You will have to go solar at some point in the near future

Solar is currently moving into the mainstream energy market, but not everyone has completely jumped on board.

Eventually everyone will due to just how practical it is.

The value of getting free energy, free fuel if you buy an EV, increasing your home value an average of $35,000—The Return on investment for solar right now is just gigantic.

Solar beyond 2017 is even better for you

In fact with the new emerging direct-to-consumer model the value proposition of solar is just undeniable even if you don't care about it being "clean energy."

According to  HahaSmart's Price Chicker estimates, with the new direct-to-consumer model an average American home with $150 dollars in monthly bills will pay off its 6K system in just 5 years, and start getting nearly exponential returns on money up to $60,000 in savings in 25 years. The current mainstream solar business model has a worse payoff with 7.2 year payback, and only $40,000 savings in 25 years.

You need to inform yourself

With a lot of "broscience" floating around in the current solar market, you need to be able to distinguish what's real from what's fake. So in this article we will tell you exactly what you need to look out for so you don't make mistakes that will give you a headache in the future.

1. GET MULTIPLE QUOTES, BUT DON'T JUST GO FOR THE CHEAPEST

We all want to save money, but when it comes to solar products, the lowest price is not neccessarily the best option. Most solar companies or manufacturers have not been around long enough to come through on their warranties, so you best bet is to go with a brand that is well known and trusted.

Of course, newer companies should not be discounted merely based on the number of years they have been in business; after all, the solar industry has experienced tremendous growth and new companies are sprouting up left and right. Still, definetely give the new companies that are offering very low prices a closer look to make sure the company you choose offers a standard warranty and is a stable, trusted business. For solar manufacturers, the standard warranty is 25 years for solar panels, and 10-15 years for inverters. When you are looking at solar installation companies, aim for a workmanship and installation warranty of at least 10 years.

If you have done your research, and understand why the price you are receiving is so low, then you should not hesitate. For example, if you are buying directly from a wholesale distributor, who is trying to empty his warehouse to make room for a new product, you may find an unbelievably low price for a good quality product. In any case, it is important to understand where that price is coming from before you commit to buying solar equipment.

2. DON'T LEASE YOUR SOLAR SYSTEM

Though solar leases have been extremely popular recently, as they allow homeowners to go solar with no money down, they are not the smartest financial decision. Solar leases and PPAs allow home and business owners to go solar without actually paying for the solar equipment or installation. This arrangement appeals to people as it allows them to start saving money on their electric bills right away with no financial investment. However, on the long run, a solar lease will not allow you to save as much money as you would if you buy a solar panel system upfront with cash.

With a lease, you are giving away your tax credit and other financial incentives that are available for owners of renewable energy systems. In addition, a solar lease can complicate the sale of a home if there is no option to transfer the lease to a new homeowner. Many leases also contain an escalator clause which reduce savings by increasing payments by 3% annually.

If you cannot afford to buy a home solar panel system outright with a cash payment, consider financing your purchase with a loan, as this will still save you a lot more money than a leasing arrangement or a PPA.

3. DON'T PAY MIDDLEMAN FEES, BUY WHOLESALE SOLAR

The installed price for home solar systems is less than half of what it was eight years ago, but what many people do not consider is that they can drive that price down even lower by avoiding middleman sales companies and buying products directly from distributors and sometimes even manufacturers.

Buying solar wholesale will save you at least 10-20% off the lowest prices on the markety today. If you are looking for the best deal on wholesale solar products, I recommend you try the HahaSmart Price Checker tool.

4. UNLESS YOU ARE LIVING OFF-GRID, SOLAR BATTERY IS NOT WORTH THE EXPENSE

Very often customers pay over $20,000 for battery systems that are sold as an off-grid package. The installers, sales agents, and even the engineers that are designing the solar power systems are often unaware that a certain battery cannot cover all the loads in their customer’s home. The majority of batteries on the market today have are small format batteries that are can only charge 30 Amps DC. Most single-phase inverters require 115-180 Amps DC. To put it simply, that expensive battery ends up powering only 2-3 circuits. Such battery systems have resulted in multiple lawsuits, as unhappy customers demand a refund or look to replace the batteries with more modern batteries that can hold a greater charge.

In addition, with net metering policies that allow you to sell your excess electricity to your utility at a good price, a battery will not save you that much money over the life of your system. In fact, you will be lucky if the battery pays for itself before the warranty runs out.

Instead of a battery, get a system monitor. If you regularly check your production against the expected production, you can catch any problems early on and protect yourself from costly off-line system time.

5. READ YOUR CONTRACT CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING

This one should be a given ─ as a 20+ year solar panel installation is a big investment ─ but with pages on pages of legalese writing, many people do not read their contracts carefully. Read, and then re-read your contract on more time, especially if you are entering a solar lease, to make sure every detail meets your expectations. If your solar representative is promising you things that you don’t see written into the contract, keep in mind that verbal agreements will not always hold up if you do not have them in writing.

If your contract is for a solar lease or PPA, check the fine print to see who is responsible for any maintenance, repair, or accidental roof damage during the installation. A leasing agreement should also outline exactly how much you will be paying and should not include vague statements about extra charges you will be paying later.

Lastly, whether you are purchasing or renting your system, make sure you know what will happen if you decide to move or sell your home. Preferrably, choose the company that will allow the contract or any warranties to be transferable to a new homeowner with the sale of a home. You would not want to find yourself in a situation where you have to pay for the removal of your solar panel system and its re-installation onto your new home.

What you should take out of this

I appreciate you taking the time to read this real guide from a real solar-insider. Yes I work for HahaSmart, but I truly believe that the revolutionary direct-to-consumer model will usher in a new era of more affordable high quality solar enabling more people to take advantage of its amazing benefits. This is HahaSmart's mission and I fully support it. So I personally invite you to Design Your Home Solar System and Get a Quote in 2 minutes completely Free.

If you want to see more from HahaSmart don't forget to Like our Facebook page and subscribe to our email list to get a Free Solar Guide Ebook (link is in the banner below).