District Home Magazine May 2014 | Page 36

Elegant Eco-Chic Living Going Green with Jill Schwartz LonG & FoSter’S BetheSdA GAtewAy oFFiCe #3 individuAL AGent And A memBer oF LonG & FoSter’S preStiGiouS FounderS CLuB in 2013. I love real estate. I love the way we create comfortable spaces for our families and decorate the rooms in which we spend our lives. That’s what makes life rich and textured. And finding that perfect space for a client is what makes a great Realtor®. Over the years, I have developed a knack for finding hidden gems—those incredible, elegant, architecturally interesting homes in great neighborhoods. My niche is elegant eco-chic living that includes best building practices to maximize energy efficiency, healthy living and cost reductions. I offer my clients a green ecofriendly perspective that benefits all parties in the real estate transaction. With over 15+ years as an IT consultant for residential/wholesale/settlement companies and the Department of Energy (DOE), I made a natural progression to real estate and have become a trusted name with buyers, sellers, Realtors®, builders, mortgage brokers and settlement attorneys. In my own family life, I know the importance of healthy living practices, of finding space—new or renovated—that meets “green” standards. I work with my homebuyers to find homes that save money on utilities. Likewise, builders want to partner with me because I understand the intricacies of LEED certification. Plus, I feel a great social responsibility from making this my life’s work, regularly tweeting and posting online about best