Ever heard of solar referral companies? Odds are, you might have stumbled upon a solar lead company’s website already and not even realized it! These sites can seem enticing, but as a homeowner looking to find the right, high-quality solar contractor to install residential solar panels, there are some things you should know about how solar referral sites operate.
Today we’re going to explain what solar referral websites are and the pros and cons of using them.
What Are Solar Referral Websites?
Solar referral websites promise the convenience of bringing solar companies to you. You simply enter your contact information (and often additional information about your home’s electricity usage), and they’ll put you in touch with a solar company near you that can install your solar panels. Some referral websites will even have competitive bidding, where you can review quotes from several different solar installers in your area.
Examples of solar referral websites include EnergySage, Solar Reviews, and Go Solar Quotes.
All referral websites are essentially acting as an intermediary, collecting a fee for bringing potential customers (referred to as “leads”) to solar companies.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Using a Solar Referral Website to Find a Solar Provider Near You?
The biggest and most obvious advantage to using a solar referral website is convenience-instead of spending time hunting around for the best solar provider near you, the solar companies come to you. And who wouldn’t want to easily review prices between different solar companies?
But there are a number of things you should consider before using a solar referral website:
- Sometimes the quoted price isn’t the “walk out the door” price. Be careful about solar companies adding various fees for permits, taxes, and other expenses on to the original quote after the fact and increasing your total solar installation cost.
- Solar referral websites don’t always vet the contractors they introduce you to. Not all companies buying solar leads have the same expertise, attention to detail, or quality customer service. Don’t let price be the ONLY factor you use to choose a solar company. Saving a bit of money upfront won’t seem so smart once you’re having problems with your panels soon after installation and the repair costs exceed your original cost savings.
- Contractors who purchase solar leads tend to work on a volume-based approach, which means they are usually looking to close proposals quickly. This can create high-pressure sales scenarios that leave homeowners feeling rushed into making a big decision.
The Right Way to Learn More About a Solar Company
While it can feel overwhelming to try to find the right solar company for your home, it’s such a significant upgrade that it’s well worth the extra effort! Here are some of the things to look for in a quality solar installer near you:
1) Online reviews
Look up the company on Google, Yelp, and other third-party review sites. What do customers say about the quality of work and customer service? How does the company respond to negative reviews?
2) Ask for examples of previous work
Some solar companies will have case study pages where they showcase previous solar installation jobs with images and videos. You can also ask the company directly to see if they’ve done work in your area.
3) Call up the company and talk to them
What’s it like speaking to the company on the phone? Are they easy to talk to? Do they seem pushy or eager to close the sale? Are they knowledgeable about available solar incentives in your area to help reduce your upfront costs?
Learn More About Installing Solar Panels with My Generation Energy
Since 2008, My Generation Energy has installed hundreds of solar energy systems throughout eastern Massachusetts, including on Cape Cod, in Greater Boston, the South Shore, the South Coast, and more. Our team is local to either Cape Cod or New England, meaning we have a deep familiarity with our service area and community. For us, solar installation isn’t just about expertise but educating our friends and neighbors about the benefits of solar energy and helping them benefit from high-quality solar installation for decades to come.
