Does adding solar power to my home increase the property value? Find out what you need to know about solar panel systems and home values.

1. Understanding Solar Power When Selling or Buying a Home
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Do Solar Panels Increase a Homes Value
An increasing number of homeowners are installing solar panels to save money. Better for the environment and
capable of generating around half the electricity needed to run an average home, solar panels have obvious
benefits. But when buying or selling a home, solar panels can add some complexity to the transaction.
As a buyer or a seller, you should be aware of both the benefits and problems related to solar panels as you enter
the market to buy or sell. The more informed you are, the easier it will be to make decisions that are sound both over
the short and long-term.
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2. One question real estate agents often get is, do solar panels increase property value? As much as solar
companies would like you to believe otherwise, this is not a yes or no answer. If you ask any solar power company,
they will tell you without question that solar panels do increase a home’s value. Not so fast! The answer to this
question depends on some factors including:
Whether the solar panels are leased or owned.
What part of the country you live in.
The type of home you own.
What the starting value of the home already happens to be. (Higher- priced homes tend to receive more
value).
How much energy you will be saving.
Understanding solar power when selling or buying a home is not difficult, some of the nuances, however, may
surprise you. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about solar powered homes.
The Benefits of Solar
There is no doubt that solar panels can be beneficial under a lot of circumstances. For instance:
Solar panels can produce a surprising amount of electricity. The amount of electricity generated can vary
depending on several factors, including the type of solar panel, the number of panels in the system and the
amount of sunlight available. Generally speaking, a typical solar panel system can produce enough electricity
to take care of at least half your home’s energy needs. When adding a solar panel system to your home you
get bids from multiple companies and compare the results. The solar company you interview should provide
an estimate of how much power their system is going to produce based on annual statistics the company
knows from some different factors: the weather in your area, the angle of your roof, and its orientation to the
sun. These factors will determine the size of your system and how much electricity, on average, it will produce
each year.
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3. Solar panels can help you save on energy costs. Electricity is not getting any cheaper. A solar panel
system that takes care of half your home’s energy needs will mean you pay around half your average
electricity bill – for as long as the system is functional, which can be decades. The more energy you save, the
quicker the solar panel system pays for itself. Believe it or not, it is possible you will not have an electricity bill
at all when you have solar panels. Read here for more energy saving tips around the home.
Biggest benefits tied to how expensive energy costs range in your area. Not surprisingly those
homeowners who have the largest current electricity bills are going to reap the most significant benefits for
adding solar power to their home.
Solar Panel Systems – Buying vs. Leasing
As exciting as it can be to imagine cutting your electricity costs in half and reducing your carbon footprint, the costs
associated with installing a solar panel system can be sobering. The same average solar panel system that brings
all the above benefits also tends to cost $15,000 – $20,000, an expense that not every homeowner has the money
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4. for.
Many solar panel companies have introduced a way for homeowners to get the solar panel system the way without
needing to come up with the money up-front. Instead of buying, you can lease a system. You sign an agreement that
you will pay a regular fee for the use of your solar panels for the next 15 years or more.
The Trouble With Leasing For Sellers
While leasing a system can seem like a perfect arrangement, doing so can create an awkward situation when you
decide to sell the home. Breaking your lease with the solar panel company will usually result in you being charged
the full bill for the 15 years of usage you agreed to, which can come out to $15,000 or more. You are selling the
home, so you obviously do not want to continue to pay for the use of the solar panels. You also don’t want to be stuck
with a $15,000 bill. The only option left is to see if you can transfer the lease to the buyer of your home.
As you can imagine, many consumers are hesitant to take over a 15-year lease. They may be worried about the
credit requirements of the solar panel company, or they may just not feel comfortable committing to such a long-term
agreement on top of all the other stresses of purchasing a home. There have been numerous deals that have fallen
through over solar panel lease transfers, and there are likely to be much more. As an owner and a seller, you want to
be aware of these issues before you lease a solar panel system, or attempt to sell your home after you have signed
such a contract. One thing that must be emphasized is an appraiser will not add any value to a property that
has a leased solar panel system! Appraisers cannot increase the value of something that is not permanent to the
structure.
How Solar Panels Affect The Market Value Of A Home
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5. Will solar panels increase or decrease the value of my home?
As mentioned above, there are plenty of articles written by solar panel companies that talk about the way their
products increase the value of a home, but in the real world, the growth in value is not nearly as clear-cut. A solar
panel system may add value to your home, or it may be an addition that fails to increase the price of your home
enough to make it worth the initial investment.
Several factors will impact how much value a solar panel system adds to your home. This includes:
What kind of market exists.
Different housing markets react to solar panel systems differently. A home with a solar panel system in
environmentally-friendly Portland, OR, will probably appeal to a wide range of buyers. Buyers in the Portland area
tend to desire eco additions like solar. In contrast, a home in Odessa, TX, with a solar panel system may be far less
appealing to the average local buyer. Odessa is an oil town, not known for its attachment to environmental issues.
Here in my area of Southborough Massachusetts, I have seen a very negligible gain in market value for those who
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6. install a solar panel system to their home.
In fact, I have run into a few homeowners who believe that the 30,000 – $40,000 they spent on their solar panel
system can be added to the asking price of their home. Sorry fat chance! By doing so, your home will be overpriced
which is the kiss of death in real estate sales. The problem that’s occurring is far too many sellers believe these solar
companies slick advertising.
They also go online and see a myriad of articles written by solar companies expounding on how they will increase
the value of your home. This is akin to going online and thinking a Zillow home value is actually what your home is
worth. Don’t make me giggle.
Of course some sellers also mistakenly believe that every improvement made to their home brings back at least as
much as they have spent. Folks, people that think this way learn the hard way.
What others are saying?
To get other opinions on whether solar panels will increase the market value of a home, I reached out to some top
real estate agents across the country, along with a well-respected appraiser.
In speaking with Tom Horn, a well know Birmingham Alabama appraiser, he mentioned that in his
experience appraisers to do not place anywhere near the cost of a solar panel system onto a homes
value. “The biggest problem for appraisers is finding other similar sales in order to compare to non
solar sales. Given this problem appraisers often have to rely on the income approach to value and
analyze the money that is saved over the life of the system and them come up with a present value of
that amount. In my area there are not enough sales with solar panels that you could ever draw a
conclusion that they are adding tens of thousands of dollars to a homes value”.
I also reached out to Kyle Hiscock, a Rochester NY Realtor. Kyle has been helping people move in,
around, and out of Rochester since 2011. Here is Kyle’s thoughts on solar panels in his area:
“Thank you Bill for reaching out to get some insight into the impact that solar panel systems have on
real estate values in the Greater Rochester NY area. Solar panel systems in my are pretty rare.
There are a couple reasons for this. The average number of days with sunshine in the Rochester is
significantly less than many southern and even west coast states. The cost of solar panel systems is
also prohibitively expense for many home owners as well.
As for the impact solar panel systems have on Rochester home values, they definitely have a positive
impact. A buyer will pay more for a home that has a solar panel system, however, if the system cost
$40,000 to install they will not pay $40,000 more for the home. Installing a solar panel system does
not yield a dollar for dollar return on investment, similar to other remodeling projects.
There are home improvement projects that increase a homes value more than adding a solar panel
system would. For example, adding additional living space in a home is a great way to increase a
homes value due in some cases, will cost significantly less than a solar panel system.”
I also spoke to Warner Robins real estate professional, Anita Clark, to see if solar panels add market
value to homes in her market down south. Here is what she had to say:
“You would think with plenty of sunshine and a mild climate, Georgia would be a great place for
homeowners to install solar panels and reap the benefits of reduced electricity costs and higher
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7. resale values. While monthly electric bill savings are certainly a plus, in my middle GA market,
homeowners have little chance of recouping their install costs if they decide to sell.
With so few using this technology, there are few comparable homes available to aid sellers. For
instance, there is currently one property, of the nearly 1,300 available in my area, that has solar
panels installed. In fact, only 9 properties have sold in the past 5 years with this capability. While I
applaud anyone who looks to protect our environment and cut their monthly expenses, the cost to
install solar panels will not be recouped during resale in middle GA at the moment.”
As you can see the consensus is pretty high right now that having solar panels does not affect market value as much
as some people may think. You are certainly going to save money but don’t expect to tack on thousands of dollars to
your asking price.
Whether you own or, lease the system.
As pointed out above, a home where a leased solar panel system is installed is not necessarily more desirable
because of the system. In fact, it may be less desirable. A leased system cannot be included in the appraisal of a
home, and may not be something that buyers want to be saddled with.
How the solar panel system affects the look of the home.
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8. While you may be extremely proud of your commitment to the environment and your energy savings, not every
buyer is going to share your values. Solar panels installed on the front side of the house, in particular, can negatively
impact the curb appeal of the home. Depending on how concerned potential buyers are with the aesthetics of the
property – such as if you are in a highly desirable neighborhood – you may find that they steer clear based on looks
alone.
If you are thinking of adding solar panels and can only add them to the front of your home, I would forget about doing
so unless you don’t mind making your home ten times harder to sell. Not only will it be harder to sell, but you’re also
increasing the odds it will sell for less money.
If you are going to add solar panels to your home, make sure they can be put in the back! One other thing to keep
when thinking about installing solar panels is the age of your roof. Considering a solar panel system will be fitted to
an existing roof, you’ll want to have a younger roof. Otherwise, you will find yourself ripping out the solar panels
when installing a new roof.
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9. How old the system is.
Solar panel technology continues to advance, producing more efficient systems that are naturally more desirable
than older systems. Even if your system is still fully functional, if it is older buyers may not consider it as desirable
as a newer system. The less desirable it is, the less value you can expect it to add to your home.
The surrounding homes in your area.
Real estate prices are often tied to the vicinity and comparable homes, which can sometimes limit the value that
renovations and additions add to the property. Much like adding an expensive addition or a swimming pool to an
average home in a middle-class neighborhood, adding solar panels in certain areas may be so unusual or out-of-
place that they do not increase value like you would expect. Few buyers looking in the same middle-class
neighborhood will be willing to pay extra for an addition that is out of place in the neighborhood, and you may run into
the same issue with solar panel systems.
Solar Panels Can Increase Price – Just Not As Much As You Think
The addition of solar panels to your home is not wasted money, but it is important to be realistic about how much
value you can expect from the addition. Where you may spend $30,000 on a system, when you go to sell your home
the system may only add $5,000 to the sale. The price increase can vary considerably, as discussed above, but you
can expect some increase.
Like so many improvements to a home, installing a solar panel system is not a decision that should be based purely
on how much more valuable it will make your home. Few improvements offer a 1:1 ratio – where you get to increase
the price by the same amount you spent on the modification. Getting solar panels installed is a personal choice that
should be based on how it will improve your enjoyment of the home, not only because you believe it will increase
your sale price. The biggest benefit you will receive having solar panels is the amount of money you save on your
monthly energy bills. Here are additional ways to save energy especially with an older home . Some of these could
be better long term investments.
Get Clear Info Before You Go To Buy Or Sell
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10. What you need to know about buying a home with solar panels.
If you are considering buying a home with solar, make sure you get clear, accurate information on the system
involved. As a buyer you want to know all the relevant facts about the system you are considering – including when it
was installed, by which company, how much power it produces, what percentage of the home’s power does it
provide, maintenance history and more.
When purchasing a home with solar panels make sure you learn about the warranty. Two kinds of solar system
warranties are normally offered. The first one is the manufacturer’s warranty with covers the panel and inverter. The
warranty on the panels is typically 20-25 years and 5-10 years for the inverters.
Whoever is installing the system should also offer a warranty on the installation, which means ensuring they have
made no holes in your roof that leads to leaks for a specified period – usually 2 to 5 years. Keep in mind that neither
of these warranties covers fire, theft, or other damage, so make sure you get the system added on to your
homeowner policy. The technology with solar panels is getting better and better. Do your research and understand
exactly what you are going to get.
As a seller, you want to have all this information at the ready for when a buyer or a Realtor asks for it. Accurate
records and information will make everyone feel better about the transaction.
As far as leased solar panel systems go, there are still plenty of home sales that happen with leased systems.
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11. Although it may be a bit more complicated, do not lose hope if you are selling a home with a leased system, or if you
want to buy one with such a system. Again, accurate and precise information is essential to facilitate the sales
process. Buyers, be certain of what you are getting into before you buy. Sellers, make sure you have all the
information customers will need to make an informed decision about taking over the lease.
Other Benefits of Solar Power
While solar power will certainly save money and energy around your home, there are other advantages as well. A
solar energy system will absorb clean, pure energy from the sun. Installing solar panels on your home helps reduce
greenhouse gas emissions that harm our environment. By adding solar, you will reduce the carbon footprint and help
lessen our collective dependence on fossil fuels. When fossil fuels are burned to produce energy, they create toxic
gasses that are the primary cause of pollution and as well as potential global warming.
According to The Union of Concerned Scientists, The air and water pollution emitted by coal and natural gas plants
is linked to breathing problems, neurological damage, heart attacks, and cancer.
Final Thoughts
If you are adding solar panels to your home for the sake of saving money, reducing your energy footprint, or going
green by all means, do so. If you’re expecting to be moving anytime shortly, you may want to hold off as it’s highly
unlikely you’ll recoup the cost of the system. Above all else do your homework when selecting a solar power
company!
Additional Helpful Solar System Articles
How much does it cost to install solar systems via Solar Power Authority.
How much energy is saved with solar panels via Solar Nation.
Solar panels could shake up the utility industry via Grist.
Use the additional solar system resources to better understand some of the nuances associated with adding solar
technology to your home. Get a better understand of both the cost and energy savings of adding solar in your area.
About the Author: The above Real Estate information on the understanding solar power when buying or selling
a home was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at
[email protected] or by phone at 508-625-0191. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for
the last 29+ Years.
Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!
I service Real Estate sales in the following Metrowest MA towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Douglas, Framingham,
Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northborough,
Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton and
Uxbridge MA.
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