Response from NAR GREEN Designee

In response to Mike Michaud:  Mike, thanks for your response and kudos to being involved in the green building industry for the last 8 years!  That's awesome.  Your question was how do green agents help me as a green builder.  The first thing that comes to mind is referring.  One of the things we were taught was to get toassemble all of the "green" oriented contractors, builders, mortgage brokers, etc. in our area as a point of reference for our clients.  This makes us a point of contact for anyone interested in the green movement.   Lets call it a green referral network.  What I see as greens biggest hurdl rright now is education to the masses.   After I get my green referral network togther I am going to be partnering with them to do classes for the general public and for othe realtors in my board.  I am also going to be doing some cross marketing with these partners to spread the word. 

I also want to repsond to what you referrred to as putting low E windows in an otherwise conventional house or blowing recycled cellulose.   These are green features.  Obviously if you onlydo one of these your entire home is not green.  But it is more green then a house without it.  As an green agent I will be able to recognize what a home buyer has done and help sellers promote it as another positive feature of their home whereas an average agent won't have this knowledge.  Likewise when helping a buyer.  I understand that you sell green homes that are entirely green.  Wouldn't it be great if you had a green realtor who could knowledgeably explain your product and it's benefits to a potential buyer or be able to refer you when in conversation with someone looking to go green?

I also understand that more then likely if someone is interested in going green that they are going to be more knowledgable then me.  I'm ont trying to be a green expert, I'm just trying to make sure my clients understand the benefits of going green and can have access to the people and resources to make that happen.

Mike, I'd like to add you to my referral netowrk if that is allright.  I occasionally have a client headed to Texas and as my green client base grows it is very possible I'll have a future green texan in my midst.  I would also like to keep this channel of communication open as I have a lot of questions about the green building process.  Thanks Mike!