Going solar is part construction project, part electrical upgrade, and part long-term service contract. The panels matter, but the contractor who designs and installs them often determines whether you get a reliable, safe system that performs for 25 years or a headache that underdelivers. Here is how I advise homeowners to evaluate a solar company with a practical, field-tested lens.
Start with your roof, usage, and goals
A good solar company begins by asking about your home before talking about brands or discounts. Expect questions about your roof age and material, shading from trees or nearby buildings, main service panel rating, and your electric bills across seasons. If you have a 14-year-old asphalt roof, plan for reroofing soon or ask for a reroof-and-solar bundle. If your electric load peaks in late summer due to two heat pumps, the solar system design should reflect that pattern, not just an average.
When a salesperson glosses past your site conditions and jumps straight to a generic solar panel installation pitch, that is a warning sign. Proper residential solar design rests on data: past usage in kilowatt-hours, azimuth and tilt of viable roof planes, and shading analysis.
Licenses, insurance, and who actually performs the work
Licensing varies by state, but residential solar typically requires an electrical contractor’s license. Ask for the license number and verify it with the state board. You also want proof of general liability and workers’ compensation. Even strong companies occasionally sub out labor. Subcontracting is not inherently bad, but you should know who will be on your roof, their credentials, and who stands behind the workmanship warranty. If the company hedges or refuses to name the installer crew, keep looking.
I have stepped into too many projects where a polished sales organization promised the world, then a different outfit showed up to install and cut corners. A transparent solar company introduces you to your project manager early and explains the chain of responsibility.
Equipment choices and why they matter
Not every roof needs premium modules, but every roof needs appropriate components. Solar panels and inverters drive performance and serviceability. Microinverters or DC optimizers can help on complex roofs with partial shading, while a string inverter can be cost effective on a clean, south-facing plane. Ask the company to explain why they chose a particular setup for your site, not just because it is their standard kit.
Pay attention to racking and roof attachments as much as the panels themselves. On asphalt shingles, flashed mounts with metal lag bolts into rafters are the norm. On tile, expect tile replacements or standoffs with proper flashing. Waterproofing details, torque specs, and sealing method should be routine topics for the installer. Leaks are rare when best practices are followed, yet almost every leak I have seen traced back to sloppy attachment or skipped flashing.
What a thorough proposal includes
A strong proposal is more than a pretty rendering. It should show an expected annual production estimate in kilowatt-hours with assumptions, the module and inverter models, placement drawings, a single-line electrical diagram or at least an outline of the interconnection method, warranties in writing, and a clear cash price. If financing is offered, the solar installation cost should be broken out from financing charges. Removing trees, main panel upgrades, trenching for detached garages, and roofing work belong as separate line items with realistic allowances.
For context, residential solar systems in many regions run in the range of 2.25 to 4.50 dollars per watt before solar incentives, with roof complexity, labor market, equipment choice, and electrical upgrades pushing the number up or down. If you see a price far below the local range, check the fine print for escalation clauses, dealer fees embedded in loans, or omitted scope. If it is far above, ask what is unique about the design or warranty.
Permitting, interconnection, and timelines
A competent solar company handles permits, inspections, and utility interconnection. Timelines vary widely by jurisdiction. In fast-permitting cities, I have seen projects complete in 30 to 45 days from contract to permission to operate. In slower utilities or historic districts, 90 to 150 days is not unusual. Ask for a schedule with milestones: site survey, engineering, permit submission, installation day, inspection, utility approval. Projects drift when no one owns the calendar. A named project coordinator who provides weekly status tends to keep things moving.
Warranties you can rely on
There are three warranties to confirm in writing:
- Product warranties from the panel and inverter manufacturers, typically 10 to 25 years for inverters and 20 to 30 years for panels, including performance guarantees. Workmanship or labor warranty from the solar company, often 5 to 10 years, covering roof penetrations and wiring terminations. Roof penetration warranty, ideally tied to the workmanship term, with a clear leak response process and timeline.
Length matters, but responsiveness matters more. Ask how service tickets are handled, typical response times, and whether they stock spare inverters or use manufacturer advance replacements. If they cannot articulate the process, they probably do not have one.
Cash, loans, leases, and the real cost
Some homeowners prefer cash to avoid interest and dealer fees. Others use loans to keep liquidity. Be cautious with advertised “no money down” offers. Many solar loans include dealer fees that effectively raise the solar panel cost by 10 to 25 percent. Compare the cash price to the financed total across the loan term. Power purchase agreements and leases can make sense for certain situations, especially if you cannot use tax credits or you prioritize maintenance included, but ownership usually delivers better long-term value when you have the tax appetite.
If you plan to add batteries later, design the system and main panel with that path in mind. Retrofitting often requires additional equipment and labor that could have been planned upfront for a modest delta.
Incentives, taxes, and utility rules
Solar incentives change, and the details matter. The federal investment tax credit has hovered around 30 percent in recent years, but eligibility depends on ownership and tax liability. State and utility rebates can stack, and some programs have application deadlines or volume caps. Net metering policies vary, and new rate structures, such as time-of-use, can affect your savings. A reputable solar company will not offer tax advice, yet they should outline typical incentive steps and direct you to official resources. When a proposal’s savings model assumes full retail net metering in a territory that has already shifted to export rates, ask them to rerun the numbers or find a different provider.
How to vet “solar installers near me”
Local knowledge helps. Crews who work your utility territory know the inspectors and the interconnection portal quirks. If you search for solar installers near me, do not stop at star ratings. Read how companies respond to service complaints from two or three years ago, not just last month’s sales-driven praise. Ask for two recent references and one project that had a problem, plus how it was resolved. I once asked a contractor for a “problem reference” and got a homeowner who had a minor roof leak in a spring storm. The company returned within 48 hours, pulled and remounted two attachments, and paid for interior paint. That told me more about their culture than any brochure.
Residential vs. commercial capabilities
Some firms sell both residential solar and commercial solar. Experience in commercial work can be a plus when your home needs creative electrical solutions, such as a https://ameblo.jp/beckettpfmv180/entry-12951809254.html line-side tap or ground mount over challenging terrain. On the other hand, very large commercial-focused firms sometimes treat residential as an afterthought. If a company claims both, ask who runs their residential division and how many home systems they install per month. You want a team that does houses routinely, not as a filler between warehouse rooftops.
Site design quality and performance expectations
Solar system design is not just “fill the roof with panels.” Smart design matches module layout to roof planes with the best solar resource and combines aesthetics with output. Clean arrays that respect setbacks and align with shingle lines look better and simplify maintenance. A detailed design should account for future obstructions like planned skylights or a chimney cap. Performance estimates should disclose the irradiance model, shading losses, temperature coefficients, and degradation rate, not just a single annual kWh number.
I like proposals that show first-year production and a 25-year projection with a reasonable 0.4 to 0.7 percent annual degradation. If the model claims flat output for decades, it is marketing, not engineering.
A simple comparison checklist
- Verify license, insurance, and who performs the work. Review equipment specs, including racking and attachments. Demand a detailed design, production estimate, and line-item pricing. Clarify permits, interconnection steps, and a realistic schedule. Confirm warranties and service response practices in writing.
When to walk away
High-pressure sales tactics signal trouble. If a discount expires tonight, or you are told permits are unnecessary, end the conversation. If a company refuses to provide the cash price before financing, or cannot produce a stamped plan set when required by your city, look elsewhere. If their savings model ignores your actual bills or your utility rate, they are selling a dream, not a system.
The right solar company meets you with questions, provides a clear design that fits your home, and stands behind the work for the long run. A thoughtful process on the front end pays for itself in avoided change orders, smoother inspections, and a system that quietly offsets your usage day after day.