Solar States

Tool 02 · Paper

The solar buyer checklist — 16 questions

One printed page. Sixteen checkboxes. Zero sales calls. Print it and tick each item only when answered in writing.

Items16
FormatPrint / PDF
Sales callsZero
Jump to checklist Open scorecard
A PDF keeps it all on one page — A4 or Letter both fine.

Group 1 — Before you take the calls

Usage drives size; the installer's "survey" often over-projects it.
Three is what every buying guide and half the industry advises.
Quotes migrate toward what you can 'afford' instead of what you need.
Cheapest quote from a company that can't install isn't a quote.

Group 2 — At the call — question every number

Upside-down figures start after this point. Ask for it in writing.
A promise of 14,000 kWh/year needs weather and shading behind it.
Retail-rate net metering, export credits and wholesale rates are very different.
For 2022–2025 installs it's a tax credit; it is not a discount written by the installer.
You're not buying the system; the math changes completely.

Group 3 — Financing — the hidden costs

It's rolled into the price; 20-35% is common on 25-year loans, and 'interest-free' claims hide it.
A $0 payment today can mean a 9% effective loan.
Payoff in year 3 at a $40,000 balance with a 30% fee hurts.

Group 4 — Before you sign

Including the make and model of every panel, inverter and mount.
Labor warranties vary 2–25 years across installers.
Who handles the paperwork? What if the utility denies your export?
Same-day 'discounts' are timed for your hesitation, not your benefit.

Short version: the cheapest quote is only the best deal if the cash price, the production estimate and the export-credit math all survive the questions above. Run your quotes through the scorecard once the calls are over.

Use this free printable solar buyer checklist to keep the important numbers and contract questions in front of you before signing. Work through 16 practical checks on price, production, export rules, warranties and financing—no email required.

No email required. Instant browser-based planning math with clear assumptions.

What this tool estimates

Use this free printable solar buyer checklist to keep the important numbers and contract questions in front of you before signing. Work through 16 practical checks on price, production, export rules, warranties and financing—no email required.

No email required. Results are calculated in your browser; use them as a planning estimate, not a guaranteed quote or savings forecast.

How the math works

This checklist does not calculate a savings promise. It organizes the questions that let you verify the math in a quote: cash price, system size, expected production, export credit and finance terms.

Key variables that change your result

Cash price

The contract cash price is the starting point for comparing quotes before credits or loan framing.

Expected production

A production claim needs a written basis: roof assumptions, shade, weather and system design.

Export credit and financing

Utility compensation and dealer or loan fees can materially change homeowner economics.

Questions homeowners ask

What should I ask before signing a solar contract?
Ask for cash price, system size, expected annual production, export-credit rules, equipment, warranty, permits and financing terms in writing.
How many solar quotes should I compare?
Comparing two or three itemized quotes gives you a better frame for price, scope and installer assumptions than accepting the first sales presentation.
Can I print this solar checklist?
Yes. The checklist is designed to be printed or saved as a PDF and used during quote and contract review.

State context matters

Find your state solar guide

Costs, incentives, export rules and payback inputs vary by state. Open your state guide before treating any calculator result as a buying decision.

Browse all 50 state guides