By investing in solar, you can lower your electricity bill and decrease your environmental impact at the same time. It is important, however, to take into account several factors and ensure that your return on investment is maximized. If you are thinking of solar panel installation as an option to power your home or office, read further to know what should be checked out before starting your solar journey.

The condition of your roof

solar panels

If the roof needs to be repaired or you need a new one, you better take care of it before the installation of solar panels by one of the best solar companies in Florida. Otherwise, you would have to dismantle the whole work and put it up once more, which will generate extra costs. Besides, the roof warranty should be compared with the warranty that is on solar panels to be installed. If the guaranteed life of the roof is less than that of the solar panels normally being 20-25 years, then the maintenance cost will significantly increase. Hence, to avoid spending extra time and money, you need to evaluate the condition of your roof and make sure it will not impact solar production.

Your energy needs

Understand what needs you plan to have met by going solar and figure out the potential savings that can be made. It can be realized by, first of all, deciphering your electricity bill and finding the amount of electric energy you normally consume per month. Thereafter, think of your goals in regards to the way the generated energy will be used. If there is a need for energy security during grid outages, for example, you may consider battery storage to make use of the extra power the solar system normally produces. After having the energy use and solar needs determined, you should discuss them with a solar installer to get familiar with the possible solutions, especially for the discovered requirements. The size of the needed solar panel system can be different depending on your objectives as well as the volume of energy consumed.

The trade-offs among the available options

Getting quotes from multiple solar panel installers and comparing the various criteria they offer will help to get the best value from your investment. Particularly, the financing options and the choices of equipment may be different and a solar consultant should lead you to understand which suggested combination is the most suitable for your specific needs. Also, there are some government incentives, rebates, and plans that may be available for the project and you should make sure those benefits are taken into account as well by the solar provider.

The trustworthiness of the chosen solar expert

The installation of the system is going to be only a part of your solar journey. So, make sure that the solar provider, who you choose to go with, is reliable enough to assist with the monitoring processes throughout the life of the system. Inverters, for instance, may need to be changed twice or even more times across the lifespan of the solar panel system. For being certain that all the post-installation services will be taken care of properly, research on the background of the company you consider as an option. Namely, solar provider’s long history of service can speak of its high experience level and hence, more coordinated post-sale services which you may trust.

What if you resell your home?

In case the system is leased, you can choose either to have the contract transferred to the new homeowner or your new location. When you have bought the solar panel system, on the other hand, a hired company can transfer it or its cost can be added to the price of the home. Usually, a solar energy system increases property value and makes it more attractive for potential buyers. It is viewed as an upgrade and homebuyers are mostly willing to pay a premium for the ownership of the system.