You nailed it about agents not always highlighting the right stuff. I’ve lost count of how many listings I’ve seen where the “eco” features are buried at the bottom, if they’re mentioned at all. It’s wild, considering how much comfort and savings those upgrades actually bring. I do wonder, though—has anyone here actually seen a listing where energy efficiency was front and center? Did it seem to make a difference in buyer interest or price? Sometimes I think we’re all just waiting for someone else to set the trend...
Title: Appraisal Came In Lower Than Expected—Now What?
I’ve noticed the same thing—energy efficiency is almost an afterthought in most listings. I did see one place where they led with solar panels and triple-pane windows, but honestly, it didn’t seem to bump the price much. Maybe buyers just aren’t connecting the dots yet? Or maybe agents think granite counters still sell better than a low utility bill...
“Maybe buyers just aren’t connecting the dots yet? Or maybe agents think granite counters still sell better than a low utility bill...”
I’d push back on that a bit. I’ve had clients who specifically asked about insulation and HVAC upgrades before even looking at kitchen finishes. The problem is, most appraisers still treat energy features as “nice to have,” not value drivers. Until the appraisal process actually credits those improvements, sellers and agents won’t prioritize them—no matter how much they save on bills. It’s frustrating, honestly.
APPRAISAL CAME IN LOWER THAN EXPECTED—NOW WHAT?
Totally agree it’s frustrating. I’ve seen buyers get excited about heat pumps or spray foam, but then the appraisal just glosses over it. One thing that sometimes helps: gather all your utility bills and any documentation on upgrades, then make sure the appraiser actually sees them. It’s not a guarantee, but I’ve had a few appraisers adjust their notes after seeing real savings. Still feels like we’re a few years behind where we should be, honestly.
APPRAISAL CAME IN LOWER THAN EXPECTED—NOW WHAT?
Honestly, this is one of those things that drives me nuts about the current system. You can pour money into high-efficiency everything—triple-pane windows, solar, you name it—and the appraisal still leans on comps that don’t have any of that. It’s like trying to compare a flip phone to a smartphone just because they both make calls.
I’ve seen some success when sellers put together a neat little dossier for the appraiser: energy bills, warranties, even photos of the upgrades in progress. Sometimes it helps, sometimes it feels like tossing pebbles at a brick wall. The real kicker is, a lot of buyers *do* value those upgrades, but the “market data” the appraisers use just isn’t there yet.
If I had a dollar for every time an appraiser shrugged off a $30k geothermal system, I’d probably have enough to pay for another one. Until the industry catches up, I guess we’re stuck playing catch-up with documentation and hoping for a forward-thinking appraiser... or maybe just a lucky comp down the street.
