Home solar solutions, when designed scientifically, can deliver five-to-six-figure savings for homeowners over the years. Many homeowners have and continue to realize these benefits. Yet, online forums are replete with homeowners sharing their disillusionment with home solar and often complaining that their solar solution falls short of meeting their power needs.
Why is there such a disconnect between the experiences of these two groups of people?
The answer is simple – the choice of solar company!
It’s the single most important factor that can affect your experience with home solar. Many companies cut corners or fix you with fewer solar panels to save costs upfront, ultimately failing to meet your power needs.
You can avoid such negative experiences by following this simple guide to choosing the right solar company:
- Step 1: Make a List of Licensed Contractors
Some of the solar incentives from the government can be availed only by licensed contractors. Also, a solar license demonstrates that the company is in the business for the long haul and won’t shut down at the first sign of trouble.
- Step 2: Weigh The Pros and Cons of Going Local vs National
Your shortlist will likely comprise both local and national solar companies. So, weigh the pros and cons of hiring each kind.
Local players are more invested in their local branding, as it’s a do-or-die situation for them. Also, they are easy to approach and usually perform all the work themselves without subcontracting the job.
National players, on the other hand, may often offer better pricing. But, their branding is more resilient, so they may not be concerned too much about each customer’s experience.
- Step 3: Check Reviews
It’s so easy to find customer reviews on solar companies these days. Just do some research online, and you’ll find plenty of opinions from real customers. That should give you a pretty good idea of which companies to avoid.
- Step 4: Perform Detailed Enquiries
Prepare an exhaustive list of questions to ask each solar company. You can find answers for most of them on the FAQs pages of the companies’ websites. And any unanswered questions can be directly asked to the solar company. Equipment, brands, warranties, services, terms of engagement, – discuss everything.
- Step 5: Get Quotes
The solar quotes change from one company to another, and that’s perfectly fine. Just make sure that the changes are in line with the cost items. A quote that includes solar panels from an established brand like LG will likely have a higher amount when compared to quotes with obscure brands’ solar panels. Understand the reasoning behind each quote.
- Step 6: Beware of High-pressure Tactics
If you sense high-pressure sales tactics coming your way, then ignore them or gently make it clear to them that you need more time to make a decision and will let them know when you’re ready.
Take your time researching the right solar company, because that’s how you end up with a sensible, and lucrative home solar solution.
