With all the news coming out about environmental changes, it’s no surprise that you’re interested in installing solar. Most people care about the environment and want it to thrive, so they look for alternatives that will help them do their part.
That’s why it’s no surprise that the rate of solar installations is increasing in the United States. However, you’ll need to find help installing solar if you want to take advantage of it.
Are you looking for a guide that will help you pick a residential solar contractor? Keep reading to learn how to find a reputable company to install your solar system.
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Start Your Search Local
Finding a solar contractor with a local presence is critical to getting your solar installation done right. There are countless rules and regulations that govern how builders work. Since these regulations vary so much between locations, you need to hire a contractor who knows your local rules.
Start your search on Google. You’ll get a list of the contractors closest to you and see what other people think of them.
Once you gather a list of local companies, ask them how much work they do in your area. It’s fine if a company has a national presence. They just need to have a local office that specializes in working in your area.
Look for Licensing and Insurance
Once you confirm that the contractor has a local presence, you must verify their credentials and paperwork. You can’t just decide to work as a home contractor — you need to prove to the government that you can do the job and get a license.
Reputable contractors will be able to give you a license number. Take that license number and verify it with the government to see if it’s valid and up to date.
The other documentation you need from the contractor is insurance verification. You don’t want to allow uninsured workers on your roof. Verify their insurance coverage to get assurance that you won’t be responsible for any accidents.
Read the Warranty
Getting a warranty is a must for a solar installation. Although most homeowners won’t face problems with their installations, there are cases of things going wrong that result in more work needing to be done.
Before you read the warranties offered by solar contractors, check the standard warranties on the internet. You can find warranties offered by contractors and equipment manufacturers.
Once you have a better idea of what to look for, you can start comparing the warranties offered by your contractor options. Make sure they line up with or are better than industry standards.
Ask About Subcontractors
Many solar contracting companies employ all their workers. They want more control over the installation process, so they hire professionals to make sure their customers get solar panels that meet their needs.
However, not every company works this way. Some work as a sales unit and pass the work to subcontractors. Although there is nothing wrong with this in practice, you need to know about it before hiring a company.
Ask this question when interviewing contractors for the job. You need to know the subcontractors a company uses so you can vet them along with the company you hire.
Learn All Your Costs
Cost is a significant factor when installing solar panels. You don’t only have the cost of solar panels themselves, but also the cost of the expertise needed to install them correctly.
You can find several pricing points because of the different prices for labor. Get as many quotes as possible when comparing solar installation costs to see the average cost of installation and which services you get for the cost.
Once you get back these quotes, you can start looking to see how much value the contractors provide. Don’t just hire a contractor based on price, either. Make sure you look for the best value for your money.
Get an Installation Timeline
With the shortage of qualified home contractors, finding a company that can get to big jobs quickly is difficult. The demand for construction hasn’t decreased, but the number of people in the industry has.
The same is true for solar. You may run into a situation where you find a great solar contractor that can’t get to your job until months down the line.
You don’t want this to happen if you want the job done sooner. Get installation timelines before signing with a contractor to ensure your installation is completed quickly.
Research Consumer Reviews
A final step you should take when researching solar contractors is researching consumer reviews. A contractor can give a good impression, but once it’s time to handle the job, you won’t get good service.
Reading consumer reviews can help you avoid this problem. There are several places online for consumers to talk about their experiences. You can find many of these reviews by looking on Google.
The BBB is another excellent place to look for problems. Consumers can post issues they had with the companies they work with. Another benefit of the BBB website is that you can see how the company responds and if they addressed the customer’s problem.
Pick a Residential Solar Contractor Carefully
Although solar prices have come down a lot over the past decade, installing them on your roof still costs a lot of money. Because of that, you can’t afford to make mistakes that will waste your money and not give you the solar installation experience you’re looking for.
That’s why you must do your research when looking at your options for solar contractors. Now that you’ve read the guide above, you should be able to pick a residential solar contractor to help you build a solar system that meets your energy needs.
Are you planning to tackle more home improvement projects after installing your residential solar system? Check out the blog to find more home improvement guides.
