Your energy-efficient home is different.
Help prospective buyers see why.
Boast Worthy Green Features
✔ Solar power or solar hot water
✔ Insulation and/or air sealing upgrades
✔ Heat pumps
✔ Wood pellet boiler or stove
✔ ENERGY STAR home appliances
✔ ENERGY STAR heating equipment
✔ LED lighting
✔ Low-flow water fixtures
✔ Nearby bus routes, bike path, amenities
✔ Green landscaping features
The Green Addendum
The Green Addendum, officially the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum, was developed by the Appraisal Institute to assist appraisers in assessing the value of homes that are built or retrofitted to be energy efficient. Completing the Green Addendum is not mandatory, but highly recommended for sellers of energy efficient homes.
Maximize Appraised Value
Appraisers need documentation to assess the value of your home’s green features. The Green Addendum is a standard format for this documentation used across the country.
Prove Your Home is the Real Deal.
Some homes only claim to be “green.” Documenting your home’s green features using the Green Addendum will help your home stand out and put buyers at ease.
- Complete the Green Addendum BEFORE listing your home
- Start on the Green Addendum as soon as possible; you need time to gather the information you need
- It’s OK to leave sections blank if they are not relevant or you do not
have a particular data point - If completing by hand, use a dark pen and write clearly
- If you have any questions, contact Vital Communities at 802-291-9100 or energy@vitalcommunities.org
The Green Addendum need only be used if your home has significant and verifiable green features. Examples include:
- A Home Energy Score or HERS Rating has been completed on the home, and you can provide documentation.
- Your home was built to to above-code energy efficiency standards, and you can provide documentation.
- Your home has a solar photovoltaic or solar hot water system, and you can provide details about its size and production.
- You have completed a weatherization project to air seal and insulate your home with the help of a trained professional, and you can provide documentation of the work completed.
You need NOT complete a Green Addendum if your home has smaller green features but no major green features like those listed above. For example,
- ENERGY STAR appliances
- Electric vehicle charging
- Heat pumps
- Wood pellet boiler or stove
- LED lighting
- Low-flow water fixtures
- Green landscaping features
- Nearby bus routes, bike paths, amenities
There are FOUR sections in the Green Addendum
Page 1: Verifications
This page should be completed by the seller and asks for documentation of green certifications, energy labels, or completed energy improvements.
Page 2: Energy Efficiency
This page can be completed by the seller OR by a hired professional. The seller should be prepared to provide or reference documentation to support claims about insulation, air tightness, and energy usage. For example, if the seller completed a weatherization project on the home, they might attach the work scope and test-out report from that project in order to document insulation and air tightness.
Page 3: Solar
This page can be completed by the seller if the seller has and can attach a copy of their solar installation contract. Alternatively, the seller may ask the solar installer to complete and sign this page of the Addendum.
Page 4: Location & Incentives
This page can be completed by the seller and does not require any documentation.
- Create a one page coversheet to list and describe, in plain English, the home’s green features
- Attach the Green Addendum (with coversheet and any attached documentation) to your MLS listing
- Share the Green Addendum packet with prospective buyers (as part of the packet they receive when they tour your home)
- Request a Green Appraiser
WHAT is a Green Appraiser?
The Appraisal Institute offers Green Appraiser accreditation to home appraisers who are trained to assess the value of high performing and energy efficient homes. A registry of all Green Appraisers can be found online at appraisalinstitute.org/education/education-resources/green-building-resources.
WHY request a Green Appraiser?
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA guidelines require lenders to choose competent appraisers with the specialized knowledge required to perform a professional quality appraisal for the particular property type. As the seller of a green home, make sure your buyer’s lender knows your home is a “special property type” according to the Appraisal Institute and hires a Green Appraiser to perform the appraisal prior to closing.
WHEN should I request a Green Appraiser?
As soon as possible after accepting an offer from your prospective buyer. It can take time for the buyer’s lender to locate and schedule a qualified appraiser.
HOW to request a Green Appraiser:
- Ask your Realtor to: Download a Lender Letter Template from
vitalcommunities.org/greenrealestate - Attach your completed Green Addendum
- Send to the Buyer’s Lender, directly or through their Realtor
Green Fields in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service)
Ask you listing agent to use green fields when inputting your listing into our region’s MLS. This will ensure your home is searchable for any buyers seeking green, energy efficient homes. Have your agent contact Briana Garrett, Education Manager at NEREN (briana@neren.com) for specific questions related to NEREN’s Green Fields.
Marketing
Whether or not you include a Green Addendum with your listing, highlighting boast-worthy green features in your marketing will help your home stand out in a crowded market.
