Right now, Realtors have a golden opportunity to make a positive impact regarding sustainability. We are on the front lines of conversations about housing and talk to people who are buying, selling, and renting homes. We work with builders, remodeling companies and investors. The majority of our vendors are within the building industry, and we network with governments and nonprofits concerning affordable housing.
Imagine if energy efficiency, water savings, and high-performance building techniques were more important than square footage and floor plans. That would have a huge impact on climate change and sustainability in general!
We have the power to make that happen! We can shift public awareness and create a demand for “green” homes, but education is the key. Once you are aware of best practices then you can start marketing these concepts. I have always seen marketing as an effective educational tool. It really is easy for us to make this type of shift since we are excellent at marketing homes.
Now is the time to focus on “green” home features. The Shelton Group conducted a survey that found 57% of the people polled were concerned about the environment; we have crossed the halfway mark! Today, the majority is concerned about sustainability and climate change.
The following National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2019 study about buyer and seller trends clearly shows that clients consider energy efficiency very important.
This isn’t new information, though. In 2018, NAR’s sustainability study reported that Realtors thought 61% of their clients were concerned about sustainability.
What are we waiting for? Why hasn’t every Realtor gotten the NAR GREEN Designation? Why hasn’t every Realtor’s Association greened their MLS?
I started my real estate focus on “green” homes in 2004. Back then it was a fringe concept, but by finding Green Champions and education builders and clients, I had a thriving niche in just a few years. Now in 2022, the demand is here. In fact, if you don’t have some type of green, sustainable focus, you are probably losing clients!
Today we have so many resources and opportunities available to us as Realtors. Perhaps that is one of the issues; information overload can create anxiety. I have had several Realtors tell me they are confused about what is really sustainable and what is just greenwash.
I have been teaching Realtors about sustainability and creating a green niche for years. My motto has been, “a little bit of something is better than a whole lot of nothing.” Now, I feel an urgency to get the word out to more Realtors. I am passionate about the fact that Realtors can change the world and its view on sustainability. We have to do something and do it now!
This need is why I have created a series of online courses for Realtors and builders. The first course, “Start Your Green Niche/Business” is fast-paced and will help you create a sound foundation to speak the sustainability language of your clients.
The second course, “Scale Your Green Niche/Business” is for those who feel comfortable with general green, sustainable conversations and have already been marketing to clients. This course will push you into making your own business sustainable and creating a network of vendors who truly care about sustainability.
The third course, “Love the Green” is to train the trainer. It is for coaches, consultants, and realty companies who wish to promote sustainability.
To learn more, email mary@lovethegreen.org