EcoBroker Certified® real estate agents are licensed real estate agents who receive additional training on energy and environmental issues and can give you a better understanding of energy opportunities and environmental concern as they relate to your real estate decisions and transactions. EcoBrokers help clients market properties with green features, save money, and live comfortably through energy efficiency and environmentally-sensitive choices.
When working with an EcoBroker®, you get a triple advantage:
Energy: reducing the amount of energy used and taking advantage of renewable and alternative energy sources when available.
Environment: understanding how the products and services you use impact local and global environments positively or negatively and encourage more sustainable choices
Green Marketing: effectively marketing your property to appeal to those interested in living green.
Joe and Suzy Homemaker decided to get married and buy a new home. When they thought about using a real estate agent, they wanted someone who could help them find a home where they could live healthy and comfortably, to live modern yet not be too expensive. They wanted an agent who could help them live green. They decided to hire an EcoBroker® to help them buy a home and make it energy efficient. The Ecobroker immediately set them up with a green mortgage broker who pre-qualified them for a green loan to help finance the green improvements. After finding just the right home, with the help of their EcoBroker®, Joe and Suzy got an energy rating on the home to determine its efficiency. The EcoBroker® explained the results of the inspection and helped them choose the most cost effective areas to improve. When it came time for the appraiser to look at the house, that EcoBroker® was there, showing the appraiser the green improvements that would be made to the home and the appraiser worked a future cost value into the appraisal, which increased the appraisal value an extra $5,000! Joe and Suzy were so excited to close so they could begin working on their new green home. After the paperless closing, the EcoBroker® really started his work – coordinating the work to be done with contractors who used efficient and sustainable products like energy efficient windows, HVAC systems, appliances, low VOC (volatile organic compound) and chemically free paints, recycled glass countertops, bamboo flooring, low flow toilets, and plenty of insulation. Once all the work was done, the home was rated again, and the EcoBroker® used this rating to qualify the home as an Energy Star home and helped Joe and Suzy collect all the rebates and tax deductions they were entitled too. Today, Joe and Suzy are paying less than $1,000 a year on gas and electric, thanks to that EcoBroker®. They also enjoy improved health and are much happier knowing they reduced their impact on the planet.
EcoBroker® is the premiere green designation program for real estate professionals. In order to earn the EcoBroker® Designation, licensed real estate agents must complete an intensive online course. It is in your clients best interest to fully understand the green options they have to save money on utility bills, rebates and tax credits or deductions, and to promote a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Soon it will be required that all real estate agents learn about energy and environmental issues in order to receive a license.
Andrew Cepeda is an EcoBroker® in the Littleton, Centennial, CO area.
If you would like to talk, please contact me at 720.216.7617 or email me at andrewcepeda@gmail.com
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