Last Updated: January 19, 2026 | Reviewed by Wattson, US Solar Institute Trained
Solar Buyer Checklist: Avoid Costly Mistakes (27 Points)
July 2019. Phoenix. 117 degrees.
I watched my "installed" solar system cook itself to death. Batteries swelling. Inverter screaming. $15,247 worth of equipment melting because a contractor lied about heat ratings.
He stopped returning calls that afternoon.
This solar buyer checklist exists because that day happened. Every checkpoint. Every red flag. Everything I should have verified before signing.
✅ Trusted by families who research before signing, not after regretting
Phase 1: Know your power usage BEFORE talking to anyone. Your utility bills don't lie. Salesmen do.
Phase 2: Get 3-4 quotes. Verify every license. Call every reference. Use this solar buyer checklist at every meeting.
Phase 3: Read battery warranties like your money depends on it. Because it does. "10-year warranty" often means 5 years of real use.
Phase 4: If the contract says "or equivalent," walk away. That's how they swap your quoted equipment for cheap garbage.
Bottom line: Every checkbox on this solar buyer checklist exists because someone got burned skipping it.
🎯 For the Man Who's Been Lied to by Contractors Before
You know the feeling. Handshake deal. Confident promises.
Then the excuses start. "Supply chain issues." "Unexpected complications." "We'll get back to you."
You've watched contractors disappear with deposits. You've seen "quality work" fall apart in months.
Solar is a big investment. This time, you're not trusting a smile and a business card. This solar buyer checklist is your protection.
Why This Solar Buyer Checklist Exists
His name was Dave. Great reviews online. Professional website. Showed up in a branded truck with a laminated portfolio.
Dave quoted me a 6kW system with battery backup. $15,247 after incentives.
I asked about heat ratings. Phoenix summers hit 117 degrees.
He said the batteries were "rated for extreme conditions."
I didn't ask which extreme conditions. I didn't use a solar buyer checklist. I trusted.
Installation took three days. Looked beautiful. Dave shook my hand. Said call anytime.
Six weeks later, the inverter started screaming.
I walked outside. The battery enclosure was too hot to touch. One battery had swelled to nearly double its size.
I called Dave. Voicemail.
I called again. Voicemail.
I drove to his office address. It was a UPS Store mailbox.
The "extreme conditions" rating? Those batteries were rated for 95 degrees maximum. Dave knew. He installed them anyway because they were $2,400 cheaper than proper high-temp units.
I lost everything. The batteries. The inverter they damaged. Six weeks of my time. And $15,247 I couldn't afford to lose.
That afternoon, I started writing this solar buyer checklist.
The Department of Energy's solar guide covers basics. It doesn't tell you about the Daves. This solar buyer checklist does.
Solar Buyer Checklist Phase 1: Assessment
Complete this section of your solar buyer checklist BEFORE talking to any contractor.
Knowledge is leverage. Ignorance is expensive.
Know Your Numbers First
Pull 12 Months of Utility Bills
Find your average daily kWh. Find your peak months. These numbers size your system correctly.
Define Your Actual Goal
Lower bills? Backup power? Full off-grid? Each goal needs different equipment. Be honest.
Inspect Your Roof
How old? Any damage? South-facing? If your roof needs replacement in 5 years, do that first.
Research Local Rules
HOA restrictions? Permit requirements? Setback rules? Know limitations before getting quotes.
Check Your Climate Extremes
Hottest summer day? Coldest winter night? Equipment has temperature ratings. I learned this at $15,247.
🦶 Wattson's Solar Buyer Checklist Tip #1
Most solar disasters start with undersizing.
Contractor quotes 5kW because it's cheaper. Easier to close the sale. You actually need 8kW.
System runs at 100% capacity every sunny day. Equipment wears out twice as fast.
First really hot week, something fails. Contractor shrugs. "You're using more than expected."
No. He sized it wrong on purpose. Know YOUR numbers before they quote anything.
📥 Download Printable Solar Buyer Checklist
Take this solar buyer checklist to every contractor meeting. Check every box before signing.
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✅ Same checklist. Print-friendly. Contractor-proof.
Solar Buyer Checklist Phase 2: Money & Contractors
Financial Reality Check
Get 3-4 Quotes Minimum
Compare price per watt. Make sure quotes list identical equipment so you're comparing real numbers.
Understand Who Owns What
Lease? You don't own it. PPA? You don't own it. Know the difference before signing.
Research Every Incentive
Federal tax credit: 30%. State credits vary. Ask who keeps the incentives. With leases, usually the company does.
Calculate Real Payback
Include maintenance. Include replacement costs. Include degradation. 25-year projections using year-1 output are lies.
⚠️ Solar Buyer Checklist Warning: Leases
Solar leases include 2-3% annual price escalators. That "low monthly payment" increases every year.
The company keeps all tax incentives. You build zero equity.
When you sell your house, the lease complicates everything.
The FTC warns about deceptive lease practices for good reason.
Owning beats leasing. Every time.
Contractor Vetting (The Hard Part)
Verify License is ACTIVE
Not expired. Not suspended. Check your state's contractor licensing board. Takes 5 minutes.
Verify Insurance is CURRENT
Liability insurance. Workers comp. Get certificate copies. Call the insurance company to verify.
Check Business History
How long in business? Under what names? Google their name with "lawsuit" and "complaint."
Actually Call References
Not email. Call. Ask specific questions. The guy who won't give references has reasons.
Verify Physical Address
Not a PO Box. Not a UPS Store. A contractor with no real address has an easy exit strategy.
Watch for Pressure Tactics
"This price is only good today." Walk away. Real contractors give you time to think.
Solar Buyer Checklist Phase 3: Equipment & Warranties
Equipment Evaluation
Check Panel Temperature Coefficient
Panels lose efficiency in heat. In Phoenix, that's a 15-25% difference in summer output. This number matters.
Verify Battery Operating Temperature
If your garage hits 120°F in summer, cheap batteries will swell and die. Like mine did.
Confirm PURE SINE WAVE Inverter
Modified sine wave damages sensitive electronics. You need pure sine wave. No exceptions.
Match Charge Controller to Panels
MPPT preferred. Make sure the controller rating exceeds your panel array's voltage and amperage.
For detailed equipment comparisons, see our Component Selection Guide.
Warranty Deep Dive
Panel Product Warranty: Who Backs It?
25-year warranty means nothing if the manufacturer goes bankrupt in year 8. Research company stability.
Panel Performance Warranty: Read the Curve
Linear degradation is better than stepped. Check the math on actual output over time.
Inverter Warranty: 10 Years Minimum
Inverters fail more often than panels. 5-year warranties are inadequate. Look for 10-12 years.
Battery Warranty: ALL Three Limits
Years. Cycles. Throughput. Whichever comes FIRST ends your warranty. Do the math.
Workmanship Warranty: Who Handles Claims?
If the contractor disappears, who fixes their mistakes? Get clarity.
🦶 Wattson's Solar Buyer Checklist Tip #2
A salesman told my neighbor his batteries had a "10-year warranty."
Fine print: 10 years OR 3,000 cycles OR 20,000 kWh throughput. Whichever comes first.
He cycles those batteries once a day. That's 3,650 cycles in 10 years.
Warranty ends at 3,000 cycles. His "10-year warranty" actually covers 8.2 years.
At best.
Add battery warranty math to your solar buyer checklist. Every time.
🔢 Free Solar Sizing Calculator
Complete your solar buyer checklist with accurate system sizing. Know your numbers before contractors quote.
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✅ Size it right the first time
Solar Buyer Checklist Phase 4: Contract
This is where they get you. Everything sounds good until it's in writing. Or not in writing.
Before You Sign Anything
Equipment MUST Match Quote
Same manufacturer. Same model. If contract says "or equivalent," reject it. That's the swap trick.
Total Price Matches Quote
No surprise fees. No "we forgot to mention" charges. If it's not in the original quote, reject it.
Scope of Work is Specific
What's included? What's not? Who handles permits? If it's not listed, assume it's not included.
Timeline Has Consequences
Start date. Completion date. What happens if they're late? Penalties in writing.
Payment Schedule is Reasonable
10-20% deposit maximum. Final payment AFTER inspection passes. Never pay 50%+ upfront.
Cancellation Terms Exist
What's the cancellation window? What are penalties? Get this in writing.
⚠️ Solar Buyer Checklist Golden Rule
If they pressure you to sign today, walk away today.
"This price expires at midnight." "My manager won't approve this tomorrow." "Another customer is interested."
These are manipulation tactics.
Legitimate contractors give you time. Your money. Your timeline. Your rules.
What should a solar buyer checklist include?
A complete solar buyer checklist includes assessment items (energy usage, roof condition), financial checkpoints (quotes, financing), contractor vetting (license, insurance), equipment evaluation, warranty verification, and contract review.
How do I avoid getting ripped off on solar?
Use a solar buyer checklist to verify everything. Get multiple quotes. Check licenses. Call references. Read warranty fine print. Reject "or equivalent" contract language.
What solar panel warranty should I look for?
Your solar buyer checklist should require 25-year performance warranty at 80%+ output and 12-25 year product warranty. Research manufacturer stability.
Should I buy or lease solar panels?
Every solar buyer checklist recommends buying over leasing. Leases have price escalators. The company keeps tax incentives. Owning gives control.
What questions should I ask a solar installer?
Your solar buyer checklist should include: License verification, insurance certificates, physical address, references, equipment specs, and workmanship warranty.
How many solar quotes should I get?
A proper solar buyer checklist requires 3-4 quotes minimum. Compare price per watt with identical equipment specs.
What is a good price per watt for solar?
Your solar buyer checklist should flag prices below $2.50-4.00 per watt for grid-tied or $4-8 for off-grid. Too cheap means quality issues.
What are red flags when buying solar?
A solar buyer checklist flags: pressure tactics, today-only pricing, refusing written quotes, vague specs, unverifiable licenses, no references, UPS Store addresses.
How long does solar installation take?
Physical installation: 1-3 days. Total with permits: 1-3 months. Your solar buyer checklist should require written timeline with penalties.
What does the 30% federal solar tax credit cover?
Covers panels, inverters, mounting, batteries, labor, permits. Your solar buyer checklist should verify who keeps incentives.
Can I install solar panels myself?
DIY is possible but risky. Many jurisdictions require licensed electricians. Improper installation voids warranties.
What size solar system do I need?
Your solar buyer checklist starts with 12 months of utility bills. Find daily average kWh. Typical homes use 20-30 kWh daily.
This Solar Buyer Checklist Exists Because I Failed
July 2019. Phoenix. 117 degrees. $15,247 worth of equipment dying in my backyard.
I didn't check Dave's address. I didn't verify his insurance. I didn't ask about temperature ratings.
I trusted a smile and a handshake.
Every checkbox on this solar buyer checklist exists because someone got burned skipping it. Most exist because I got burned.
Print this solar buyer checklist. Take it to every meeting. Check every box before money changes hands.
Solar done right is incredible. Freedom from utility bills. Independence from a fragile grid.
But solar done wrong is expensive. And the contractors who do it wrong know exactly how to seem trustworthy.
Don't trust. Verify. Use this solar buyer checklist. Check every box.
🎯 For the Provider Who Protects His Investment
You worked too hard for this money to hand it to a smooth-talking stranger.
Solar is a real investment in your family's future. Your independence. Your security when the grid fails.
That investment deserves due diligence. More than any other purchase you'll make this decade.
Use this solar buyer checklist. Check every box. Then sign with confidence.
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Your property. Your climate. Your specific questions answered.
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Print it. Check every box. Then sign with confidence.
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