Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Rummage.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Raleigh (Wake Med baby!) but grew up in the beautiful NC mountains (Boone).
Housing was always an obstacle for my family growing up – we always rented and never owned. Never having a true “home” in the sense of a physical structure was tough at times and something that motivates me to help others now. Real estate can be an achievable vehicle to help less fortunate people build wealth and that is an incredible thing. After high school I realized that my success would be a result of hard work and it was up to me and only me to make that happen. I worked my way through college and landed in Raleigh for the job opportunities it could provide. That was 2008….so you can imagine how hard it was to find a job! After several years in the interior design/architecture space I found myself wanting to turn over a new leaf so I applied to a local real estate company where I did administrative and marketing work. While there I received my real estate license and the rest is history…until one day shortly after having my daughter I was watching the CA Camp Fire footage on the news. Seeing the state of the planet and realizing that my daughter would inherit all of the climate mess, I knew I had to change something in my day to day to make a difference.
That moment on I made a commitment to use real estate as a way to change the planet, one home at a time.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
One quote I love is “difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.” As an infertility warrior who had success with IVF, I can absolutely attest to it. Life can be a struggle but I believe with hard work, surrounding yourself with the right people and an optimistic attitude one can accomplish anything.
Educating people about energy-efficient homes, or how green retrofits can improve their value can be challenging. Some don’t care. Some think it’s too expensive. And some think the world is on fire anyway, so what can they possibly do to make a difference.Buildings account for 40% of total US energy consumption and my goal is to be the Realtor who helps people understand that even small choices can make a huge impact when it comes to our environment.
Green homes can also mean healthy homes! After 2020 and the pandemic, people are more in tune with the “health” of their homes and how it impacts their daily life. The public is more in tune with indoor air quality, home material off-gassing and all things that can contribute to medical problems. We feel it is imperative to consider these things when investing in a home.
We’ve been impressed with Evergreen House Co., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Evergreen House Co. (powered by Fathom Realty) is the first real estate firm of its kind in the Triangle area. We specialize in helping home buyers and sellers with their goals while bringing tremendous value through green home education and climate advocacy. We are fully engaged with the green home community and learning more every day.
We have a goal of reducing not only our footprint on the planet but our clients’ footprints as well. We do this by educating, guiding, and encouraging clients to think long-term. Topics we speak to our clients about when purchasing a home often revolve around potential future flood zones, solar orientation, landscape, and vegetation as well as passive house concepts.
As our planet continues to warm, it is imperative we educate our clients on the benefits (and negatives) of a home and how it will sustain. We also plant a tree for every home sold!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Raleigh and the surrounding areas (Durham, Cary, Wake Forest, Zebulon) are filled with so much diversity and southern charm. There is something for everyone – food trucks, music festivals, outdoor yoga, charity events, 5K’s, museums etc.
We are a hub for technology and creativity. I personally love that we can get to the mountains or the beach in less than a few hours in either direction. I feel very fortunate to live here and to raise a family here.
It is hard to say what I like least but that would have to be the lack of affordable housing, lack (or exposure) of county-wide energy-efficient initiatives. We feel confident that there is momentum growing to change all of that!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.greenhomesnc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evergreenhouseco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evergreenhouseco
Jenelle Botts
