5 TIPS TO PREVENT GETTING RIPPED OFF WHEN GOING SOLAR! MUST WATCH BEFORE SIGNING ANY CONTRACTS! 

This was the video I needed to see. Down in Puerto Rico companies are selling leases like hot cakes and no one thinks twice about what could gi wring down the road with the lease. Due to the electric grid being so bad, folks think that simply leasing is the solution. It is not. I almost made the same mistake but something didn't make sense to me, and now I am 100% convinced that leasing for me is absolutely not the solution! Thank you for making it crystal clear!

Wow, it was the great great tips. Thanks for sharing Julian!!!

Thanks Julian! I wish i found your video a month ago. By now, doing research and comparing panels, invertors, insurances, financing i arrived to your first 4 tips in a hard way-). The last tip, about the stand-offs, was anew for me! I assumed if a company has >12 years labor warranty they won't put rubber stand-offs. But it sounded that better to check out anyway.

We are talking to a consultant today. I have math and research to do. Thank you for this!

Julian thanks for the information that was a very helpful for me in my investigation of solar

After looking into it, everything you said is very accurate,good work.😎💯👍

Thanks Julian nice honest information!

Thanks for the timely information. Much appreciated.

This was a very helpful video. Thank you!

Fantastic tips from an insider. Thank you. 🙂

Thank you Oh Wise King Julian.

This is yet another of Julian's educational and informative videos. Making me smarter to understand better for understanding this Solar biz much clearer and choosing right company. Thank you!

Excellent! Really rings true for today! Who would have thought 4 years ago that leases and PPAs would be pushed so heavily. Thanks

Very well done, thank you.

Very helpful tips. Thank Julian. 2 thumbs up.

Julian saved me thousands. I'm glad I found him on youtube. I had one dealer offer me a 6.0kw system with 15 panels for 32,240 using Rec Solar panels. I had another offer me a 7.65KW system with 17 panels for 29,452 These were JA Solar Panels then, I called Julian who set me up with someone and I got 18 Rec 400AA Pure Black panels a 7.2KW system for $23000, before rebate. Do your research.

Thank you for this!

GREAT VIDEO!!! THANKS FOR THE INFO

Great Advice! Totally agree regarding advice to buy the system. My math came to the same conclusion.

Excellent video thank you. From Boston , M A

We paid a little over $4/watt for our system in Oregon last year. I *think* we got great equipment and insurance too. Happy with it so far :)

The payback part is a bit tricky in some jurisdictions. We can't disconnect from the grid and must then pay the service fee's. All this offsets is the actual consumption (1/3). Appreciate the video!

Great info. Thanks.

Thank You for All that you are doing for World Peace and for our Planet... Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. La Paz.. Namaste .. 🙏🏻 😊 🌈 ✌ ☮️ ❤️ 💐 🕊

Thanks Julian for this video. I am thinking of put solar on my roof and got couple proposals, one of it touting the PPA as no out of pocket money with all great features of solar but no info about what kind of materials they use. The worst part is my monthly payments to them will be higher than my local electric company's bill by 15%. Lol. Other sale rep just "run away" when I asked "what is my out the door cost?". If you click on the adv "no money out of pocket, even got it for free as government pay it for you" on youtube you get a bunch of calls. Thanks again for this information.

great info!! seems like you're an industry insider

Appreciate the video just those watching the cost and payback periods range widely by state, like comparing florida vs California at 2 times electric cost. Florida payback period is almost 20 years with loan because kw is so cheap.

Yo Man......... you da'man !!!

Thanks for good info

Thank you so much for sharing ❤️

Julian my neighbor just got solar in NJ they did lease skip the PPA They think it's the best thing ever!! They upgraded the service panel plus added a breaker circuit. The kicker is they opted for no battery backup. But their roof is fairly new.

You are so helpful , and may I say so very handsome 😘

Good job and info thanks

Thank you ever so much!

This really helped.

Great info. Thanks

Yeah I'm only just started being aware of how these solar scams work cause I'm trying to buy a home and some have solars and new owner is to assume the lease. NGL, after looking at the contract (25 years is insane!!!) I think these homeowners are selling their homes to GET OUT of their solar contracts. Like that's the ONLY way they're able to get out of these contracts. These contracts are 6mnths to 5 years old. Still new.

no one buying solar for the first time is an expert, these videos have been insanely helpful as i'm getting quotes and being pitched to

Thanks Julian

Great tips! Didnt even know they made rubber standoffs. Got 9.2w enphase system at $2.75/w last year down in florida. Been running great!

we need more people like him in solar industry. honest and help people. Question: if i buy the solar system, does the contractor company will cover issue for panel and installation during the time i own the system?

Two things solar co guy tried to pull on me. Hide that the low interest rate was from buying down points and never mentions the escalating payments. And told me if I signed a “preliminary” agreement I could cancel anytime up until it was physically installed. But in Fine print,,,,only had three days to cancel.

Thanks for your informative videos. I’ve already seen several .Do you have one that talks about electrical panel requirements? My uncle had a guy come to his house and was told he needs to upgrade his electrical panel first before he can install solar.

He is so right about the inverter going out. Mine went dead one day and it just went out of warranty with the company. Sucks

Thanks for the honesty. When calculating the cost per watt should I use gross cost or cost after federal credit?

Thank You!!

Hi there so what is it that you do? Do you recommend any installer ? Thank you

I personally would NEVER recommend a string inverter system. Go Micro, my favorites are Enphase.

What standoffs/mounting hardware do you recommend? Have you had any experience with quickbolt?

Great educational video Julian… Question… I live in southern Arizona in a 2214 sqft house. I have a 50 year tile roof that is approximately 22 years old. I had the black underpayment replaced with 40 lb. East exposure with no trees. I am charging a Tesla, running pool equipment & running the AC 24-7 during the summer. We have sun here 330 days a year 🥵. I have a company named net zero coming out for a estimate. I feel I am a good candidate for solar but just doing my homework here. Can I send you the estimate for your evaluation? Thanks for your time. 👍

I live in Mass. and I want to go solar and I am considering using energypal to broker the best value and price. Do you provide this kind of service, since your knowledge of solar is very good. Thank You

Please fix your title from hoing to going. Would like to share with others. Great info!

Great video! Thanks! Now that bank dealer fees are through the roof in 2023 what are your thoughts? Also what are your thoughts on the Sunnova Lease products? Thank you!

I'm into purchasing a system now... Your videos are great. I send you an email to get some help here.

What is your advice for if and when you need to replace your roof? One of the solar companies explain that it would cost about $250 per panel to remove and replace the panels if I needed to have my roof replaced.

Waw. Thanks for your infarmation. Brilliant. 👍👍👍👍

And you do solar in Massachusetts?

Hi Julian, I just watched your video on 5 tips on how to avoid getting ripped off, you mentioned that $3.50 to $4.00 per watt is a good price, I see this video is 4 years old, has the cost of solar increased much in the last couple of years, what would be a good price in 2023. BTW we live in Idaho, thanks Julian!

When you mention the cost per watt, are you talking about the cash price or financing price?

Hey Julian, which is a better solar panel? U series by SunPOwer or Q Cells?

I was looking into it, I had a salesman over, he said he will email the contract, and he did with my name sign on it, it's not my signature but he sent me the email with my name on the contract

Julian I have requested your help in buying solar in Palm Springs California. Still nothing.

If I was talking to a solar sales person I would ask if they do ppas, if they say yes I say bye

I’m in Houston Tx, how much you think it should cost and what company to go for?

I like your advice, although when comparing purchase vs leasing, there is also the consideration of risk. Beyond the warranty, the owner of the panel assumes risk of system failure, or underproduction. And that could be either the homeowner (in a purchase situation) or the system provider (in a lease situation). I just bought a system from Sunrun/Vivant, after getting quotes from three companies. Their financing was low enough to make the purchase practical in the long term, and cheaper than other financing options. I did pay $5 per watt, which I guess is high by your standards, but it was the lowest of three bids.

Hi Julian. Thanks for your advice. I live in South Africa so we have a thing called loadshedding. Which means the grid is off from time to time for about 3 hours. I would like to go for a hybrid system to still be on the grid, reduce my bill cost but to have back up when loadshedding. I dont see any companies doing micro-inverters here. Will it be wise to instead of a 1 x 10kw inverter rather take 2 x 5kw inverter or even 3x 3kw inverters?

How about pre-paid PPA? I was offered a great price on a prepaid PPA with escalator rate at 0.00%. Company takes incentives but that fine, it was about 6K cheaper than buying, i.e. 22K vs 15K. What are your thoughts please.

when you say price per watt. do you mean the whole install? The equipment, labor AND batteries etc? Because I was just given an estimated in AZ that looks like a 2100watt system at 20,000 omg!

In some cases lease is a good option... When home owner cant Qualify for a loan to own. Also controlled billing.. This video needs a update prices has changed!

That $4/watt that you quoted as the average price for a system in San Diego, is that for a system with micro-inverters or string?

I need a good contractor in Ohio for a ground installation in a field. Know anyone reputable?

Should I invest in a Tesla rood top in florida

You can't sue these solar companies. It's on the contract that you can't sue. 😂 Major red flag.

Signing a solar lease was the stupidest thing I’ve done in my life. Had a lot of things going on in life at that time and I just didn’t give it much thought. Buying is much smarter. Leasing is clearly a scam.

The cheapest in my area NC Raleigh Durham is $4.3/watt.. What to do?

Hi julian, what do you think of sunrun company here in nevada are they a good company, do they provide with the best products, what are your thoughts.

Most of the people i know wanting solar dont want the money saving as much as they want the freedom from the grid. If a person goes solar they need to realize its expensive to buy your equipment and you should go completely off grid instead of the grid tied stuff. Buy it all outright dont ever lease equipment and buy good equipment to begin with... its a great hobby and cool way to live but dont give the solar contractor company your money

Broo, how can i get out of the contract with vivint solar? My wife got them not speaking/reading English and had her sign English contract if that helps in any way.

Can you recommend a lawyer so I can sue SunRun? I believe my mother and father was duped and wasn't given all of the important information. They both passed within 2 years of the PPA. Unfortunately the Trust took over the PPA.

Actually you also included that you might be leaving your house maybe after 5years or 7 years

I’m about to buy a house here in north Florida, could you recommend a company I should go with? I want a solar system asap after I move in

Julian do you help in Florida? If not who I can reach out to someone like you

what are your thoughts on this solar surge company?

What’s the best quality Solar panels?

It's summer in SolCal. The solar reps are coming out of the woodwork. I was contacted by Sunrun. The rep spent a 2hr sale pitch in our kitchen. The solar rep kept repeating to my wife and I there's no upfront costs, tax credit, etc. We don't qualify for tax credit and we don't want a 20 to 25 year loan. Rep stressed doing a PPA with Sunrun. Being 70+ ,owning my house and failing health: solar wasn't a right fit for us. That being said, nice video!

❤

just one question, if my annual power consumption is 8kwh does that mean i need a 8kwh solar panel kit?

Do you need any help with roofing?

On the price per watt, does that include installation and the incentives included. To calculate the price per watt do you do you calculate full retail or after the incentives.

The solar company im working with says if I finance they will not cover any problems with the system.

When you say $4.50/watt does that include installation/permitting fees or just equipment?

Turns out power optimizers are good in hotter markets. Micro inverters rated to 149 degrees, and optimizers rated for 185 degrees. Our roofs get up to 170 degrees in the summer where I am at. So I agree with everything you have ever posted but power optimizers Are better than micro inverters

I appreciate all of the information as I am considering solar. However, I think your math needs some explanation. You say you can buy a system for $20,000 that will avoid paying $111,000 to the Electric Company over 25 years. Now a $20,000 system is something less than an 8kwh system. If 8kwh covers your electric usage, there is no way you are paying $111,000 in 25 years. In Florida, you would be looking at most $150 to $200 a month and that times 300 months (25 years) equals about $60,000. Or did I miss something.

Do you service san bernardino area?

All solar system bids are too high. Solar companies generally ask about twice what the system is worth hopping you will be stupid enough to just buy it.

The only way I see solar makes sense is if you are young and expect to live 25 years more. If you are 68 years old like me then you will just be buying this expensive system that someone else will benefit from also my roof is about 21 years old so I would need to re-roof first or buy a GAF product or solar roof from Tesla which again someone else will benefit from

1 point of failure = a catastrophic failure.

The 1st 5 min of this video is ad against leases/PPA. I've been looking at tons of options for solar and PPA is the best option for me. I cant afford a system cash and I'm not in my forever home. It is like switching to another power company but a much cheaper one. Id rather have the savings for the next 4 years than do nothing or have the debt affecting my DTI ratio. I'm a realtor so i also know most people move within 7-10yrs. Buying cash only makes sense if its your forever home and you dont have better investment options. Doing a loan makes sense if you don’t care about the debt or youre in youre forever home, you have no better use for the money and plan on paying it off fast. I looked at a fixed PPA (no escalator) but it was the same price as a loan with the high interest rate. As a realtor I've had buyers & sellers with leased solar and have not had any issues with it.

It was good information,,,,but I got dizzy...you need to put the camera on a stand PERIOD,!!!!

Do you have this information in Spanish?