Ran into this exact issue recently with solar panels. Had to compile a detailed breakdown of projected savings and comparable sales data before the appraiser budged. Seems like sustainable tech still isn't mainstream enough for them to factor in automatically... bit of a headache, honestly.
"Seems like sustainable tech still isn't mainstream enough for them to factor in automatically... bit of a headache, honestly."
Totally agree with this. Had a similar experience recently with a client who installed geothermal heating. The appraiser initially didn't factor it in at all, and we had to jump through hoops providing detailed comparisons and energy savings projections. It's frustrating because these sustainable upgrades clearly add value—both financially and environmentally—but the appraisal process hasn't quite caught up yet.
One thing that helped us was including some local market data showing increased buyer interest in eco-friendly homes. Also, reaching out to an appraiser who specializes in green properties made a noticeable difference. They were able to provide insights that the original appraiser overlooked.
Hopefully, as more homes adopt these technologies, the appraisal industry will adapt accordingly. Until then, guess we're stuck doing extra homework...
Definitely seeing the same thing here. Recently worked on a home with solar shingles—not panels, actual shingles—and the appraiser barely acknowledged them. Makes me wonder when appraisers will finally catch up with market trends... seems overdue at this point.
Interesting point about appraisers lagging behind trends, but do you think it's entirely their fault? I mean, solar shingles are still pretty new to most markets—maybe the issue isn't just appraisers being outdated, but also a lack of clear data on how much value these newer technologies actually add. When we installed our geothermal system a few years back, we ran into something similar. The appraiser acknowledged it existed but didn't really factor it into the home's value significantly. At first, I was pretty annoyed, but then I started wondering: how exactly do you quantify the value of something that's still relatively uncommon?
Maybe part of the problem is that buyers themselves aren't fully aware yet of how much these upgrades can save them in the long run. If buyers aren't actively seeking out or paying extra for homes with solar shingles or geothermal systems yet, can we really expect appraisers to assign them significant value? It's kind of a chicken-and-egg situation—buyers won't pay more until they see clear evidence of value, and appraisers can't assign value until buyers consistently pay more.
I guess my question is: how do we bridge that gap? Maybe better education for both buyers and appraisers would help. Or maybe we need clearer market data from sales where these features clearly impacted price. Until then, it feels like we're stuck in this weird limbo where innovative home improvements don't get fully recognized.
Anyway, just my two cents based on personal experience... Curious if anyone else has seen similar issues with other newer home tech upgrades.
I get what you're saying about the chicken-and-egg problem, but honestly, I think buyers are more aware than we give them credit for. When we were house hunting last year, we specifically looked for homes with energy-efficient upgrades—solar panels, smart thermostats, high-efficiency HVAC systems, stuff like that. But here's the kicker: even though we valued those features personally, our lender and appraiser didn't seem to care much. They were more focused on square footage, location, and comparable sales in the neighborhood.
I remember one house we toured had a full Tesla solar roof installed—super impressive, looked great, and the seller had all these charts showing how much money they'd saved on electricity. But when it came down to appraisal time, the agent told us flat-out that the appraiser wasn't going to factor it in significantly because there weren't enough comps in the area with similar tech. It was frustrating because we knew it added real value (lower bills, less maintenance), but the appraisal process just didn't reflect that.
Maybe part of the issue isn't just buyer awareness or appraiser education—it's also how rigidly appraisers have to stick to their guidelines. They're bound by strict rules about comparable sales and market data. If there aren't enough recent sales with similar upgrades nearby, they're stuck. So even if buyers are willing to pay more for these features, appraisers can't officially recognize that value until it's reflected consistently in actual sales data.
I guess my point is that education alone might not be enough. Maybe what's needed is a shift in appraisal standards or guidelines themselves—something that allows appraisers a bit more flexibility or discretion when evaluating newer tech upgrades. Until then, we're probably going to keep seeing this disconnect between what buyers value and what appraisals reflect.
Just my experience though...maybe others have seen it differently?
