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Pearl Certification: Transforming the Industry

Pearl is the nation's preeminent standard for high-performing newly constructed and existing homes, bringing visibility to the valuable features that make them healthy, safe, comfortable, and energy- and water-efficient.

Whether a home has earned a label like ENERGY STAR®, LEED, or Zero Energy Ready, or has an energy ratings index or score like a RESNET HERS score or a U.S. Department of Energy Home Energy Score, Pearl certifies those features and presents the data in a format so appraisers can more readily use it when forming their opinion of value.

Pearl is the only national sponsor of the U.S. Department of Energy's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program and is also a U.S. Home Energy Score Partner and Service Provider. Pearl is a partner with the National Association of REALTORS® Green Resource Council. Pearl Certified homes sell for 5.5% more on average when properly marketed, according to independent appraiser studies.

A lot of what we do as green certified appraisers, as competent sustainable evaluation professionals, is to measure demand. There is a strong correlation in demand between listings that had Pearl Certification versus those that did not.

Woody Fincham Founder and President — Accurity Fincham and Associates

Pearl Appraiser Resources

From the lack of market data to an increased risk in the underwriting process, appraising solar and energy-efficient features can be a real challenge. Thankfully, Pearl Certification provides data, tools, and resources to increase the efficiency and accuracy of appraising these special homes while reducing compliance risks.

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Pearl Home Certification Report

The detailed Pearl Home Certification Report captures the value of a Subject Property's solar system and/or other high-performing features for use in the Comparable Sales Approach, Income Approach, and Cost Approach, aided by a discounted cash-flow table included in the report.

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Home Registry

Visit our Home Registry to search by city and state or browse the map to view all of the Pearl Certified homes in the United States.

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Appraisal Addendum

The Pearl Home Certification Report includes a completed Appraisal Institute Green and Energy Efficient Addendum with drag-and-drop citable materials to support your opinion of value.

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Online Resource Center

Pearl appraisers gain access to our online Resource Center, featuring a market absorption and reaction database for use in Sales Comparison Approach, as well as the Pearl Solar Equity Calculator® — the industry’s first tool to calculate discounted cash flow using certified contractor data, NREL software to calculate solar production numbers, and an API to Freddie Mac’s 30-year mortgage rate.

WATCH NOW

About the Residential Green & Energy Efficient Appraisal Addendum

Pearl Certification's CEO, Cynthia Adams, interviewed Sandra Adomatis, SRA & LEED Green Associate, on the topic of the Appraisal Institute's "Residential Green & Energy Efficient Appraisal Addendum" document and its importance in helping real estate agents and homeowners achieve maximum appraisal value for their homes.

Have Questions?

Contact [email protected].