It’s important to find a great installer when having a solar panel system put on your roof. The complexities of the installation and storage itself, coupled with local regulations and requirements mean you want to work with a capable professional organization with experience in solar installation.
Here are some tips for finding and picking the right solar panel installers to work with:
1) Find Accreditation
Look for applicable accreditation from your installer. Getting proof of this ensures the legitimacy and expertise of your installers to ensure that your investment starts off on the right path.
Be aware of the fact that this kind of program is meant to scrutinize the credentials of any solar installation company and its technicians to ensure that they meet a certain set of standards specific to solar. Many installers offer lots of home improvement services so it might be best to go with a provider that specializes only in solar and related energy storage services or one that has taken the time to become accredited with solar specifically. Solar is relatively new in both the installation and financing sense so you need to scrutinize the partners you choose to make sure they have experience in the field.
2) Request References
Seek feedback so that you know what kind of results you can expect from your solar panel installers. Reviews are great especially if they are on a third-party site like Yelp but don’t hesitate to ask the installer for contact information from past customers. You’ll be able to get a much more direct line of feedback and learn from others about what to expect throughout the entire process as well as their experience with the installer.
3) Look for Warranties
Make sure you understand the warranties for the solar panels you are about to purchase. While solar is cheap to maintain, you’ll want to understand what the manufacturer will pay for if they become damaged or dysfunctional. Keep in mind that the best solar panel installers will have their solar panels come with lengthy warranties to ensure that you'll have something to rely on in the years to come. Make sure you also understand how the installer will stand behind their work. It’s one thing if a panel breaks and needs to be replaced by the manufacturer, it’s another if the installation work itself is faulty so make sure you know that both are offered and what the terms of each are.
4) Review your Options
Be sure to ask for at least two to three different quotes from different installers to get a fair idea of the costs and their corresponding services. Solar installations are less common than other home improvements so it’s important you educate yourself on the market and make sure you understand what’s reasonable and unreasonable when it comes to pricing, warranties, and services offered by the installer you choose.
5) Arrange a Home Visit
Any reputable installer will gladly provide an on-site consultation to give you a proper quote. Use this time to vet multiple vendors and get a sense of how they operate. Generally, you’ll meet with someone in sales or a project manager so you’ll get a sense of how the organization operates and treats its customers at their best. So, if you have a poor experience at this stage, it’s not likely to get better as you move forward in the process. Make sure they take the time to review the unique aspects of your home and the position of your roof and educate you on the technology as well as the regulations you can expect to deal with in your area.
6) Finalize Your Solar Loan
Remember that you need to choose the solar panel installation company that will work with your lenders. In many cases, your installer will be able to recommend a lender that offers competitive rates and considers all factors when it comes to approving you for the loan. If you already have a lender, make sure your installer can or does work with your lender to reduce complications as solar lending is a new industry and there are intricacies that not all banks or home improvement lenders are familiar with. The ideal situation is to find installers directly affiliated with the lender to avoid any mismatches on the quotations since your installer will be key in correctly estimating the project to ensure you finance it correctly.
Conclusion
Choosing the right solar panel installers is a must to make the most out of your investment. Consider the tips above so that you can find a worthy team of solar installers to work with.
Trying to get a solar loan? EnFin offers residential solar financing as the lending partner for residential solar contractors and installers backed by QCells, the #1 solar manufacturer in the United States. Ask your installer if they work with EnFin and use QCell panels and reach out directly with any questions about solar installation and financing.
