Welcome to the beginning of The Goad Team's move to Going Green.  Why, you might ask, would a real estate team launch a marketing plan about going green rather than being green? We'd like to think it's because we're being refreshingly honest in these days of over promises and green washing. We understand the importance of moving to green, and we are constanly working toward that goal. And in the process of going green, we hope to lead the way for the real estate industry.

The real estate industry has never really been very environmentally friendly. The traditional real estate processes are extremely paper intensive and involve lots of travelling between offices for both papers and people. The carbon footprint left by the real estate transaction process has not been a small one.  The Goad Team is working to change that.

This portion of GoadTeam.com was created to be a resource for all our customers and partners. Here you'll be able to find information not only about our own efforts to go green but also how YOU can get involved in helping make the real estate industry move to Green.  So please take a moment to read the "How you can help make the real estate industry Go Green".

 The Goad Team's Progress to "Going Green".

• Nearly all of our computers, printers, scanners, etc. are Energy Star Rated.
• All equipment is Shut Down at the end of the work day. - Many offices involved in real estate transactions leave this equipment running 24/7.
• We have converted to Floresent Lighting.
• We have moved towards "Paperless Transactions". *
• We utalize e-Fax services which allows us to recieve faxes in an electronic/digital format.
• We utalize Docusign, Electronic/Digital Signature Technology which allows our clients to sing "paperwork" without ever having to print it out. - Traditionally just making an offer to purchase a property will ultimately result in the use of a ream of paper (250 Sheets) or more.  After an offer to purchase has been prepared on paper, it is then faxed or e-mailed to the sellers agent and printed, then faxed or e-mailed to the seller who in turn has to print it out, then faxed or e-mailed back their agent who in turn has to fax or e-mail it back to the buyer's agent and so on.  But it does not stop there, as all this paperwork also need to be sent to Banks, Mortgage Lenders, Escrow/Title Companies, Appraisers, Home Inspectors and the list goes on.  The Goad Team has effectively reduced it's paper consumption by 80-90%, through our uses of Paperless Digital Forms together with our e-Fax service and DocuSign Electronic/Digital Singnatures.
• What paper we do use is Recycled Paper.
• We Recycle Used Printer and Copier Cartridges.
• The Goad Team welcomes your sugestions on how to further our efforts towards "Going Green".

How you can help make the real estate industry Go Green.

Although Electronic/Digital Signatures are recognized as a Legal Signature (just as faxed signatures) many banks, mortgage companies and even Governmental Organizations will not accept or recognize Electronic Signatures therby forcing us to print paperwork for traditional, handwritten signatures.  You can call or write to encourage companies and organizations to accept Electronic/Digital Signatures this will help cut back on the useage of paper, printer & copiers cartrides and more. 

Below is a list of companies, Governmental Organizations, etc. that in our experiences have refuse to recognize or accept Digitial Signatures....

• Countrywide Home Loans/Bank of America Home Loans
• Wells Fargo
• ASC - America's Servicing Company
• HUD - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Developement (overseen by the Federal Housing Administration - FHA) - UPDATE! As of January 2009 FHA has affirmed it's willingness to accept Electronic/Digital Signatures.

You can call encourage companies such as: mortgage lenders, escrow/title companies, appraisers, home inspectors etc. to...

• Switch to Fluorescent Lighting
• Shut Down Computers and Equipment at the end of the day
• Recycle Used Paper
• Recylcle Used Printer and Copiers Cartridges
• Unplug Appliances when not in use -or- use "smart" power strips that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" energy use
• Donate or Recycle Used: Cell Phones, Computers, Printers, Copiers, etc.
• Look for the "Energy Star" Label when purchasing Electronic Equipment/Appliances
• Install Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Systems, Rather than Utalize Bottled Water

Regarless of whether you believe, or do not believe, in the "Theory of Global Warming" there is no denying that: Lakes and Streams are being Poluted, Air Polution Exists nad is Increasing, Tree's supply oxygen and that there are fewer Tree's in the world today than there once was, yet the population of the world continues to increase.  These are all facts that cannot be denied.  So "Go Green" and encourage others to do so to help stop the spread of polution and cut back on the abuse of our natural resources.