How to Find the Perfect Solar Contractor

With how popular and mainstream solar is becoming, more and more people are also becoming solar contractors to try to take advantage of this going industry. However, the con of this is that it’s now harder to find the perfect contractor. Look at these ten tips for finding a great contractor so you don’t have to worry about it.

Ensure your solar contractor is licensed.

Visit the state’s contractor verification website to find companies that have the necessary insurance policies and business licenses. This assures that they’re appropriately insured for the areas in which they operate. Never work with an unlicensed solar contractor.

See if any complaints have been made against the company.

Check with the Contractor Licensing Board for any complaints lodged against the company. The Contractor Licensing Board provides all the information you need to find properly licensed professionals and allows you to verify a contractor’s license.

Make sure the solar company has business insurance.

Be sure to have the company verify its workers’ compensation and general liability insurances. This way you’ll know whether or not the company has business insurance, which makes it liable for any injuries, damages, or substandard work.

Make sure the company has workers that are NABCEP PV installer-certified.

The NABCEP is a national credential ensuring the contractor’s expertise in solar photovoltaic (PV) system installations. This certification provides a measure of protection for you by determining the ability of the practitioners.

Check their online reviews to see how their ratings fare.

Checking for online reviews about a business is one of the best ways to gain insight into past customer experiences. SolarReviews lets you search for specific company names and compare reviews. Google, Yelp, and Facebook are also great places to find helpful reviews.

Ask a contractor for at least three references from past customers.

Once again, hearing about a customer’s past experience is a great way to learn more about the company. Although reading online reviews is helpful, having actual conversations allows you to ask more questions and get clearer information.

Find out if the company outsources its installations.

Ask the contractor if the company outsources installations, and if they do, to whom? Be sure to get proof of insurance from any subcontractors performing work for you.

Check to see if the solar contracting company has won any awards locally, regionally, or nationally.

If a company has received awards for its outstanding service, this increases its credibility and recognizes the company’s dedication to the work. We’re proud of the many awards we’ve received over the years; check them out on our Awards page.

Visit the company’s office to assess the facility and quality of the staff.

Paying a visit to the company’s office is a great way to see firsthand how employees run things. This gives you an opportunity to speak with staff members and see if their service is right for you.

Ask if the company offers any financing options.

Make sure to speak with the company about a financing option that would work best for both parties involved. Ask the contractor about PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy), an effective way to finance renewable energy, energy efficiency, and water conservation upgrades.

Want to learn more about how to make the switch over to solar? Check out the HahaSmart blog for daily updates, tons of resources, and hundreds of blogs full of useful information about how to go solar and how to maintain your solar system.

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