Company Owner Ben Kaufman Spearheaded Proposal That Enables House Hunters to Search MLS Listings for Properties with Green Design Features SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In its effort to reduce global warming, GreenWorks Realty, the first real estate agency in the nation to specialize in green and community-focused housing, endorsed the new green home design check box that was launched a week and a half ago by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The Northwest MLS is one of the first and largest MLS in the nation to put this into practice. The new check boxes identify green and eco-friendly properties, thus increasing awareness among buyers, sellers and industry professionals. There are already new green homes listed on MLS using this feature. The proposal to add the green design features to the Northwest MLS properties was initiated and spearheaded by GreenWorks' owner/broker Ben Kaufman. The new green database listings, already in place, will allow house hunters to search for properties with certain green certifications and/or environmentally-friendly features. Certifications include Built Green, Energy Star and Leadership in Environmental and Energy (LEED). Green features include solar power, bamboo and other renewable flooring, and drought resistant landscaping. In addition, sellers will now be able to attach thorough third party verifications to their listings to be made available for review by buyers. “Homebuyers are increasingly demanding green homes, and with good reason. The new green checkboxes will help homebuyers to more easily locate green homes and help us focus more time on assisting our clients in understanding important differences between green homes or greening traditional homes,” said Kaufman, whose firm provides services to buyers and sellers for both green and traditional properties. “Across the country, smart homebuyers understand that green homes are better for them, and better for our planet, addressing important issues such as personal health and global warming. This is a win-win-win deal, for people, planet, and the local economy.”
