A new training encourages realtors to protect land value and biodiversity by recognizing and reporting noxious weeds—while adopting the SellCleanGo mindset.

Montana realtors recently received an eye-opening training on noxious weeds and invasive species, with a clear message: land stewardship starts with you. For years, county weed departments have struggled to get buy-in from the real estate community. Despite legal requirements under the Montana’s County Weed Act for sellers to disclose infestations, disclosures are often overlooked, leaving new landowners with unexpected and costly problems.

That’s starting to change.

It began when Pam Schwend, former Assistant Invasive Plant Specialist, was invited to a local realtor meeting to speak on the impact of noxious weeds. To bring the message to life, Pam used The Great Race for Survival, a hands-on game from Montana’s K-12 Invasive Plant Curriculum, where players role-play native and invasive plants competing for natural resources. Unsurprisingly, the invasive species always win. That win represents a loss of biodiversity, of healthy ecosystems, and often, of property value. The message landed: invasive weeds win, and property values lose.

After that training, realtors started contacting local weed districts for property inspections. Some even borrowed spray equipment and took weed management into their own hands.

That momentum led to a more formalized course, developed with Megan Hoyer, Montana State Invasive Species Coordinator with the Montana Department of Agriculture. The training is approved for realtor continuing education credit, focuses on the essential role realtors can play in identifying invasive threats and using local resources to respond effectively, making attendees a more knowledgeable resource for buyers and sellers.

Key Messages for Realtors:

• Stewardship is everyone’s job. Real estate agents aren’t expected to identify every invasive plant, but they should know who to call. County extension agents and invasive plant departments offer free resources.
  
• Early Detection, Rapid Response (EDRR) is the most cost-effective approach. Acting on small infestations now prevents widespread issues later.
  
• Disclosure protects everyone. Failing to report known infestations can harm a realtor’s reputation and cost buyers in the long run.
  
• Know the law. Understanding Montana’s weed laws helps realtors protect clients, especially when selling rural or undeveloped land.
  
• SellCleanGo. Modeled after NAISMA’s PlayCleanGo campaign, this principle encourages realtors to clean vehicles and equipment between property visits to avoid unintentionally spreading invasive species.

Authored by Megan Hoyer and Pamela Schwend 2025