Tips for residential solar shoppers

People who are new to the residential solar market can feel overwhelmed by all the choices out there. It is also easy for them to get a bad deal on solar panels if they do not shop around. Here are three tips so someone new to the solar market will be able to get what they want at a price they can afford. 
 

Homeowners who get multiple quotes save 10 percent or more

As with any big ticket purchase, shopping for a solar panel installation takes a lot of research and consideration, including a thorough review of the companies in your area. A recent report by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recommended that consumers compare as many solar options as possible to avoid paying inflated prices offered by the large installers in the solar industry. Smaller local installers are also employed by people who live in the area and take pride in their work.

To find the smaller contractors that typically offer lower prices, you’ll need to use an installer network like HahaSmart. You can receive free quotes from vetted installers local to you when you register your property on our Price Checker Tool – homeowners who get 3 or more quotes can expect to save $5,000 to $10,000 on their solar panel installation.
 

The biggest solar installers typically don’t offer the best price

The bigger isn’t always better mantra is one of the main reasons we strongly encourage homeowners to consider all of their solar options, not just the brands large enough to pay for the most advertising. A recent report by the U.S. government found that large installers are $2,000 to $5,000 more expensive than small solar companies. If you have offers from some of the big installers in solar, make sure you compare those bids with quotes from local installers to ensure you don’t overpay for solar.
 

Comparing all your equipment options is just as important

National-scale installers don’t just offer higher prices – they also tend to have fewer solar equipment options, which can have a significant impact on your system’s electricity production. By collecting a diverse array of solar bids, you can compare costs and savings based on the different equipment packages available to you.

There are multiple variables to consider when seeking out the best solar panels on the market. While certain panels will have higher efficiency ratings than others, investing in top-of-the-line solar equipment doesn’t always result in higher savings. The only way to find the “sweet spot” for your property is to evaluate quotes with varying equipment and financing offers.

If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years.

For more information relating to going solar, don't forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.