Thurston County considers requiring energy score before homes can be listed for sale

THURSTON COUNTY, Wash. — Homeowners in Thurston County may soon have to obtain an energy assessment before listing their property for sale under a proposed ordinance being considered by the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners.

The proposal would require sellers to get a “Home Energy Score” prior to putting a home on the market. Under the plan, a private-sector assessor would evaluate a home’s overall energy efficiency and assign it a rating from one to 10. County officials estimate the assessment would cost between $150 and $350.

Supporters say the score would give potential buyers a clearer understanding of a home’s expected energy costs and make it easier to compare different properties.

“I think it makes it more transparent so that buyers know what they’re getting when they shop for different homes,” said Glenn Blackmon, who lives in a historic home in Olympia. “A lot of times it’s a mystery to the buyer how much insulation is in the walls, whether the windows are leaking air or not. Having that independent assessment helps.”

However, the Thurston County Realtors Association is asking the board to delay a decision, warning that the policy could influence how buyers view certain homes.

“A historic home might get an energy score of 1, while a brand-new home could receive a much higher score,” said Dawn Baker of the Thurston County Realtors Association. “That could sway buyers and potentially reduce the perceived value of some homes.”

Baker said the requirement would change the process of bringing every home to market and could add extra costs at a time when housing prices are already high.

“We agree with the climate policy. We’re not disagreeing with that part of it,” she said. “But right now we’re in a housing affordability crisis, and adding requirements at the point of sale could have unintended consequences for both buyers and sellers. We just want them to take a close look at the policy and make sure it’s the right move before passing it.”