Appraisers have encountered difficulty under new rules introduced since the mortgage meltdown. The Housing Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) now restricts direct communication between appraisers and lenders/processors. This has led to the creation of third-party intermediaries that manage the information flow. This is intended to eliminate undue influence, but often inhibits necessary communication.
Particularly for green properties, where there is a need for clear communication of features and detailed specifications, this can create a problematic situation. But fear not, there is NO RESTRICTION on my being able to obtain information from the other parties (builder, realtor, seller) - only the lender! So it becomes really important that I know who will have the details I will need to conduct a truly informed inspection.
Many people have pointed out that much of the real value of a green home is "invisible" - but not intangible. Having the right resources at hand is critical to achieving the proper value. As I have pointed out before, we have a real need to standardize how this information can be captured, recorded, and transferred. But in the meantime, I am more than happy to talk to you (unless you're the lender!)