Solar: Is It Worth It? (real estate, leasing, countertops)

[Bummer]

Do your research, Sno0909 . . .

A couple years ago I scheduled a few estimates for Solar Panels on my roof. Was I ever surprised.

Don't remember the exact details but the bottom line . . . Solar Panels were going to cost me an additional 200 bucks plus a month until they were paid off in 20 years.

Granted, my all electric, 1500 sq ft home is very well built out of Slump Blocks and it has a relatively new, high efficiency Heat Pump on the roof plus I have converted all lights to LEDs . . . where is the benefit? Would the panels even be functioning efficiently after 20 years? Would they need to be replace by then? How much and who pays?

Sorry, too many unanswered questions so I'll stick with doing my best to conserve energy the old fashioned way.

Good Luck.

[wit-nit]

Originally Posted by Bummer

Do your research, Sno0909 . . .

A couple years ago I scheduled a few estimates for Solar Panels on my roof. Was I ever surprised.

Don't remember the exact details but the bottom line . . . Solar Panels were going to cost me an additional 200 bucks plus a month until they were paid off in 20 years.

Granted, my all electric, 1500 sq ft home is very well built out of Slump Blocks and it has a relatively new, high efficiency Heat Pump on the roof plus I have converted all lights to LEDs . . . where is the benefit? Would the panels even be functioning efficiently after 20 years? Would they need to be replace by then? How much and who pays?

Sorry, too many unanswered questions so I'll stick with doing my best to conserve energy the old fashioned way.

Good Luck.

Exactly same scenario here. I'll be dead before any payoff.

[Hal Roach]

Clouding the deed to your house is a terrible idea. Even an alarm system contract could be a potential deal killer. Finding someone to buy your excess could become problematic, also. Give it a few more years... Oh, and about half of the installs look like crap.. I don't even like tree branches anywhere near my roof...

[Sno0909]

Thanks for all your responses. You all just solidified my initial thoughts on this.

It is sad that in a state that is sunny the majority of the time, getting solar seems like a complicated mess. Unfortunately, it's just easier to keep the status-quo.

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by Hal Roach

Clouding the deed to your house is a terrible idea. Even an alarm system contract could be a potential deal killer. Finding someone to buy your excess could become problematic, also. Give it a few more years... Oh, and about half of the installs look like crap.. I don't even like tree branches anywhere near my roof...

Great point, Hal . . .

Just recently a seller in my neighborhood with Solar Panels learned that the hard way at closing . . . "eat" a $17k solar payoff or lose the sale since the buyer was not interested in the additional fees.

[jnojr]

Originally Posted by Sno0909

So I'm looking to purchase a home and think I've found the one; however, it has solar that is leased. I've never been a fan of solar, even though I do understand some of the benefits. That being said, I don't really know a whole lot about it.

Here is the payment schedule attached to the lease:



Does this look reasonable? How much would I expect to pay the utility company, in addition to the solar lease? This is for a 2,600 sq ft home.

I feel like people that I know that have solar either hate it or love it. Some people say they got screwed and others say they barely pay anything. I respect all of your opinions. Thanks.

I'd tell the seller to figure this out. Pay them off, remove the solar system, whatever. Far, far too many homes out there without an encumbrance like this.

[Sno0909]

Originally Posted by jnojr

I'd tell the seller to figure this out. Pay them off, remove the solar system, whatever. Far, far too many homes out there without an encumbrance like this.

It's probably why the house has been sitting on the market for a while. Agent said it would be too expensive to buyout the lease. So take it or leave it. I chose to leave it. Due to this, I'm sure this house will be on the market for quite some time.

[wildcat465]

I'm really surprised at the many anti-solar comment because my experience is different. My home is 3500 sq ft, single-story with 10 foot ceiling, and a pool. I have two A/C units totaling 8 tons (I think). What drove me to solar were the $600 - $700/month summer bills with the thermostat set at a warmer-than-I-like 79 degrees for four months of the year. After solar install, those summer bills dropped to near zero (with temp set at a frosty 75 degrees). I don't have an electric bill this time of year except for my $137 lease payment. It works for me because I can live more comfortably in my home without concern for the bill.

With that said, I can imagine that if my home was smaller (e.g., 1500 sq ft) and, assuming it's efficient, that solar may not make sense.

I have a friend with a 5000+ sq ft home who says that her summer bill exceed $1500/month. So, I think it depends on the home size.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by Sno0909

It is sad that in a state that is sunny the majority of the time, getting solar seems like a complicated mess.

My take on it...

Doing PV in a cost-effective way requires a grid connection, at least today. Utility companies really don't want to do this, but it gets forced on them by regulators and/or legislatures.

I personally can't see installing a grid-connected system, as it leaves one at the mercy of the utility. For Phoenix metro I'd think having an A/C system that can run off either PV or grid power would make sense. I looked for this the last time we replaced our A/C (4-5 years ago), but couldn't find anything interesting.

[john3232]

My feeling is if you have a large home with high ceilings and have no plans to move. Yes. Otherwise no.

Any sort of a binding contract with a solar company with years to go will hurt resale value.