Path-Q Solar
How should a home buyer compare an independent performance inspection with relying on the seller's production guarantee records?
Answer
Use the seller's records as historical evidence, but consider an independent inspection when the system's condition, output, documentation, or guarantee transfer is material to the purchase. The two serve different purposes: records show past performance, while an inspection can test current condition and identify causes of underperformance.
Key points
- Review production records against weather, shading, outages, inverter data, and utility bills where available.
- Confirm the guarantee's baseline, measurement method, exclusions, claim deadline, and transferability.
- An independent inspection can assess equipment condition, safety, installation quality, monitoring, and obvious defects.
- The inspection should not be represented as a guarantee of future production.
What it depends on
- Quality and length of production records
- Guarantee terms and transfer rights
- System age, design, and monitoring availability
- Purchase price and financing importance
- Inspector qualifications and scope
Risks and trade-offs
- An inspection adds cost and may uncover issues that complicate or delay the transaction.
- Historical records can be incomplete or affected by changing weather and occupancy.
- A performance test on one day may not establish annual production.
Information you may need
- Monthly or interval production records
- Guarantee and warranty documents
- Utility bills and monitoring access
- System age, equipment list, and maintenance history
- Independent inspection scope and report
Your next step
What to do next
Have an independent qualified inspector review the records and perform a condition and safety assessment, with the purchase agreement assigning responsibility for identified defects.
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