diff --git a/teressa-copeland-homes/.env.production.example b/teressa-copeland-homes/.env.production.example
index a60e188..50d2cd5 100644
--- a/teressa-copeland-homes/.env.production.example
+++ b/teressa-copeland-homes/.env.production.example
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ AGENT_PASSWORD=your-agent-password
 CONTACT_EMAIL_USER=your-smtp-username
 CONTACT_EMAIL_PASS=your-smtp-password
 CONTACT_SMTP_HOST=smtp.example.com
-CONTACT_SMTP_PORT=465
+CONTACT_SMTP_PORT=587 # use 587 STARTTLS; port 465 SSL may be blocked in some Docker environments
 
 # OpenAI (AI field placement)
 OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-openai-key