How buying solar direct works
From your first utility bill to permission to operate — here's exactly what happens, who does it, and what it costs.
A typical residential solar quote is built around a sales organization: door-to-door commissions, lead costs, financing dealer fees, and layered overhead. The panels on your roof are a fraction of what you pay.
When you buy equipment directly from the manufacturer and pay a licensed local crew for labor only, most of that structure disappears. Homeowners commonly land between $1.80 and $2.40 per watt installed versus $3.20 to $4.00 from a turnkey provider.
You are still not doing the electrical work yourself. You are acting as the buyer and the general contractor — which is exactly where the savings live.
Seven steps to production
Size Your Array
Pull twelve months of kilowatt-hours from your utility, factor in roof orientation and shading, and land on a target system size.
Select Equipment
Pick modules, inverter topology, and racking for your roof type — or start from a pre-matched kit and adjust.
Order and Receive
Equipment ships by freight from the manufacturer's warehouse to your home or your installer's yard.
Hire Your Installer
Collect labor-only bids from licensed local electricians and roofers using our comparison sheet.
Permit Submission
Your installer submits the plan set, electrical diagram, and equipment spec sheets to the AHJ.
Install and Inspect
Mount, wire, and pass the building and electrical inspections — typically one to three days of labor.
Interconnection & PTO
Utility applies net metering and issues permission to operate. Your meter starts running backward.
Rebates and incentives
Buying direct does not reduce your incentives — state, utility, and local programs are based on what you spend on equipment and installation, whoever you hire.
State and Utility Rebates
Many utilities add per-watt rebates or storage incentives. We help you check what's live in your zip code.
Net Metering
Rules vary by state and utility — credit rates, true-up dates, and export caps all affect your payback.
Property Tax Exemptions
Most states exclude the added home value of a solar array from your assessed property tax.
Sales Tax Exemptions
A number of states waive sales tax on solar equipment, trimming a few percent off your hardware cost.
This is general information, not tax advice. Confirm eligibility with a qualified tax professional.
What your permit packet contains
We supply the manufacturer documentation; your licensed installer stamps and submits the plan set. Most jurisdictions turn a residential rooftop permit in one to three weeks.
Find a Licensed Installer- Site plan with array layout
- Single-line electrical diagram
- Module and inverter spec sheets
- Structural attachment detail
- Rapid shutdown compliance notes
- Utility interconnection application
Start with a sizing
Tell us your usage and your roof, and we'll show you the equipment cost and a realistic installed number for your area.
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