Solar Panels - Our Experience and How it Can Help You
As solar panels become more and more and affordable, homeowners are opening up to investing in solar panels even more now. I'd like to point out that I call solar panels an "investment" because it truly is a large purchase that you invest into your home and future.
My husband and I just recently purchased solar panels for our home in Northern Virginia. There were many factors that made us consider this but one of the most intriguing points was that our roof was in a perfect position to soak up sun for the majority of the day. In addition, we were hoping to eliminate another bill every month since electricity companies can continue to increase prices as the years go on.
Below, I'm going to go through some of the many things we learned throughout this process -
1) Get quotes, a lot of quotes. There are so many solar companies all over the country that claim to be #1. All of them claim to be the most affordable and the most reliable. Choose the quote that is best for you but make sure they do their calculations correctly. Most companies will take your last couple utility bills and create an estimate of how much solar power production is needed in a year to meet your needs.
2) Make sure you own your panels. Companies that rent them out to you are no good and don't add value to the home. Having full ownership will be better for you in the long run.
3) You can go solar by putting 0 down payment. Many companies offer loans so you can go solar without any money down. You end up paying a monthly payment that is sometimes a little less than your current electricity bill. Instead of paying your utility bill, you pay the loan instead. My opinion may be a bit unpopular but unless you're looking to stay in the home for the majority of the loan, I'd suggest not taking out a loan on panels. If you can do the cash option since you'll only be in the home for 10-15 years, that will definitely help the value of your home once you sell
4) Understand all the terminology - there are a lot words and language when doing research on solar panel and the companies. You discuss items like kilowatts, net metering, different type of panels, inverters, warranties, and everything in between. Net metering and SRECS are the 2 big ones you will hear a lot while going through quotes. Understanding this terminology the best you can will make sure you pick the right company for the job. Going into each of these definitions wouldn't be as beneficial as I am not a professional in solar. I'd suggest doing your own research, in addition to asking every solar company to explain it to you as well.
Overall, my husband and I are super excited to begin installation later in March. This has already been an interesting experience and I'm excited to see what this investment becomes. We have trust in our company and our sales person to take good care of us and we can't wait to have a $0 bill in the future.
If you are interested in going solar, I have a few trusted connections to help you. Contact me today and let's get started!
Comments
Post a Comment