Solar and the Appraisal: Green Addendum & Appraiser Packet Cheat Sheet (PDF)

Document the value without ever stating it.

Whether solar adds value in an appraisal depends on how the system is structured, and agents can get into trouble by stating values. What you can do is give the appraiser the documentation, early and organized, so the system is described correctly and nothing depends on a guess about who owns the panels or what is still owed.

This cheat sheet is for listing agents and buyer's agents who want solar described accurately in the appraisal. It shows how each structure (owned, financed, leased, PPA) is generally treated, lists what goes into an appraiser packet, walks through the fields on the Green and Energy Efficient Addendum, and spells out what never to say about solar value.

What's inside:

• How each solar structure is generally treated in an appraisal
• The appraiser packet checklist
• Green and Energy Efficient Addendum field guide
• What never to say about solar value

Written by Christina Mathieson Segura, The Solar Lady of Real Estate™, who teaches New York State approved CE. Since 2010 she has watched what the solar industry did to real estate transactions, and she works the sector from three sides: real estate, mortgage and solar. She has taught real estate professionals since 2015 and has been a licensed instructor since 2017.

Educational only. Not legal, tax, or financial advice. Provider policies change; verify with the provider or servicer, your broker, and a local real estate attorney before acting.