Gyh workshop 2012grn practice setup 1

Editor's Notes

• #2: The Green Your Home Workshop is an entry-level discussion about Greening your life at home, centered on the Keller Williams Realty Guide book. +++++++ NOTE – this presentation is an hour long depending on your pace. Be sure to practice a few times, preferably in front of an audience who will give you real feedback – you may need to pull a few slides to make sure it isn’t too long… but that has much to do with your style and your pacing.
• #3: This is for legal – you can just pass through this slide, but please leave it in.
• #4: Please insert the appropriate info here. We encourage you to gain sponsors to help pay for marketing, room space, materials and of course, one Green Your Home book per attendee.
• #5: Be sure to clarify that the models described come from the GYH book, and is based on years of research. The manner that GYH presents these ideas are excellent and accurate, and there are other models out there that are excellent as well. Be clear about where the class is going.
• #6: Add your stuff or pull this slide.
• #7: This is the time for an ice breaker; warm the room up, introduce yourself, and set the stage for what attendees can expect. If you have different goals, be sure to remove the text, or change the text, or change it as needed. “ We are not here to debate whether there is or isn’t global warming. Either way, becoming more aware of our consumption and reducing our waste can only be a good thing. That is not really a debatable issue. I believe that if everyone does a little, where they can, where they live, it adds up to making a big difference overall.”
• #8: Ask the question, and open it up to everyone. Affirm every answer. Encourage everyone to speak, and make sure you give enough time before you answer from the perspective of the book – “We did a tremendous amount of research and found that the main three concerns most commented on were: Health, saving money, and living sustainably. In the book there are stories of people who had started their journey because of a health issue, and discovered that many simple things could be done to improve the health of their home. Others started because of a desire to save money. We all can relate to that! And some felt a responsibility to make sure that they were living in a way that they would leave the world a better place than when they entered it. Living in a sustainable manner means that you reduce your consumption of the earth’s resources so as to allow for the next generation to be able to live as we have, and so on.” (next slide)
• #9: One definition of Sustainability – you should encourage discussion about this word and the present interpretation of your attendees. (definition from the EPA)
• #10: Read the sections p 6-10 – be real that some green projects could be expensive, but most are not. That is why proper and accurate education is needed… there is a lot of fuzziness out there
• #11: Know the reasoning behind these statements and be prepared to answer from your own experiences, and perhaps some of the stories in the book.
• #12: *Read the book p. 19-24 and know the material. You might want to have some examples, stories and anecdotes. On climate, you can refer to your local climate and present a pro vs con project based on that relevant info, as in, replacing windows in the southern US rarely pays back the money it costs.
• #13: This is an overview of the next few slides – ask if this makes sense – you are getting ready to dive into the topic… 1 – We identified the three most common priorities – Health, money savings, and sustainability. You should identify which ones are most important to you… (you might share a personal story here) 2 – You don’t have to do it alone. There are lots of resources – local professionals as well as organizations – to help you work through the projects. 3 – The GYH book is very practical about providing a system by which to choose and prioritize your particular projects, large or small. 4 – The final step is to devise a plan of action – some plan out a series of project that may takes years to complete.
• #14: “ As I said earlier, the 3 main priorities according to our research are: A Healthy Home: Some are motivated due to allergies or personal health needs, and others simply desire to improve their day to day living. Making your home healthy can be accomplished easily, and many decisions can be made simply by knowing more about the chemicals and materials you allow in your home. So the primary element is Air As for being money smart, conserving water and energy are just the beginning… but many people have gone green for the express purpose of saving money, both in th eshort term and the long term. The primary element is Energy When we talk about sustainability, there is a wealth of information available to be able to reduce your carbon footprint and to consume less of our resources every single day. The GYH book you will be receiving goes more into depth on the specifics, and, we have also given you some websites to visit to gain more understanding of the possibilities. The primary Element is water, our most precious resource.
• #15: “ We said earlier, you don’t have to do this alone. It is my goal to be your real estate agent and resource not only for buying and selling real estate, but also to help you consider the green projects you might want to do at your home, especially as it affects the salability and value of your home. I also know professionals in the following categories to be a part of your team. I would also ask you to give me your referrals if you use someone who provides excellent service, and with whom you are comfortable referring to others.” (read the other 4 green team categories…
• #16: The bulk of the book goes into greater detail about the process of building your green list. Since each of you will have different priorities and different budgets, your list will be different as well. However, we suggest that you start your green journey with a professional audit. We have also provided you with a list of websites and resources to find rebates and incentives in our area. At that point, I recommend you make a list of every project that could be done, no matter how big or small, along with the pro’s and con’s for each project including expense and savings. On the expense/savings analysis, most people look at Return on Investment. For instance, if you replace your windows with double or triple insulated windows, how many months would it take you to recover that expense. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether it is worth it or not. If your present windows were really in disrepair or loosing a lot of energy, then it could be worth it sooner, especially when considering that the resale value of your home would go up. In some cases, it can get complicated, so I would be happy to look at your list when you have compiled it and help you think things through, if you like.” (((Again, offer additional value, and become top of mind when they think of real estate)))
• #17: I mentioned the zones in the previous slide – we will eleaborate on those now, starting with the Inside zone. Every Green priority is touched on in each zone, and with the Inside Zone, the first priority is typically Health. Here are a few ideas:
• #18: The Systems Zone refers to electrical, mechanical (heating and air), insulation and ventilation systems. So, typically, the Money-smart priority is engaged in this zone – the GYH book covers the following points…” (click through the items) “ The other priorities are touched on as well….” (click through the few items remaining)
• #19: “ The third zone covered in our book is the outside zone. Sustainable living is the first priority in this zone to include…” (click through the three points) “ Additionally, you can increase energy efficiency by strategic landscaping and awnings, more of which is covered in the book, as well as address the healthy priority through safe landscaping techniques and organic treatment of your yard instead of poisonous chemicals, as well as increasing your outside living spaces.”
• #20: “ After you have built your list for inside and outside your home, then you can prioritize the list. The budget sometimes sets the priorities… at least with me ;-)” “ That brings us to the point where we have to stop talking about it and actually getting it done – the more critical point of the whole idea of Green. Many people talk about being green, but because it can be daunting, complex, and even confusing, the projects never get past the talking stage…” ((this is a great place for a personal story)) So, I’d like to emphasize here: …” (click through the 4 points…) Even if you have a very modest budget, you can start by replacing light bulbs… (that’s where I started…) Maybe do some caulking… the main thing is that you make the list, prioritize and make a timeline, then start checking the items off as you accomplish them. We have found that the little successes motivate the more challenging projects. Think about it, you have to maintain your home anyway, you might as well do it in a green manner!
• #21: “ Speaking of maintaining… through this process, you will learn about the main systems of your home, how to save money and live healthy, and as time goes by, opportunities will arise where you can implement some of these projects simply because the need arises. Your AC system could malfunction, so a good time to optimize shows up. Or, your home may need painting outside – that is the perfect time to make sure everything is caulked properly. Especially if your home is new – many builders fail to spend the money on caulking, believe it or not… Through this process of learning about Green, you will also develop an awareness. As you live in your home, you will begin to watch for problems and you will be equipped to solve them in a more healthy, money-smart, and sustainable manner. And if I have helped you in that way, this hour has been well spent! That is really why I do this… It feels really good to help you live more healthy, help you save some money, and just help you become more aware to the possibilities of living in a more sustainable manner. I believe it starts in the home.. Your home and my home. And every little thing each of us does adds up to a lot. We will be better stewards of what we enjoy, and we will pass it on to our children in a way we can be proud of.” ((something like that… make this yours…. Take the opportunity to communicate your passion and tie it into your real estate business.))))
• #22: Here are some of the websites where you can find rebates, incentives, product reviews, ideas, tips, etc… You should add your local website to this page.
• #23: Hand the book out now, and be sure to get full contact information to be able to follow up. Have your business card stapled or glued inside (I had an embossing stamp made that puts a cool impression on the title page “A Gift from Danny T, Your Green Realtor Professional” along with my contact info. That way, it can’t be removed. ;-) It’s up to you if you allow your partners to put their cards. Allow your mortgage guy one more short pitch. If you have a financial guy, a short pitch here. Be very clear on time lines. Let them know you WILL cut them off if they go longer than allowed. If you go over time you may lose well-educated and motivated clients (High D’s, C’s, and many time S’s receive it as disrespect when you do not end on time.) (Know the DISC profiling info.) Be ready to make appointments - have your appointment book and stand between them and the door to make an appointment. Have your scripts ready to seal the deal.
• #24: Be ready for anything - if a question is either private or something beyond your scope of responsibility to answer, ask to speak with them after the presentation to discuss it more fully. Be respectful but direct. Typically, if you did a good job, they will have questions.
• #25: Another “I’m wonderful” moment. Ask for the referrals. Make sure to get their email addresses and keep asking for the referrals.