Even though Boulevard Realty's new office at New Living at 6111 Kirby has been open for about a month, today is my first day manning the Kirby office. This is a great storefront with all kinds of folks of all ages coming in to look at healthy home improvement items and furnishings. Being here has inspired me to assess my role in satisfying my clients' desire for healthier homes. First let me say that in working towards being a better educated Realtor, I've been certified a Green Realtor (tm) and I'm working on my Healthy Home Specialist certification. But how does this knowledge translate to better filling the needs of my clients? Are there homes in my market that are healthier than others? Are there homes that are more detrimental to health?

I think we all know the short answer to those questions. Yet, even if you buy a Green home with no lead components and low VOC's and the latest in filtrations systems, toxins can be introduced into the home virtually in a day.  And some of the asnwers are not so apparent. An old house without a lot of new components might be the healthiest choice, even if energy efficiency is not the best.  

The fact is everyone wants a healthy home environment - inside and out. If there is one thing I've learned in my 20-plus years in real estate, there is more than one path to sustainability and perhaps even a different path to a healthy home. I strive to present the best choices a buyer or seller can invest in and the solutions that might bring an imperfect home closer to being more healthy for my clients.  

With the help of our friends at New Living, almost any home can be upgraded or redesigned to be a healthier environment. So I guess my job really is to make sure my clients consider the environment of the neighborhoods available, zero in on personal likes and dislikes in style, discover any pre-existing problems with the home and target what can realistically be done before or after purchase to make the home ideal.   

Wait a minute. Are we still talking about healthy homes? I have to laugh. My desire to address today's concerns about healthy homes boils down to what I've done for years: stay educated, stay focused on adding value and continue to forge relationships with other professionals that will be of value to my clients. Come see me at Boulevard Realty in New Living!