Has the price of solar in the past put you off from buying solar panels? Now that the cost of solar has reduced by 99% since 1977, it’s no surprise that you’re on the hunt for solar panels today. It’s the perfect time to start turning to green energy.
However, there are a lot of solar power contractors out there, and not all of them are good. Keep reading to learn eight things to look for when hiring a solar energy contractor for your new solar panels.
1. Find Local Companies
There are a lot of rules and regulations when it comes to building. The problem is that those rules can change based on where you live. A building that’s a mile down the road may have different requirements than your home.
That’s why you need to find a solar contractor who has a local presence. Someone that works in your area is going to know all the local building codes. You won’t need to worry about them needing to re-do the job because their work doesn’t pass the building inspection.
2. Look for Licensing
Even though going with local companies is a great way to find someone that knows your local building codes, that isn’t the only thing you need to look for. If someone wants to work in an area, the chances are good that they need licensing to do so.
While licensing requirements may vary by location, they will tell you if a contractor has done the work to learn the rules. Having a license shows that you know how to build and can do the job right. There should be no issue providing licensing information to you when you ask for verification.
3. Verify Insurance Information
Working on a roof isn’t always safe. You’re high off the ground and have a chance of suffering serious injuries if anything happens. While the chances are good that nothing will happen, that chance is always there.
That’s why having the correct insurance is essential. Your contractor should have insurance for both worker injuries and property damage. Check to see what insurance your contractor has to make sure you’re covered in all cases.
The last thing you want is for an accident to happen and end up being on the hook for damages yourself.
4. Look at Total Experience
While a new solar installation contractor may be able to handle the job, it’s hard to verify that if there’s no track record to back up their skills. With so many new contractors entering the industry, it can be hard to distinguish the people who provide excellent service from those who don’t.
Working with a solar contractor that has a lot of experience reduces that risk. If you look through the past work of a contractor and see a lot of successful projects, the chances are good they can do the same thing for you.
5. Examine the Warranties
Even if you find a great solar contractor like ETD Solar Services, that doesn’t mean things will never go wrong during the job. A worker can make a mistake, and solar equipment can fail. The last thing you want to do is pay again to get any issues fixed.
A warranty will protect you from these mistakes. You should get warranties on both the equipment and labor. This guarantees that problems will get fixed, and you won’t need to pay for any additional services when issues come up.
Labor warranties can vary. However, many solar panel warranties are for around 25 years.
6. Look for Great Reviews
You aren’t alone in your search for great solar energy contractors. People turn to the internet all the time to look for company reviews. If you want to streamline your search, you should do the same thing.
A quick search on Google will provide you with a list of the solar contractors in your area. From here, you can filter your local companies by the star ratings they have. Doing this is an easy way to get a quick list of the top-rated companies in your area.
7. Check for Scheduling Conflicts
If you’re ready to get your solar panels installed as soon as possible, the chances are good that you don’t want to wait months to get the job done. However, people everywhere are turning to solar for their energy needs. That means popular solar contractors are going to be extremely busy.
Solar contractors don’t like turning work away, so they book people months down the line. If you want your installation completed sooner rather than later, you need to find a contractor who can do the job quickly. Check the scheduling of a contractor to ensure they can work on the timeline you desire.
8. Get Several Price Quotes
When it comes to the price of solar panels, you may not see many price variations. Some brands may charge a premium, but the overall cost between solar panel companies may not change much. Where you start to see variations in pricing is when you begin comparing labor costs.
That’s why you need to get many price quotes for solar contractors. Don’t just buy from the first contractor you talk to or the one that offers the cheapest pricing. Try to find a contractor that provides the most value for money.
Do Your Research When Hiring Solar Power Contractors
The solar panel industry is bigger than ever, so many people are jumping in to try and take advantage. The problem is that not everyone who does so can provide excellent service for their customers. Keep the above in mind when researching solar power contractors to find the right one for the job.
Are you interested in making more improvements that will help you go green in your life? Head back to the blog to see more tips that will help you do so.
