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Got a solar proposal from EnergySage, a local installer, or another marketplace? Before you sign anything, run these 7 checks. Most homeowners skip at least 3 of them — and overpay by thousands.
Marketplace quotes are useful for price discovery, but they are not a site-specific design. Before signing, verify: (1) the cash price per watt, not just the monthly payment; (2) whether a dealer fee inflates the loan principal; (3) that the production estimate matches your actual roof, not just your ZIP code; and (4) that the utility rate assumption matches your real bill.
In 2026, with the residential tax credit gone (Section 25D expired Dec 31, 2025), every dollar of quoted cost matters more. There is no 30% federal credit to absorb pricing mistakes.
Solar marketplaces like EnergySage are good at generating competitive quotes quickly. But there are real limits to what a remote, automated proposal can verify.
Whether your quote came from EnergySage, a door-to-door salesperson, or a local installer — these 7 checks apply. Skip them at your financial risk.
What it is
The single most important number. Divide the total cash price by the system size in watts.
Why it matters
Marketplace quotes bundle dealer fees, soft costs, and margin into one number. Two quotes that look similar on monthly payment can differ by $5,000+ on total cost.
Benchmark
$2.35–$3.35/W depending on state (2026 avg). Anything below $2.00 or above $4.00 needs explanation.
Red Flag
Quote shows only monthly payment, not total cash price. Or the $/W is suspiciously low because dealer fees are hidden in the loan terms.
Your Action
Ask every installer for the gross cash price before financing. Calculate $/W yourself.
What it is
A fee the installer pays the lender for offering cheap-looking loan rates (0.99%, 1.49%). The lender recoups it by inflating the loan principal 20–30%.
Why it matters
A $30,000 system with a 28% dealer fee becomes a $38,400 loan. You pay $8,400 in hidden interest disguised as principal. The monthly payment looks low, but the total cost is brutal.
Benchmark
Ethical financing has 0% dealer fees. If a loan rate seems too good (under 3%), a dealer fee is almost certainly baked in.
Red Flag
Loan amount is significantly higher than the quoted cash price. Or the installer cannot explain why the financed price differs from the cash price.
Your Action
Run the numbers through our dealer fee calculator. Compare the financed total against the cash price.
What it is
The expected annual electricity production. This determines your savings projection and payback period.
Why it matters
Marketplace proposals often use optimistic irradiance assumptions or ignore real shading. An inflated production estimate makes savings look better than reality.
Benchmark
1,100–1,500 kWh per installed kW depending on your state and roof orientation. Northeast: 1,100–1,250. Texas: 1,350–1,500.
Red Flag
Production per kW exceeds your state average by more than 10%. Or the proposal does not mention shade analysis, roof pitch, or azimuth.
Your Action
Ask what software generated the estimate (Aurora, Helioscope, Google Sunroof). Verify it accounts for your specific roof — not just your ZIP code.
What it is
Panel brand/model, wattage, inverter type (micro vs string), and battery (if included). This is what you are actually buying.
Why it matters
Marketplace proposals sometimes list generic equipment or "equivalent" panels. Two quotes with different panels at the same $/W are not equal. Warranty, degradation rate, and efficiency vary.
Benchmark
Name-brand panels (Silfab, REC, Hyundai, Q Cells) with specific model numbers. Enphase IQ8+ microinverters or SolarEdge string inverters.
Red Flag
Equipment listed as "Tier 1 panels" or "premium inverters" without specific models. Or the proposal allows equipment substitution without your approval.
Your Action
Demand exact model numbers. Compare warranty terms: 25-year product + 25-year performance is standard for premium panels.
What it is
The electric rate used to calculate your savings. This single number drives most of the financial projection.
Why it matters
If the proposal assumes your rate is $0.30/kWh but you actually pay $0.22/kWh, every savings number is wrong. Marketplace tools often default to state averages, not your actual tariff.
Benchmark
Match against your actual utility bill. Check supply + delivery + all charges divided by total kWh.
Red Flag
Rate assumption is more than 15% above your actual bill rate. Or annual escalation exceeds 3%.
Your Action
Pull your last 12 months of bills. Calculate your real blended rate. Ask the installer to re-run savings with your actual rate.
What it is
Three separate warranties: panel product (manufacturing defects), panel performance (output guarantee), and workmanship (installation quality).
Why it matters
The biggest risk is not the panels failing — it is a roof leak from bad installation. Workmanship warranty is the most important and the one most often missing or short.
Benchmark
25-year panel product + 25-year performance + 10–25 year workmanship. Microinverters: 25-year warranty.
Red Flag
No workmanship warranty, or workmanship warranty under 10 years. Or the installer does not carry their own workmanship insurance — they rely on a subcontractor.
Your Action
Get the workmanship warranty in writing before signing. Verify the company has been in business long enough to honor it.
What it is
How your utility credits excess solar production, and the process to get your system approved and connected to the grid.
Why it matters
Net metering rules vary by state and utility. Some states credit at full retail, others at avoided cost (50–80% of retail). This directly impacts your savings math.
Benchmark
Full retail net metering: MA, RI, CT, NJ, PA, ME, NH. Reduced credit: some TX utilities. Always check your specific utility.
Red Flag
Proposal assumes 1:1 net metering but your utility uses net billing. Or the proposal does not mention interconnection timeline (typically 2–8 weeks after install).
Your Action
Ask your installer which net metering tariff applies to your specific utility and address. Verify the interconnection timeline is included in the project schedule.
This is the single biggest reason marketplace quotes look cheaper than they are. If one of your quotes has a monthly payment that seems too good, this is probably why.
| Scenario | Cash Price | Dealer Fee | Loan Amount | APR | 25-Year Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transparent Loan | $30,000 | 0% | $30,000 | 6.99% | $48,200 |
| Low-Rate + Dealer Fee | $30,000 | 28% | $38,400 | 1.49% | $52,700 |
| Propel (TPO) | $30,000 | 0% | ~$21,000* | Fixed | ~$28,500 |
*Propel reflects ~30% ITC passed through via Section 48 TPO structure. Available in ME and TX. Ownership transfer as early as year 5.
Marketplaces are useful. But they solve a different problem than a local installer does. Here is where each wins.
| Factor | Marketplace (EnergySage, etc.) | Local Installer (NuWatt, etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Quote Accuracy | Based on satellite imagery and ZIP code averages | Based on site visit, actual roof measurements, and shade analysis |
| Utility Rate | State average or user-entered estimate | Your actual tariff pulled from utility records |
| Price Transparency | Varies — some include dealer fees in loan, some do not | Cash price and financed price shown separately |
| Equipment Selection | Installer chooses; you see the proposal after | You discuss options and tradeoffs before the proposal |
| Installer Vetting | Marketplace-vetted (application + reviews) | Your own research + NABCEP + local references |
| Quote Volume | Multiple quotes in 1–3 days | Requires individual outreach (or NuWatt IQ for instant) |
| Change Orders | Handled by whichever installer wins the bid | Direct communication — no middleman |
| Post-Install Support | Through installer, marketplace has no role | Direct relationship with your installer for 25 years |
Green highlight = advantage for that column. Marketplaces win on speed and volume. Local installers win on accuracy and accountability.
These are the questions marketplace proposals almost never address — and they directly affect your savings.
Full retail (1:1) or reduced? Some utilities in TX pay avoided cost only. MA and CT still have full retail for residential.
Many utilities limit residential systems to 100-125% of annual usage. Over-sizing wastes money if excess credits expire.
After installation, you wait 2-8 weeks for utility approval. Your system cannot export until interconnection is complete.
Time-of-use rates change solar economics. If your utility offers TOU, solar + battery can capture peak pricing.
MA SMART, NJ ADI/SuSI, RI REG — these pay you per kWh produced on top of net metering. Not all proposals include them.
Owned systems add home value. Leased systems require buyer assumption or early buyout. Know the terms before signing.
NuWatt can help you interpret marketplace proposals, validate utility assumptions, and answer the installer-specific questions a marketplace cannot.
If your roof has less than 10 years of life, you should replace it before or during solar installation. Removing panels later costs $2,000-$5,000 and risks warranty issues.
Potential Impact
Change order: $5,000-$15,000 for roof + panel removal/reinstall
Older homes (pre-2000) often have 100A or 150A panels. Solar may require a 200A upgrade. Marketplace proposals rarely check this.
Potential Impact
Change order: $2,000-$4,000 for panel upgrade
Satellite imagery shows current shading but misses seasonal changes. Trees with leaves in summer may shade panels. A nearby tree growing 2 feet/year changes the equation.
Potential Impact
Production loss: 5-25% if shading is underestimated
Some HOAs restrict panel placement or visibility. Historic districts may require design review. These can delay or prevent installation entirely.
Potential Impact
Delay: 2-6 months for design review. Possible denial.
If your quote references a 30% federal tax credit for homeowner purchases, the proposal is out of date. Section 25D expired December 31, 2025. Homeowners who buy with cash or a loan get $0 federal credit in 2026.
The 30% credit still exists under Section 48/48E, but only for third-party-owned systems — lease, PPA, or Propel hybrid financing. The financing company claims the credit, not you. This matters because it changes the math on every financing comparison.
| Financing Path | Federal Credit | How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Purchase | $0 | Section 25D expired. No credit available. |
| Solar Loan | $0 | You own the system. Section 25D expired. No credit. |
| Lease / PPA | 30% | Leasing company claims Section 48. Lower payments. |
| Propel (TPO) | 30%+ | Third-party owner claims Section 48 + adders. Own by year 5. |
Deadline: Projects must begin construction before July 4, 2026 to qualify for Section 48.
Share your existing proposal details below. NuWatt will review your pricing, equipment, utility assumptions, and production estimates — and tell you exactly where the numbers hold up and where they do not. No obligation.
When a marketplace helps, when a direct installer is better.
See if hidden dealer fees inflate your financed price.
Compare cash, loan, lease, PPA, and Propel side-by-side.
Our full framework for evaluating any solar proposal.
9 red flags that signal a predatory solar contract.
How 2-3% annual escalators make your lease cost more than grid power.
A balanced review of what the marketplace does well and where it stops.
Everything about the July 4, 2026 commercial ITC deadline.
EnergySage is a legitimate marketplace for comparing multiple solar quotes quickly. It is useful for initial price discovery. However, marketplace quotes are based on ZIP code averages and satellite imagery — not a site visit. Before signing, verify the production estimate, utility rate assumptions, dealer fees, and equipment specs against your actual situation.
A dealer fee is a commission the solar installer pays to the lender to "buy down" the interest rate. A $30,000 system with a 28% dealer fee becomes a $38,400 loan — you pay $8,400 extra disguised as loan principal. Always compare the total financed amount against the cash price to spot hidden dealer fees.
Contact a local installer (like NuWatt) and ask for a free quote review. Share your existing proposal including system size, equipment, cash price, financed price, and production estimate. A good installer will identify issues with pricing, equipment choices, utility assumptions, or production estimates at no cost.
The residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. Homeowners who buy with cash or a loan get $0 federal credit. However, the commercial ITC (Section 48) is still available for third-party-owned systems. Lease, PPA, and Propel hybrid financing structures pass this 30% credit to homeowners through lower payments. Projects must begin construction before July 4, 2026.
Depending on your state, $2.35 to $3.35 per watt before state incentives. Texas averages $2.35/W, while Northeast states range from $2.65 to $3.35/W. Always compare the gross cash price, not the financed monthly payment. If a quote shows $/W significantly below these ranges, check for hidden dealer fees.
Marketplace estimates are typically within 10–15% of actual production for simple, unshaded roofs. Accuracy drops for complex roof geometries, partial shading, or non-standard orientations. A site visit or detailed remote design (using LiDAR data, not just satellite imagery) improves accuracy to within 3–5%.
Run each quote through the 7 checks in this guide. Compare $/W across all proposals. Check for hidden dealer fees. Verify the production estimate matches your actual roof. Confirm the utility rate matches your actual bill. Then ask a local installer to review your proposals and flag anything the marketplace process may have missed.
Many homeowners use marketplaces for comparison and then ask NuWatt for a detailed quote review before signing. No pressure, no obligation — just honest feedback on pricing, equipment, utility assumptions, and production estimates.