Green Appraisal Handbook – editing

Watkins and Associates

Goal: Edit a 60-page handbook for cohesion, flow and personality.

Approach: The handbook had to be ready for printing in seven days. In the first read through I focused on tightening the language and correcting any grammatical errors. For the second round, I kept an eye out for any more mistakes, but concentrated on improving the flow of each section. For the final check, I read the entire document aloud to catch any remaining problems.

Highlights:

  1. This certification path is designed to cultivate your knowledge of green building, give you all of the most up to date cost and value data, and enable you to competently complete an appraisal assignment on a green home.
  2. These days, we hear a lot about “green,” but what does it really mean? We visit green cafés, drive green cars, and join green political parties. We have access to green power, green design, and try to avoid green washing. With so much “green”, it is easy to lose sight of the term’s meaning. Let’s start with some definitions.
  3. In the real estate profession sustainable development means a pattern of resource-use that meets current human needs while preserving the environment for the indefinite future.


Due to the proprietary nature of the handbook, it is not possible to provide a complete sample for download. However, I have permission to show the introduction to share the style.

Welcome to the first coursework of its kind for residential appraisers. This class, “Green Homes for Appraisers: Construction Methods and Trends,” is the first of three courses leading to Certified Green Appraiser™ designation. It was created by appraisers, for appraisers. Your curiosity demonstrates foresight and interest in one of the construction industry’s emerging fields. What’s more, Portland, Oregon is a national leader for this type of building. You’re at the right place and the right time.

‘Green’ construction is the fastest growing sector in the industry. The annual U.S. market in green building products and services was more than $7 billion in 2005, $12 billion in 2007 and is projected to increase to $60 billion by 2010. While green construction remains a niche, it is growing rapidly in spite of the 2007 downturn.

This certification path is designed to cultivate your knowledge of green building, give you all of the most up to date cost and value data, and enable you to competently complete an appraisal assignment on a green home.

This first course will give you an understanding of green residential construction methods as they apply to your assignments. Because the field is vast and methods and technologies are changing so rapidly, a comprehensive review is impossible. Instead, the course focuses on the most relevant principles, methods and products. The course mirrors the daily fieldwork and office-based analysis of professional appraisers by dividing learning between the classroom and site visits.

To provide perspective on the field and introduce the guiding principles of green construction, the class begins with an overview of the history of green building in the U.S. It then delves into five key elements of residential green construction. Next, the course covers three regional home certification programs, their guidelines, and their impact on home appraisals. Finally, we will address the future of residential green construction as it pertains to appraisers.

The second day of the course starts in the classroom and then moves into the field to visit several new green homes in the area. Seeing the implementation of the principles of green construction will expand upon the classroom learning. Questions and the curiosity to probe into the building methods used in these homes is strongly encouraged.

Course Objectives:
At the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Explain the foundations and history of sustainable development.
List the five pillars of residential green construction.
Identify the different methods and trends of residential green construction.
Identify and differentiate the three principal green home certification programs in their region.
Apply their learning to appraisal assignments in the field.

Mike Russell, Principal of Pivotal Writing, LLC in Portland, Oregon, is a freelance copywriter who specializes in long-form pieces such as handbooks, website copy, and professional profiles.