Switching from traditional energy to solar-powered energy for your residential home is a big decision. Perhaps the next biggest decision you’ll be faced with is related to the (important) details, such as what kind of solar energy system to opt for, what brand to choose, who to choose to install your solar energy system, and more.
Let’s face it– while a solar energy system for your home is definitely cost-efficient in the long haul, it’s considerably costly on the front end. With this in mind, you’ll want to make sure that you’re making the best choices as you search for your residential solar panels.
To aid you as you embark on this exciting journey, we’ve compiled a list of five things to know when looking for residential solar panels. If you’re looking for more information on New Jersey solar installation, then this is for you. Even if you don’t live in New Jersey, these tips apply just as well.
#1: Check reviews.
Before you begin blindly calling New Jersey solar installers and asking for information and quotes, you should first narrow your call list by finding the highest-reviewed companies first. Weed out the others before making any calls, and you’ll be saving yourself a lot of time and potential headache.
#2: Bigger isn’t always better.
Some people tend to subscribe to the school of thought that the biggest and national solar companies are always better than the rest. However, this isn’t always the case.
We have seen several industry giants either go out of business or back out of the industry, such as NRG, Direct Energy, Sungevity, and more. These companies, once considered reliable national big league players, are nowhere to be found.
Therefore, it may be better to consider a smaller company. Smaller outfits tend to have access to the same solar products and finance companies as the bigger players but provide a more personalized experience as well.
#3: Avoid paralysis by analysis.
Instead of aimlessly asking for quotes for countless quotes from several companies, try to limit the number of quotes you get to 2-3 in total. When you receive any more quotes than this, you can experience what is known as paralysis by analysis, which basically means you’ll feel overwhelmed by the many decisions you’re faced with and do nothing at all. Instead, stick to 2-3 quotes, which should give you enough information to compare pricing and options.
#4: Be prepared for an on-site quote.
Since solar energy systems are fairly complex in nature, most New Jersey solar installers prefer to offer you a quote after performing a site survey. With this in mind, its important to be prepared for getting these solar quotes by making sure your site is ready for solar.
If you need some site work done, such as a new roof or tree work, either take care of it ahead of time or make the solar company aware of the situation so that they can work with you. When you push an installer to install in a shaded scenario (after all, a solar energy system feeds off the sun) or on a less-than-ideal roof surface, you’ll only be hurting yourself in the long run.
#5: Have your electric bill ready.
Get your electric bill ready so that you can know what usage you’ll need the solar panels to cover. Given an adequate site, you should be able to reach 100% offset (meaning your home runs entirely on solar). If a company tells you that you aren’t allowed to produce 100% offset, don’t listen to them as this is not true.
We hope this information has been helpful! If you’re looking for New Jersey solar installers, we at Green Power Energy are always glad to help. We are known to provide some of the highest-rated solar installation services in New Jersey, a reputation we are very proud of.
