from Florida Realtor Magazine, December 2007 | page 4

Green Movement Going Strong in Florida

I just read the article “Going Green” [Florida Realtor, October, page 26] and was very glad that the topic is getting attention.

On page 28, the writer states, with regards to Florida green standards:
“Florida has yet to establish any guidelines related to the issue.”

Actually, there’s a lot going on within Florida with regards to the Green Movement. Not only does the Florida Green Building Coalition (www.floridagreenbuilding.org) have a Certified Green standard that focuses on nationally recognized green standards, but it also includes Florida-specific criteria such as: wind tolerance ratings, outdoor water use, landscaping with native drought-tolerant plants and more.

In addition, the Sarasota Association of REALTORS®’ magazine just dedicated its August issue to the Green Movement. (www.sarasotarealtors.com/files/
magazine/SRMagAug0707072724656.pdf).

Steve Wooster
Prudential Palms Realty
Siesta Key

Green Designation Costs More
Thank you on behalf of EcoBroker for the recent article, “Going Green” [Florida Realtor, October, page 26]. We’re so appreciative of the coverage and of Florida Realtor’s efforts to educate real estate professionals about the environment.

However, the EcoBroker Designation enrollment price was incorrectly stated in the second paragraph of the article: “A broker-associate with Century 21 Beach Realty in Santa Rosa Beach, Johnson started by spending $295 and one week to get his EcoBroker certified designation, and in doing so, learned about the various energy, environmental and green strategies of importance to real estate professionals.” The correct fee is $395.

Christy Peters
EcoBroker International
Evergreen, Colo.

Enhancements Can be Free
In the October 2007 issue of Florida Realtor [See Mailbox, page 6], Heidi Hilliard, an associate of EXIT Realty Preferred in Lake Mary, comments in her letter “Listing Enhancements Free?” on an article from page 46 of the December 2006 issue of Florida Realtor that said, “Enhance your listings on Realtor.com.” In that article, Debbie Beichel, a sales associate with Coldwell Banker in Port St. Lucie, is quoted as saying, “We believe in spiffing up your listings here with photos, floating banners and headlines. You can post the information yourself and it’s a free way to improve their visibility online.”

Hilliard says she called Realtor.com about how to do this for free and was told that if she purchases the showcase listing enhancements package for one year (price: $193), she would be able to add more than one photo and also have her listings stand out.

While Hilliard did receive correct information from Realtor.com, Beichel was also correct. Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate provides all of its associates with free enhanced packages including floating banners and headlines for all of their listings.

David W. Robinson, GRI
Coldwell Banker Residential
Winter Springs

Submit letters to “Editor” via e-mail to FLRealtor@far.org, mail to P.O. Box 725025, Orlando FL 32872-5025, or fax to (407) 438-1411.
Letters are edited for space and clarity. Publication of a letter does not constitute an endorsement of the writer’s views by the Florida Association of Realtors®.