Experts provide tips to make your business more eco-friendly and sustainable
By Michelle Markelz
It seems that with each passing year, more attention—and concern—is paid to the environment.
According to the 2021 REALTORS® & Sustainability Report – Residential, more than half of consumers were interested in sustainability. That trend is on par with research from global strategy and pricing consultancy Simon-Kucher & Partners, which found that more than half of Americans have modified their purchasing behavior to reflect their environmental concerns.
Given this climate, REALTORS® can benefit by incorporating eco-conscious practices into their business and can boost their bottom line. Read further for ideas to green your business and see how other CRSs are making a positive environmental impact.
Carpool for showings
In a low-inventory housing market like the current one, prospective buyers can see an average of eight homes before making a purchase. Depending on the sprawl of their target market and traffic conditions, that can add up to a lot of emissions.
Cheryl Eskridge, CRS, broker-owner of Eskridge Real Estate, has been tackling this problem in the Eagle River area of Wisconsin and the Wimberley area of Texas. She shuttles her clients to showings in her own vehicle to cut down on the number of cars they use to visit homes. “People are going to see 25–30 homes often—especially in the Northern Wisconsin market,” she says. “I think as real estate people, if we lead by example in the fight for ecology, we don’t have to tell anybody anything. They’ll see it. When people ride in my car, they see that I use my own reusable grocery bags, for example.”
Eskridge is inspired to help the environment by her children and grandchildren. “As I get older, I worry about our world and what we’re going to leave to our children. When I see my own children and grandchildren being ecologically wise, it motivates me to be ecologically wise—even though it’s in small ways,” Eskridge says. She is constantly looking for new ways to reduce waste in her personal life, such as using recyclable coffee pods or zero-waste laundry detergent sheets. “I’m going to start promoting these things with my buyers and sellers at open houses,” she adds.
Go paperless
Paperless business transactions are no longer a prospect of the future; they are becoming the standard. And for good reason. Digital contracts and files are often more secure than hard copies, they’re accessible from almost anywhere and make transferring information quick and easy.
Jessica Horwatt, CRS, associate broker at Raven Real Estate, LLC Brokered by Herrington & Company in Anchorage, Alaska, made the switch when she realized she was scanning all of her hard copies to digital files anyway. “That was my starting point,” Horwatt says. “There were lots of little lessons along the way, like [learning] how to use my phone to scan documents, using Docusign and saving versions of documents with different levels of signatures and keeping track of documents. I have my system down now, but it’s evolved over the years.”
Keeping files in a digital format allows Horwatt to access them at a moment’s notice, like during a home inspection. She says she has clients who appreciate the paperless practice because it saves them the time of digitizing paperwork themselves. For the fewer and fewer clients who still prefer paper though, Horwatt says she reverts based on their preference.
Make it personal
Being eco-friendly doesn’t have to stop at your office door. In fact, the environmental stewardship you practice in your personal life can be a boon to your business.
Amy Zeitz Bailey, CRS, an agent with RE/MAX Action First in Louisville, Kentucky, became passionate about conservation after watching the film “Flight of the Butterflies” with her daughters. The colorful pollinators are crucial to the ecosystem, especially for thriving food crops. Zeitz Bailey was so inspired to save these creatures, she began teaching about and demonstrating them in her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and at local schools. “I belong to a native plant seed swap and have met so many wonderful people,” she adds. “I also post on Facebook, YouTube and TikTok in an effort to show this bellwether of climate.”
Through these community efforts, Zeitz Bailey has expanded her network and says she has received referrals from the people she’s connected with over their shared interest in monarchs. Getting involved in any environmental cause can have the same effect. Find an initiative that speaks to you, and connect with other enthusiasts. When they’re ready to buy a new home or sell their current one, they’ll think of you.
6 Ways to Green Your Office
Recycle and compost waste
Give your team the opportunity to reduce their waste footprint with recycling and composting bins. If you have a small office, you may consider collecting recyclables and dropping them off at a recycling center yourself. Otherwise, check with your landlord or building manager about curbside options. A compost bin is a great way to reduce food waste; plus, it makes rich soil. You can even use it to nourish small potted plants—a great housewarming gift!
Promote green transit
If your team is commuting to the office, you can incentivize green transit by offering reimbursement for public transportation fares and bike tune-ups. As an employer, you can also enroll in a commuter benefit program to give your team access to pre-tax savings on fares.
Shop locally
One of the simplest ways to reduce your carbon footprint is to shop locally—with the added benefit of supporting your friends and neighbors. By shopping at local retailers, you reduce the amount of transportation (read: greenhouse emissions) and shipping material required to get products in your hands.
Use sustainable, compostable or recyclable products
From the paper you print on to the dishes you eat off of, there are many opportunities to improve the sustainability of your office supplies. In your kitchen or cafeteria, opt for reusable flatware, dishes and glasses. Go paperless where possible with e-signature software and digital asset management.
Install smart lighting and HVAC
Energy-efficient bulbs are a great start to cutting your energy usage, but you can go a step further with smart technologies. Manage your office lighting and temperature from your phone, and utilize motion sensors with off-the-shelf consumer products like smart thermostats to maximize the efficiency of your utilities.
Buy zero-waste promotional products
Business cards and SWAG (stuff we all get) are relics of the past. Today’s consumers are trying to declutter and don’t want to remember you with an item they don’t need and can’t recycle or repurpose. Be intentional with your marketing by choosing promotional products that your prospects can feel good about taking and using. You can give away seeds for a garden, local culinary treats or make a donation in their name. All of these are more memorable than a pen or plastic-based tchotchke, and they can be personalized with a simple handwritten card.
The high-performance home market is rapidly growing. Learn more by watching “Zero as a Value Proposition” at CRS.com/webinars.
Photo: iStock.com/MARHARYTA MARKO
