How to Go Green for Realtors

Realtors have the chance to be green in cutting edge ways.

Increasingly American consumers are displaying a willingness to support businesses and products that strive to reduce their impact on the environment. At least one-third of consumers in the U.S. will spend more to buy environmentally friendly products. No doubt this massive consumer buying power extends to home sellers and home buyers. With such strong market support, going green is not only good for the environment but for a realtor's bottom line as well.

Instructions

1. 

   Consider all the ways that your business operations impact the environment. Review the impact of running an office, staging properties for open houses, and printing and distributing cards, information and contracts and other important documents to home buyers and sellers.

2. 

   Use recycled paper for business cards.

   Brainstorm ways you can reduce or eliminate the impact of your real-estate activities on the environment. Consider reducing the amount of paper you use, and using recycled paper. Use environmentally friendly cleaning products when staging a home for open houses. You can also use an energy-efficient automobile when taking clients to see properties.

3. 

   Drive around town in a branded energy efficient car.

   Consider what initiatives you can use to get more green listings and homes that are environmentally friendly. For example, create a marketing package for sellers that shows how greening a home prior to listing it increases the sales price and reduces the time on the market. Conduct a seminar for home buyers on the long-term financial benefits to buying a green home.

4. 

   Use green cleaning products in your office and homes you stage.

   Implement the cost efficient and profitable ways of going green that are feasible for your specific realtor practice. Don't worry if you can't implement all the ideas you have right away. This is a long-term commitment, so start where you can and keep improving.

Tips & Warnings

• Use your advertising and marketing communications to inform potential home buyers and sellers of your efforts to environmentally friendly. This will help change consumer expectations of what other realtors should be doing.

References

• Change.org; Consumers Still Willing to Spend More Green For Green; Chris Santiago
• Realtor.com; Do Green Homes Sell Faster?; Melissa Dittmann Tracey
• EPA; Greening Your Purchase of Cleaning Products: A Guide For Federal Purchasers; May 12, 2010

Resources

• EPA; Greening Your Purchase of Cleaning Products: A Guide For Federal Purchasers; May 12, 2010
• Realtor; Is Your Listing Really "Green"?; Erik Fowler