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Solar Shopping Checklist Calculator

Check 15 yes/no items against your installer's quote — get a score from 0–15 with a color-coded verdict (WALK AWAY / NEGOTIATE / GO!) and specific risk explanations for every red flag.

Check every item that applies to your installer quote
Quote Score
0/15
WALK AWAY
Too many red flags. Get multiple competing quotes before proceeding.
Red flags identified:
Licensed C-46 (solar) contractor (or equivalent state license)
Unlicensed installers have no bond, no insurance, and no accountability if something goes wrong.
In business more than 5 years
Solar companies have a high failure rate. If your installer goes bankrupt, your workmanship warranty is worthless.
BBB A+ rating or no significant complaints
Check bbb.org for the installer's record. Even one unresolved complaint is a yellow flag.
NABCEP certified installer on staff
NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) is the gold standard for solar installer certification. Not all states require it, but top firms have it.
Tier 1 panels (JinkoSolar, LONGi, Trina, Qcells, REC, SunPower)
Off-brand panels from unknown manufacturers may degrade faster and have weaker warranty support. Tier 1 manufacturers have bankable financial statements.
25-year panel output warranty included
Industry standard is a 25-year linear power output warranty guaranteeing 80%+ production at year 25. Anything shorter is below standard.
10-year workmanship warranty
The workmanship warranty covers roof penetrations, mounting, and wiring defects by the installer. 5 years is minimum acceptable; 10 years is what top installers offer.
Production guarantee (annual kWh commitment)
Some installers guarantee a minimum annual production and compensate you if the system underperforms. This shows confidence in their design — and protects you.
Permit pulling included in price
All residential solar requires building permits. If an installer offers to skip permits "to save money," walk away — this is illegal and creates problems at resale.
Utility interconnection included and handled by installer
Interconnection (getting your system approved by the utility to export power) requires specific paperwork. Installers who hand this off to you are cutting corners.
Net metering paperwork assistance included
Without net metering enrollment, you may not get credited for excess solar you export. Your installer should handle or guide this process.
Price per watt is reasonable (under $3.50/W after ITC)
National average installed is $2.50–$3.00/W after ITC. Anything above $3.50/W warrants explanation — unless it includes battery storage or premium equipment.
No high-pressure sales tactics
Quality solar companies don't need to pressure you. High pressure is a sign of a company more interested in closing deals than serving customers.
No "expiring deal" pressure or artificial urgency
"This price is only good until midnight" is a sales tactic, not a real deadline. Take your time — no legitimate incentive expires in 24 hours.
Cash purchase price disclosed (not just financed monthly payment)
Financing hides the true cost. Always demand the full cash price first. Then compare financing options separately. Some lenders roll fees into the principal, inflating the true system cost.
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How to Use This Calculator

Check every item that applies to your quote

Go through each of the 15 checkpoints with your installer's proposal and any research you've done. Be honest — checking items you haven't verified defeats the purpose. The scenarios (Big-name installer, Local installer, Door-knocker, Online lead-gen) pre-fill typical patterns to show you what to expect from each source type.

Read the flagged risks

Every unchecked item displays the specific risk it creates. These aren't hypothetical — each point reflects real issues that have burned solar buyers: warranties from companies that went bankrupt, permits skipped that failed at resale, price-per-watt markups hidden behind financing monthly payments.

Use the score as leverage

An 8-11 "NEGOTIATE" score isn't a reject — it's a negotiation guide. Tell your installer exactly which items are missing. Many will provide NABCEP certification documents they have but didn't mention, or extend the workmanship warranty from 5 to 10 years when asked. Competition between quotes is the most powerful negotiation tool.

The Scoring System

Score = Sum of checked items (each worth 1 point, 15 total) 0–7: WALK AWAY (red) — multiple critical red flags 8–11: NEGOTIATE (yellow) — address gaps before signing 12–15: GO! (green) — proceed with standard due diligence

Every item is weighted equally — there's no single "most important" item. In practice, missing any of the top 5 (license, years in business, NABCEP, Tier 1 panels, panel warranty) is a serious red flag. Missing permit pulling or interconnection handling is a deal-breaker. The checklist is designed so that any quote below 12 warrants getting competing bids.

Example

Sandra — evaluating a door-to-door solar salesperson's quote

A salesperson knocked on Sandra's door offering a "limited-time deal" on solar. He showed her a monthly payment ($189/mo) but wouldn't disclose the full cash price. The company's website showed they'd been in business since 2023. No mention of NABCEP, workmanship warranty, or production guarantee.

C-46 licenseConfirmed ✓
In business 5+ yearsNo — founded 2023 ✗
NABCEP certifiedNot mentioned ✗
Tier 1 panelsUnknown brand ✗
Expiring deal pressureYes — "tonight only" ✗
Cash price disclosedRefused to disclose ✗

Result: Score 3/15 — WALK AWAY

Sandra's scorecard revealed a young company using high-pressure tactics, hiding the true price, and offering no proof of installer qualifications. She got three competing quotes from established local installers — each scored 12-14/15 — at prices 22% lower than what the door-knocker was hiding in his financing.

FAQ

The C-46 is California's solar contractor license. Other states have equivalent requirements under different names: Texas uses the TECL (Electrical Contractor License) for solar electrical work; Florida uses EC (Electrical Contractor) or CW (Commercial Contractor) licenses; New York requires a Home Improvement Contractor license plus electrical permits. The principle is the same everywhere: your installer needs a valid state contractor's license for solar and/or electrical work. Ask to see the license number and verify it at your state's licensing board website.
"Tier 1" is a bankability rating from Bloomberg New Energy Finance — not an efficiency rating. It means the manufacturer has a stable balance sheet and is bankable by project finance lenders. Reliable Tier 1 manufacturers for residential use include: LONGi Solar, JinkoSolar, Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, Qcells (Hanwha), REC Group, SunPower, Panasonic, and Silfab. Avoid panels from manufacturers you can't find financial information about — warranty claims against bankrupt companies are worthless.
NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) is the solar industry's professional certification body — comparable to a CPA for accountants. NABCEP PV Installation Professional (PVIP) certification requires documented field experience, passing a comprehensive exam, and ongoing continuing education. Companies with NABCEP-certified staff demonstrate a commitment to professionalism. You can verify NABCEP certifications at nabcep.org/find-a-pro.
National average fully installed solar prices in 2026 are approximately $2.75–$3.25 per watt before the 30% ITC, and $1.93–$2.28/W after ITC. Prices vary significantly by state: California averages $3.00–$3.50/W; Texas and Florida are often $2.50–$3.00/W. Adding battery storage (e.g., Tesla Powerwall or Enphase IQ Battery) legitimately adds $0.80–$1.50/W. If a quote exceeds $3.50/W without a battery, ask for itemized cost justification.
Your manufacturer warranties (panels, inverter) survive installer bankruptcy — those are manufacturer obligations, not installer ones. Your workmanship warranty, however, is only as good as the installer's continued existence. If your installer goes bankrupt: (1) Document everything in writing. (2) Contact the panel and inverter manufacturers directly for warranty service. (3) Contact your state's contractor licensing board — some states have recovery funds for licensed contractors that went bust. (4) Check if you paid with a credit card — some credit card purchase protections may apply. This is why the "5+ years in business" check matters so much.

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