Peter Litsas
Solar Sales Associate
Charlottesville, VA
About the author: Peter Litsas is a sales associate at the Tiger Solar Charlottesville Branch and has a background in Ecology, Conservation, and Education.
This is the first part of a series that’s goal is to take you through the customer journey with Tiger Solar, and help you understand the process of going solar.
“The Money’s in the Details.”-Tom Silva
I was watching one of my favorite public broadcast shows, This Old House, and in the intro, you can hear Tom Silva, general contractor on the show, say, “the money’s in the details.”
Every time I hear him say that, I am reminded of my work in the solar industry. When choosing a contractor for any job there is always an internal debate that a customer has between price and value. My dad used to tell me when getting a quote for car work, “the cheapest price isn’t always the best value,” and now that I am working in the solar industry I couldn’t agree more. I have certainly been burnt by not heading his advice in the past when I’ve gone with a low-ball bid and my car sat at the guy’s shop half taken apart for six months.
The same things you would look for in searching for a contractor to remodel your kitchen apply to selecting a solar contractor.
1. Get Recommendations.
If you know someone who already has solar, ask them who they went with, and what their experience with the company was like both before and after completion of the project. Many solar companies do a great job at selling, and then disappear when you have a problem later.
2. Believe the Reviews.
Check the online reviews for solar contractors ahead of time. If the reviews say things like, “the rep ghosted me when I needed service” or, “I couldn’t reach them after the initial sale,” that is a huge red flag. We invite you to read our Google Reviews and ask for client references!
3. Have a Phone Call.
Interview a few solar contractors on the phone. Are they asking you relevant questions? Did they verify with you information about your home to determine if solar is a good fit for your house? Did they ask questions like “is that large tree I see on Google Earth still shading your roof?” What does your gut say about the company?
4. Have an In-person Site Visit.
If you are choosing a local solar company (which we hope you will do!) it should not be a problem for a rep to come meet you at your home and do an on-site evaluation. This is an essential step in the bid process to verify things about your house. The rep should be looking at your electrical system (breaker panel and utility meter) and looking in your attic for a roof mounted system.
5. Bottom Line Price Should Not Be the Final Decider.
“Throw out the lowball bid,” says Tom. “This contractor is probably cutting corners or, worse, desperate for work.” Above all else you, should pick a contractor you trust and communicate well with. If you get a weird vibe from a pushy solar sales person, trust your gut.
6. Get it in Writing.
Your solar proposal and contract prices should match. Make sure you understand all parts of your solar proposal, including all incentives, whether you qualify, and what exactly your contractor is promising.
Here at Tiger Solar, we employ full time, in-house design and install teams. The people selling, designing, ordering, and building your solar system all have full time benefits and work for a company committed to sustainability and longevity. Our design team is comprised of engineers who plan out the systems, file the permits, and order all the parts, down to the last bolt, wire, or nut.
Our solar installers are skilled in what is commonly referred to as “the trades.” We have electricians who are fully trained and certified to work inside hot electrical panels of varying sizes, roof top installers who install the racking and solar panels on existing structures, run conduit and electrical wiring through the home, and ground mount teams who erect racking and trench back to the house to tie into the electrical system. All of the pieces must come together to create a reliable power generation station at your home and business. When I hear Tom say, “the money’s in the details,” I just think about all the pieces that must come together and function as a unit to put out a quality product.
If you’d like more information on whether solar is a good fit for your home or you would like to interview us as a company, click here to get started!
