Take this list back to the representative
You do not need industry vocabulary to ask complete questions. You need the answers in writing, on the same documents you would sign.
- What is the cash price, and what is the financed amount, separately?
- Is there a dealer fee? In dollars, not as a story about monthly payment.
- What yearly production are you promising, and what shading did you assume?
- What are the exact panel, inverter, and battery model numbers?
- Can those models be swapped for “equivalent” later without my written OK?
- What utility-rate growth did you use in the savings chart?
- Are any tax credits in the savings numbers still available to me?
- Who is the contractor of record, and what is the license number?
- When is the last payment due relative to permission to operate?
- What is the cancellation period stated in the contract?
- If this is a lease or power purchase agreement, what happens if I sell the home?
If the answers are verbal only
Ask for them on the proposal or contract. A second read is for the paper, not the handshake. Bid + Contract Review exists to compare those two documents before you commit.
Keep a record of the answers
Illustrative example: “we take care of repairs” is not enough to compare offers. Ask which repairs, who performs them, what you pay, and where those terms appear in the agreement.
FTC guidance identifies maintenance responsibilities and home-sale transfer conditions as points to review in a lease or power purchase agreement. FTC: Solar Power for Your Home (U.S. consumer guidance, April 2022)
- Put your questions in a short numbered list.
- Record the document and page supporting each answer.
- Request corrected documents when the answer changes the agreement.
- Leave unanswered questions visible; do not treat a verbal promise as a completed check.
Make the answers usable, not just reassuring
Take one current proposal and the agreement you would sign. Put the document version and date at the top of your notes. For each question, record the written answer, its page or clause, the person responding and anything still unresolved.
If an answer changes the equipment, price or obligations, ask for updated documents. Keep both the earlier version and the corrected version so you can see what changed. An unanswered field should remain visible when you decide what needs a closer look.
| Record | Your notes |
|---|---|
| Question and reason | What is unclear, missing or inconsistent? |
| Written answer | What does the seller actually commit to? |
| Document and page | Where does that answer appear in the agreement? |
| Person and date | Who replied, and when? |
| Next action | Corrected document, supporting source or professional advice needed |
Add questions for your payment and ownership type
If you borrow to buy the system, request the principal, APR, payment schedule and any change tied to an assumed future prepayment. If you lease the system or buy its electricity through a PPA, ask who owns it, how payments change, who maintains it and what happens when you sell the home.
For storage, ask which loads are intended to run during an outage, how the seller estimated backup duration and what limits apply to recharging. A battery name or whole-home claim is not a load plan. Request the relevant design explanation in writing.
Resolve timing and notice questions before relying on a deadline
Ask the seller to identify the cancellation notice, applicable deadline and delivery method for your transaction. Where rights or obligations are uncertain, get qualified legal advice promptly; this checklist does not establish a cancellation period.
When the packet is complete, review the proposal and contract together. A review should explain both supported findings and the details that could not be checked. What Bid + Contract Review covers · See a sample report