The Tool That Tells You If The Home You Want To Buy Gets Enough Light

• May 12th

by UrbanTurf Staff

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For any homebuyer who has stood in a shadowy rowhouse and wondered "will this place ever get sunlight?" — there may be an answer. 

Redfin just launched Sunscore, a rating that quantifies how much natural light a listing on the market receives. Developed in partnership with Shadowmap, a sunlight analysis platform, the tool is meant to take the guesswork out of one of the trickiest things to assess from listing photos or even a quick walk-through. According to a recent Redfin survey, nearly 70% of homebuyers say the amount of sunlight in their home affects their satisfaction with their living situation — and for 11%, it's a dealbreaker.

A Sunscore runs from 0 to 100, from low sunlight (under 50) to exceptional sunlight (90–100). Shadowmap's 3D modeling accounts for the home's structure and shape, surrounding buildings and tree canopy, and the sun's movement throughout the day across all seasons. That means it can flag, for instance, that a neighboring building cuts off afternoon light in the winter months. Beyond the mood-boosting appeal of a sun-drenched living room, Redfin points out that Sunscore has practical financial implications as well. A higher score signals stronger solar potential.

Redfin says it plans to integrate Sunscore into its conversational search feature later this year, meaning buyers will eventually be able to search in plain language for something like "three-bedroom homes under $700,000 with at least an 80 Sunscore." 

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the_tool_that_tells_you_if_the_home_you_want_to_buy_gets_enough_light/24613.