Last month I was thoroughly honored by NAR’s Green REsource Council at their annual EverGreen Award Ceremony. Not only was my work to get various stakeholders working collaboratively recognized – but they created a whole new category for me, Green Industry Advocacy! Chicago Agent Magazine published a nice recap.
The recognition is a great honor, but mostly because collaborative work is not possible unless there are collaborators! The award was a time for me to reflect on all the friends I have made in other industries with the same focus I have and my green peers share in real estate. And that is providing the consumer with a better product and an opportunity not just to purchase a house, but to enjoy a home.
Here are some points from my comments during the award session that capture just how grateful I am for the individuals and organizations that share my passion for making the home ownership experience better!
Some of you have heard me talk about how much I enjoy the work I do. And you’ve heard me say, it’s all about the word “WE.” If I could trademark the word we, I would!
In the time I’ve been a green designee, I’ve learned that the transaction for these homes is very different. Everything that makes them special is up I the attic or behind the walls. And I’ve also learned that more than other transactions, it’s all about the team behind these homes – from the builders to the appraisers, to the real estate agent in the middle. So I’ve set out on a quest of WE. And I’ve found that they are amazing people in each of these business areas that want exactly what we want – and that’s a better product for the consumer. A house that is safer and more comfortable for home owners. And by defining this WE space which we all share in common, I’ve made amazing friends, with people who are going above and beyond their daily jobs to create a better experience for the consumer.
It’s been great fun and I take great pride in bringing these folks together so that our overlap industry space benefits the consumer.
As I close, the other thing that strikes me is that it’s that WE thinking that defines the NAR Green Designee and the work that each of you do either as Realtors, or educators, etc.
We almost don’t need the term “Green” with our name. Because it’s that passion for doing better for the consumer that really defines us. For us, it’s not about MY transaction. For us, it’s about, “Is that family better off than they would have been?” “Is that property better off?” “Is that our community better off?”
So I thank you for this award, and I thank you all for being a part of the WE movement!
