If you’re ready to go solar, you need a quality company that can install the best solar panels for your home. To find the right fit, you’ll want to research the company’s reputation, experience, customer service, and warranty coverage.
Fortunately, the Internet makes it easy to research companies and contractors. Consumer rating sites, such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Yelp, and Google Reviews, are a great place to start your research.
Reputation
A solar company with a good reputation can help you get the most out of your investment. However, not all companies are created equal. Some have been known to overprice, or use deceptive sales tactics.
The best way to find out if a solar company has a good reputation is to read customer reviews. You can find these online, on Google Business Profiles, Facebook Business pages and Yelp.
Getting more five-star reviews is important for your business because they can influence how search engines like Google rank you. They can also be a great marketing tool that showcases your solar company in a positive light.
To collect and respond to reviews, you need review management software that makes it easy for your customers to leave a glowing review. Broadly connects to all the major review sites and helps you save time by allowing you to monitor, manage and respond to reviews from a single dashboard.
Experience
Solar companies can be a great opportunity for salespeople who believe in the product they sell. They can also be an excellent fit for project managers who enjoy communicating with customers, cities and utility companies on a regular basis.
As a solar company representative, your primary responsibility is to educate and guide prospects through the process of going solar. This can include comparing energy costs and incentives, explaining how they can reduce their monthly bills, and helping them think about the money they’re already spending on electricity.
Developing strong relationships with prospective clients can make the whole process much easier and more valuable for both parties. Moreover, constant communication and setting clear project expectations can help ensure that all solar customer experiences are positive.
Customer Service
Solar companies have to be able to communicate effectively with their customers to provide the best experience possible. They also have to be able to adapt proposals in response to individual customer concerns.
One of the biggest challenges that a solar company faces is handling the number of calls that they receive from potential and existing customers alike. These calls can range from inquiries about installation to questions about maintenance on their solar equipment.
While it’s important to respond to every inquiry or question that a customer has, it’s equally important to take your time and make sure they understand the benefits of solar energy. This means making sure they have a thorough understanding of how it works, the cost savings that are available and what their utility bill could be like if they went solar.
The best solar companies offer comprehensive service, from monitoring systems to responding to repair requests in real time. They also offer tiered levels of support on a subscription model, which can give homeowners peace of mind when their system isn’t working as it should be.
Warranty
Solar warranty coverage is in high demand for new installations, as homeowners want to know that their equipment is protected. A solar company’s warranty typically covers the panels, inverters, and roof penetrations of their system.
In addition to the manufacturer’s product warranty, some solar companies offer a performance warranty. These warranties guarantee that the solar panels will produce at least 80-90% of their maximum capacity throughout their lifetime.
Another important part of a warranty is what’s referred to as a “limitations and exclusions” rider. These are the conditions under which the manufacturer will not honor their warranty.
The most common issues that reduce the power output of a solar panel over time are called “snail trails” and “hotspots.” These are often excluded from product warranties because they represent localized decreases in efficiency.