I started this blog over 2 years ago to vent and write about green building and my frustration in finding people and materials to build or remodel green in San Diego. If I had been living in Northern California, Portland, Seattle, Tucson, Phoenix and even Brooklyn, it never would have been a problem to find materials and knowledgeable green builders.
The plan, remodel green and sell. The reality it’s not easy to do for several reasons. 1.) According to the realtors I have interviewed most consumers don’t care 2.) Finding a ‘green realtor’, because the average realtor just wants to sell products. They don’t even know about Listed Green, a website devoted exclusively to green real estate. 3.) The market and availability of short sales and bankrupt properties for sale.
To date, I have interviewed 3 Realtors who don’t know a thing about VOC’s, renewable materials, Marmoleum (flooring) Instant hot water (Laing auto circ) Native Plants, composting, recycling bins, EnergyStar appliances, Water Sense faucets, all they see- what sold in my area. How can a realtor answer questions or market a condo if they don’t know how to sell to the eco conscience consumer, the asthmatic, the allergic person? Am I wrong to think they should know about Green Real Estate Listings? Am I wrong they should have known about LEEDS? Am I wrong they should have been up on Green Real Estate Developments from Green Housing Developments?
For the record, they didn’t know anything about the Top 10 Green Housing Trends, Top 10 Remodeling Trends , Top 10 Healthy Homes Trends Did they read the article the ‘US Eco Friendly Properties Sell for Faster and For More?
I guess it back to the drawing board and contacting real estate agents through Eco Broker.
Resources
- Green Homes For Sale – Green homes for sale
- Listed Green– used to be MLS Green
- Green Resource Council
- National Association of Realtors- Green Designation
- Eco Broker
Just a quick note about Listed Green and their recent alliance with EcoBroker.
ListedGreen.com has a goal to help educate all (not more) real estate agents about knowing green. Our collaboration with EcoBroker will help facilitate that need.