I had a chat with a solar rep from Ambia who pitched me a deal for a solar system that generates about 4,200kWh/year, which also includes a new roof. They quoted me a total cost of $27,000 for everything, but after the 30% tax incentive, I'd end up paying around $19,000. I'm wondering if I could save money by going the DIY route instead. Any insights on the cost difference?
3 Answers
I’d suggest going the DIY route if you can. You'll likely save at least 50% and have a better understanding of what you’re getting. But do make sure to get multiple quotes from different companies first. And remember, only the solar components qualify for the tax credit; they can’t include roofing costs in that. Just stick to solar quotes when calculating.
Honestly, $27,000 sounds steep for that small system. You might want to double-check the roof replacement costs because if it’s around $10,000 like some say, then you’re basically paying $17,000 for just the solar panels, which doesn’t seem worth it. DIYing it could save you a ton of cash; if you're handy, you might get the whole solar setup for about $5K or even less.
If your roof is pretty simple, you might tackle both the roof and solar install yourself. My previous projects were under $5K for smaller solar systems. You could end up with something way bigger than what Ambia is offering without breaking the bank!
Yeah, I’ve seen similar setups go for way less. You could definitely get a DIY approach that makes more sense financially!