Solar can be a great investment or a 25 year regret, and the difference is decided before installation. Ask these questions first.
Why the contract matters more than the panels
Panel hardware has become commoditized and reliable; the industry’s horror stories come from financing structures, overpromised production, and installers who vanish. Solar is a 25 year relationship you are signing in an afternoon, which is why the questions below do the heavy lifting.
Ownership questions
Ask first: am I buying, financing, leasing, or signing a power purchase agreement? Ownership, cash or loan, captures the federal tax credit and adds value you keep. Leases and PPAs put the incentive in the company’s pocket, often include annual payment escalators, and complicate home sales when buyers must assume the contract. Second: what does the loan really cost, including any dealer fee baked into the price? Compare against your bank or credit union.
Production and payback questions
Demand a production estimate for your actual roof, orientation, shading, and utility rates, then ask: what is my payback period, and is there a production guarantee if the system underdelivers? Ask how your utility’s net metering or export compensation works today and whether pending changes are known, because export rules move payback more than panel brands do. If batteries are pitched, request the payback math with and without them.
Roof, warranty, and walk away questions
How old is my roof, and who pays to remove and reinstall panels if it needs replacement mid life, replace a roof in its final decade before installing. What are the separate warranties on panels, inverter, and workmanship, and who services them if the installer disappears? Finally, the tell: any this price expires today pressure, or savings claims that assume electricity rates spiking forever, ends the meeting. Three quotes, references from year old installs, and a night of sleep between pitch and signature turn solar back into what it can genuinely be: a boring, profitable appliance on your roof.
Frequently asked questions
What is net metering and why does it matter so much?
It is how your utility credits solar power you export. Full retail credit makes payback fast; reduced export rates lengthen it and may justify adding a battery. Get your utility's current policy in writing.
How long until solar pays for itself?
Commonly 7 to 12 years depending on local electricity prices, incentives, and system cost, against equipment warrantied for 25 years. Any bid should show this math for your usage, not a national average.
