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Get clear, personalised advice for your situation.
Jot down a few questions to make the most of your conversation.
Ask About Your Property and Roof
Start by asking whether your home is suitable for solar panels. A good installer should check your roof size, angle, direction, and any shading from chimneys, trees, or nearby buildings.
It is also worth asking if the roof is in good enough condition for installation. If your roof needs repairs first, you want to know that before any work begins.
Ask About Costs and Savings
Ask for a full written quote that breaks down the cost of panels, inverter, scaffolding, labour, and any extras. This helps you compare companies properly and avoid hidden charges.
You should also ask how much electricity the system is likely to generate each year. A reputable company should explain the expected savings, though they should avoid promising unrealistic payback periods.
Ask What Equipment They Use
Find out which solar panels and inverter they recommend and why. The best option is not always the cheapest, so ask about efficiency, warranty length, and expected lifespan.
If you are considering battery storage, ask how it works with the rest of the system. You should understand whether a battery is included now or can be added later.
Ask About Qualifications and Insurance
Always ask if the company is MCS certified. In the UK, this is important if you want to access the Smart Export Guarantee and certain finance or grant options.
It is also sensible to check whether the installers are insured and trained to work safely on your type of roof. Ask for proof of public liability insurance and any relevant accreditations.
Ask About Installation and Aftercare
Ask how long the installation will take and what the process involves. You should know whether they will handle scaffolding, electrical work, building control, and any notifications to your energy supplier.
After installation, ask what support is included. Find out how long the workmanship warranty lasts, what the manufacturer warranty covers, and who to contact if something goes wrong.
Ask About Permissions and Paperwork
For many homes, solar panels are permitted development, but not always. Ask whether your property needs planning permission, especially if you live in a conservation area, listed building, or flat.
You should also ask what paperwork you will receive at the end. This should include system specifications, warranty details, test certificates, and information needed for any export tariff registration.
Ask for References and Reviews
Finally, ask for recent customer references or examples of completed jobs in your area. Speaking to previous customers can help you judge reliability, communication, and the quality of the workmanship.
Online reviews can also be useful, but they should not be your only check. A trustworthy company should answer your questions clearly and never pressure you into signing straight away.
Ask About Your Property and Roof
First, ask if your home is right for solar panels. A good installer should look at your roof size, angle, direction, and shade from chimneys, trees, or nearby buildings.
It is also good to ask if your roof is strong enough. If it needs repairs first, you should know before any work starts.
Ask About Costs and Savings
Ask for a full written price. It should show the cost of the panels, inverter, scaffolding, labour, and any extras. This helps you compare companies and spot hidden charges.
Ask how much electricity the system may make each year. A good company should explain the savings. They should not make big promises that are not likely to happen.
Ask What Equipment They Use
Find out which solar panels and inverter they suggest, and why. The cheapest choice is not always the best. Ask about how well they work, the warranty, and how long they may last.
If you want a battery, ask how it works with the rest of the system. Make sure you know if it is included now or can be added later.
Ask About Qualifications and Insurance
Always ask if the company is MCS certified. In the UK, this is important if you want the Smart Export Guarantee and some finance or grant options.
Also check that the installers are insured and trained to work safely on your roof. Ask for proof of public liability insurance and any other certificates they have.
Ask About Installation and Aftercare
Ask how long the work will take and what will happen. You should know if they will deal with scaffolding, electrical work, building control, and notices to your energy supplier.
After the panels are fitted, ask what help you will get. Find out how long the workmanship warranty lasts, what the maker's warranty covers, and who to contact if there is a problem.
Ask About Permissions and Paperwork
For many homes, solar panels are allowed without planning permission, but not always. Ask if your property needs permission, especially if you live in a conservation area, a listed building, or a flat.
Also ask what papers you will get at the end. This should include system details, warranty information, test certificates, and the papers needed for export tariff sign-up.
Ask for References and Reviews
Finally, ask for recent customer references or examples of finished jobs near you. Talking to past customers can help you judge if the company is reliable, clear, and does good work.
Online reviews can help too, but they should not be the only check. A good company should answer your questions clearly and never pressure you to sign quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ask about total cost, equipment brands, system size, expected production, warranties, permitting, timeline, maintenance, and what happens if the installation is delayed or underperforms.
Check roof age, material, shading, direction, slope, and structural condition. A qualified installer should assess whether your roof can support the system and how much sunlight it receives.
Ask how the recommended system size was calculated based on your electricity use, roof space, future energy needs, and local sunlight conditions.
Ask for the panel, inverter, battery, and mounting hardware brands, plus why those products were chosen. Good installers should explain efficiency, reliability, and warranty terms.
Ask about product warranties, performance guarantees, inverter coverage, workmanship warranties, and who handles claims if a component fails.
Compare total price, equipment quality, estimated output, financing terms, warranties, add-on fees, and whether each quote includes permits, labor, and monitoring.
Ask whether you are buying, leasing, or financing, what the interest rate and term are, whether there are dealer fees, and how financing affects incentives and ownership.
Ask who handles permits, utility interconnection, inspections, and HOA approvals, and how long each step usually takes in your area.
Ask for a detailed savings estimate that includes current utility rates, projected production, system degradation, incentives, and payback period assumptions.
Ask whether the roof needs repair or replacement before installation, whether removal and reinstallation are included, and how roof penetrations will be sealed.
Ask whether a battery is necessary for your goals, how much backup power it provides, which loads it can support, and how battery warranties work.
Ask how often the system needs inspection, whether cleaning is required, what monitoring is included, and what maintenance costs to expect over time.
Ask whether the system includes app-based monitoring, what data you can view, how alerts work, and who responds if production drops unexpectedly.
Ask when design starts, how long permitting takes, the expected installation date, inspection timing, and when the system will be activated.
Ask whether the crew is licensed, insured, and experienced with your roof type and electrical setup, and whether subcontractors will be used.
Ask how the utility interconnection process works, whether net metering is available, and if there are any export limits or special requirements.
Ask for a shading analysis, how nearby trees or buildings affect production, and whether panel placement or microinverters can reduce shading losses.
Ask which incentives apply, who claims them, whether the installer helps with paperwork, and how rebates or tax credits affect your total cost.
Ask about cancellation rights, payment schedule, change orders, start and completion dates, performance guarantees, and any penalties or exclusions.
Ask who provides support after activation, how service requests are handled, whether remote troubleshooting is available, and how quickly warranty issues are resolved.
Ask about the total cost. Ask what brands they use. Ask how big the system will be. Ask how much power it should make. Ask about warranties, permits, and how long the work will take. Also ask what happens if the work is late or the system does not work well.
Check how old the roof is. Check the roof material. Check for shade. Check which way it faces. Check the slope. Check if the roof is strong enough. A trained installer should tell you if the roof can hold the system and how much sun it gets.
Ask how they chose the system size. Ask if they used your electricity use. Ask if they used your roof space. Ask if they thought about future energy needs and the sunlight in your area.
Ask what brands they use for the panels, inverter, battery, and mounting parts. Ask why they chose them. Good installers should explain how well they work, how reliable they are, and what the warranty covers.
Ask about product warranties. Ask about performance guarantees. Ask about inverter cover. Ask about workmanship warranties. Ask who will help if a part stops working.
Compare the total price. Compare the quality of the equipment. Compare how much power each system may make. Compare payment terms. Compare warranties. Check for extra fees. See if each quote includes permits, labour, and monitoring.
Ask if you are buying, leasing, or borrowing money. Ask what the interest rate is. Ask how long the term is. Ask if there are extra fees. Ask how the payment choice affects incentives and ownership.
Ask who gets the permits. Ask who talks to the utility company. Ask who handles inspections. Ask who gets HOA approval, if needed. Ask how long each step usually takes where you live.
Ask for a clear savings estimate. Ask what your current electricity rates are. Ask how much power the system should make. Ask how the system may lose a little power over time. Ask what incentives are included. Ask how long it may take to pay for itself.
Ask if the roof needs repair or replacement before the panels go on. Ask if taking the panels off and putting them back is included. Ask how they will seal any holes in the roof.
Ask if you really need a battery for your goals. Ask how much backup power it gives. Ask which things it can keep running. Ask how the battery warranty works.
Ask how often the system needs to be checked. Ask if it needs cleaning. Ask what monitoring is included. Ask what maintenance costs you may pay later.
Ask if you can use an app to watch the system. Ask what information you can see. Ask how alerts work. Ask who helps if power output drops suddenly.
Ask when the design work starts. Ask how long permits take. Ask when the installation will happen. Ask when inspections will be done. Ask when the system will be turned on.
Ask if the crew is licensed. Ask if they have insurance. Ask if they have worked on your roof type and electrical system before. Ask if they will use subcontractors.
Ask how the utility connection process works. Ask if net metering is available. Ask if there are limits on sending power back to the grid. Ask if there are any special rules.
Ask for a shading check. Ask if trees or buildings nearby will block sunlight. Ask if panel placement can help. Ask if microinverters can reduce power loss from shade.
Ask which incentives you can use. Ask who gets them. Ask if the installer helps with the forms. Ask how rebates or tax credits change the total price.
Ask if you can cancel. Ask when you need to pay. Ask what happens if you change the order. Ask about start and finish dates. Ask about performance promises. Ask if there are any extra costs or rules.
Ask who helps after the system is turned on. Ask how to ask for service. Ask if they can check problems from far away. Ask how fast they fix warranty problems.
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