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Buyer protection

Solar quote red flags checklist

A solar proposal should make the math easier to verify, not harder. Use these checks before signing a contract or loan document.

Quick answer

The biggest red flags are outdated tax-credit claims, hidden dealer fees, vague equipment, unsupported production estimates, and export-credit assumptions that do not match the utility tariff.

Reviewed 2026-07-26

Best for
Homeowners with one or more solar proposals in hand.
Inputs needed
proposal PDF, cash price, financing terms, equipment models, utility tariff
Formula used
Fair quote review = cash $/W + financing cost + production realism + tariff realism + warranty clarity.
Source checked
quote document, utility tariff, manufacturer data sheets, Wattcrunch price benchmarks

  1. Red flag 1

    The proposal applies a 30% homeowner federal tax credit to a 2026 owner-purchased system.

  2. Red flag 2

    Financing is shown only as a monthly payment, without cash price, dealer fee, APR, and total payments.

  3. Red flag 3

    Panel, inverter, battery, and racking model numbers are vague or missing.

  4. Red flag 4

    Production is guaranteed without showing shade, roof azimuth, tilt, losses, or local weather assumptions.

  5. Red flag 5

    The quote assumes full retail export credit in a net-billing or avoided-cost territory.

  6. Red flag 6

    Roof work, main-panel upgrades, trenching, permits, or monitoring subscriptions are not separated.

  7. Red flag 7

    Warranty language mixes manufacturer warranty, installer workmanship, production estimate, and labor coverage.

  8. Red flag 8

    The salesperson pressures a same-day signature or says incentives disappear without a verifiable program link.

Fast next step

Upload or enter the quote details into Wattcrunch, then compare the cash price, production, equipment, and financing against neutral planning benchmarks.

Open the quote checker