her and us. She wasn’t afraid to negotiate for us and she made sure we got the best deal on our home. She was always ready to go see a home on the fly, since the market is so fast-paced right now. And with COVID and my compromised immune system, she didn’t hesitate to ask for masks at showings and make sure my health was protected. She took great care of us as clients and as humans and we definitely recommend her!"

    Sarah, buyer

  • “Working with Kendra was a dream! I say this whole heartedly. Kendra was always on top of communications and timelines when we found the house we wanted to make our home. She was timely if there were questions or concerns we had and always answered with a positive and encouraging disposition. In these crazy times with such an important endeavor to take on, we could not have asked for a better experience in Kendra.

    A.P., buyer

  • "Kendra did a phenomenal job for us. With her advice and guidance we received 3 offers on our home within 3 days and sold it for substantially over our list price. Her positive, cheerful attitude and professionalism made working with her a pleasure. We would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a realtor. "

    Jack, seller

  • “Aarde is a kind, understanding and patient person and worked well with both my parents and I. We had lots of questions and she always had an answer! Aarde is a very skilled broker and we were so lucky we had her!"

    Ellen, seller

  • “Aarde was very friendly and easy to work with. I would recommend her to friends and family that are looking to buy a home. Very Professional.”

    Susan, buyer

  • "I could not have done this without Kendra and the team! She was with me every step of the way, cheerleading me on, answering my dozens of questions, and supporting me at every step of the entire process. Thank you for everything, from the bottom of my heart."

    Cheri, seller

  • "Aarde and Kendra were amazing! They helped us through the entire process and were very supportive and communicative. Couldn’t have done it without them!"

    Darby, buyer

  • “Aarde was great to works with as the buyer’s agent on my listing"!”

    -Sarah, broker

  • "I love how well Aarde works through challenging situations. Her calming demeanor and understanding of the real estate process, make her a true asset! I highly recommend her!"

    Jasmyn, broker

  • "Big thanks to Aarde and Kendra, the ROOT team, for their assistance in finding my retirement home! Even though I was out of state and multiple time zones away almost the entire time, they helped to make the process smooth and painless. They worked with me around my schedule and coordinated all of the various steps through to the closing. They paid attention to the details so I was worry free. I highly recommend ROOT for your real estate needs."

    Barry, buyer

  • "I recently sold my home in California and moved to Shelton to be closer to my grandkids. I was staying with my daughter and family while looking for a home to buy. My daughter had bought her new home with the help of Aarde and was very happy with her experience. Aarde and Kendra were very helpful and showed me a lot a great homes so didn't take long for them to help me find the right one (and it just happened to be very close to my daughter). However, the price was a bit higher than what I had sold my previous home for so I needed some financing. They connected me a with a great mortgage company and that made the process very easy. Between Aarde, Kendra and the mortgage company, I moved into my new home in about 5 weeks after we started this whole process. I couldn't have asked for a better experience! Thank you Aarde and Kendra!"

    Vicki, buyer

  • “Kendra did an outstanding job representing us in buying our first home. We were shopping in a market where houses were selling way over list price and in short supply. Kendra kept us informed, worked fast to get us showings, and in the game when we wanted to give up. We ended up getting into a home that needed a lot of footwork to negotiate and bring to closing. She was always a text message away to answer our questions and keep us at ease with her positive attitude. We loved working with Kendra in our home buying adventure!”

    The B’s, buyers

  • "j. Aarde made buying a house - fully online - a fun, fast experience. Will definitely use again and highly recommend."

    Becky, buyer

  • "Aarde was an absolute pleasure to work with start to finish. We were referred to here regarding land and SO glad we were. She went above and beyond and did the leg work day in and out. Her time and talents are so valuable and we'd definitely use her again to represent us in any real estate transaction!"

    Angela, buyer

  • "Our experience with Valerie was above and beyond what we expected. From the get go she was very easy to get ahold of! She was very patient and showed us as many homes as we wanted to see, giving us as much time as we wanted. She is very knowledgeable and was able to answer all of our questions/explain home buying topics that we had no idea about. We felt that’s she represented us and our interests in the purchase, while still being competitive. She even took the time to tell/show us some of her favorite local restaurants/parks! As first time home buyers, we couldn’t have asked for a better experience with our agent. Would totally recommend Valerie!"

    Joseph, buyer

  • "Valerie was so sweet and down to earth throughout this process, and very honest about homes that she didn't think would be right for us, which I appreciated very much! She went above and beyond and was so proactive with communication and getting our offer sent in and responded to by our sellers ASAP. She's a wonderful advocate. Thanks so much Valerie for making us feel welcome to the area after moving across the country to be here, you were incredible!"

    R C, buyer

  • "Is there any 100 stars option??? 5 starts are not good enough! I can't even describe enough how lucky I had been to have Valerie Albright as my agent. I had a desperate need of looking for the house in Tacoma/ Federal way. The market competition had been fierce. and I felt like there was no hope. Whenever I felt deflated and hopeless, Valerie was there for me, holding me tight, and assured me there will be light at the end of tunnel. Valerie was not only my agent, but also a great mentor and provided me with guidance every single day until I can find the house of my dream. I appreciate what she has done for me day and night not giving up, and I know I am not the easiest client either. Thank you Valerie, you are the world best top notch real estate agent and I am the luckiest client to meet you in most challenging time of my life!"

    J, buyer