June 17, 2025, 4:40 am | Read time: 3 minutes
More homeowners are opting for solar panels on their roofs. But what should you consider before purchasing and installing them? The Consumer Advice Center offers tips.
To reduce their electricity costs, more and more homeowners are considering installing a photovoltaic system. This produces environmentally friendly electricity and also makes them less dependent on large energy companies. However, before purchasing, there are a few things to consider, and it’s important to carefully review the various offers for solar systems. How to best proceed and keep track of everything is explained here.
Checklist from the Consumer Advice Center
Before purchasing a solar system, people usually look at different offers. The Consumer Advice Center NRW provides tips to help keep track using a checklist. This checklist allows you to precisely note what can be gleaned from the solar system offer. Among other things, you can check off items to ensure the offer is complete.
It asks, among other things, which inverters are to be installed. Additionally, all labor costs must be listed alongside material costs. This includes installation and necessary safety measures like scaffolding and safety nets. The commissioning and registration of the system with the grid operator must also be listed, explains energy expert Sören Demandt from the Consumer Advice Center NRW.
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The checklist also provides an overview of costs and possible financing options. Finally, it asks whether a profitability calculation is included with the offer. This provides a forecast of the expected time until the solar system pays for itself.
Competence and Experience Are Important
Energy expert Demandt also advises ensuring that the installation company is ideally located nearby and has sufficient experience and competence. The company should also be able to provide references in the region. In case of doubt, you can even directly assess their work.
Before any offer for the installation of a solar system is made, there must be an on-site appointment, advises the energy expert. During this appointment, the building conditions are assessed.
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What Is Important Before Requesting Offers for a Solar System
Before even requesting initial offers, there are a few other considerations to make. According to energy expert Demandt, you should first have a professional company check whether the structural conditions for a solar system on the roof are met. Additionally, you should find out if a building permit is required.
Then, consider what requirements the system should meet: How large should it be? How much electricity should it generate? Once all requirements are clarified, you can start obtaining multiple offers from professional solar system companies.