Thinking of selling your house? As you know, the economic downturn of the last few years has been a game-changer for the real estate market. Buyers today are in the prime position of being able to hold out and get the best bang for their buck, so you need to be prepared.
If you’ve been thinking about going solar and have been doing your research, you probably already know that a home powered by solar energy can command significantly higher prices than the average, utility-powered home next door. But how does brand play into this equation?
As with any major purchase, reputation, quality, and reliability are key. When purchasing a solar-powered home, a deciding factor for every potential buyer is the brand of solar installation on the home. Having to repair or replace a defective or underperforming solar power system will be a major barrier to purchase, so they want only the best.
Make sure your solar system is backed by an established company with a well-known and respected brand, and you will see a nice return on your investment when it’s time to sell.
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Showing posts with label brand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label brand. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Is Solar a Commodity?
As awareness of solar power grows, and more and more installers spring up around the country, how will consumers base their solar purchase decisions in an exploding market? Will solar become a mere commodity, with customers rushing the lowest bidder, or will sales be driven by the customer experience and quality associated with a given brand?
When consumers become motivated primarily by numbers, whether they be related to fat grams, miles-per-gallon, or price, does brand become insignificant―or a deciding factor?
With competition heating up, manufacturers are going to be forced to reconsider the way they manufacture, distribute, and install product in order to remain competitive in the eyes of the consumer. Given this “commodity” environment, will the quality of solar panels drop industry-wide?
If you ask any potential solar power customer what the differences are between the offerings of Company X, Company Y, and Company Z, you would probably be told which company’s product is the most or least expensive, period.
In five years, go back to that same customer and ask about the three offerings they considered when making their solar purchase. Having lived with their system for a while, you will likely hear more about quality and brand.
The upshot here is that, in today’s (and tomorrow’s) solar energy marketplace, whether customers know it yet or not, brand does matter. And given that, what should savvy consumers be thinking about?
- Innovation: If a manufacturer is offering rock-bottom prices, but 1970s technology, keep shopping.
- Customization: One Size Does Not Fit All when it comes to solar. Lot orientation, roof pitch, landscaping, and many other factors dictate how a solar power system should be mounted. Your expert installer needs to know this.
- Customer Care: Don’t use a solar installer that only wants to install. Get what you pay for, and that means full-service assistance in permitting, design, and government rebate paperwork.
- Warranties: Solar systems are supposed to be built to last for around 30 years, but if they don’t, you need to make sure your installer offers warranties on both panels and inverters so that your investment is protected.
Want to learn more about Akeena Solar? Join our community on Facebook.
When consumers become motivated primarily by numbers, whether they be related to fat grams, miles-per-gallon, or price, does brand become insignificant―or a deciding factor?
With competition heating up, manufacturers are going to be forced to reconsider the way they manufacture, distribute, and install product in order to remain competitive in the eyes of the consumer. Given this “commodity” environment, will the quality of solar panels drop industry-wide?
If you ask any potential solar power customer what the differences are between the offerings of Company X, Company Y, and Company Z, you would probably be told which company’s product is the most or least expensive, period.
In five years, go back to that same customer and ask about the three offerings they considered when making their solar purchase. Having lived with their system for a while, you will likely hear more about quality and brand.
The upshot here is that, in today’s (and tomorrow’s) solar energy marketplace, whether customers know it yet or not, brand does matter. And given that, what should savvy consumers be thinking about?
- Innovation: If a manufacturer is offering rock-bottom prices, but 1970s technology, keep shopping.
- Customization: One Size Does Not Fit All when it comes to solar. Lot orientation, roof pitch, landscaping, and many other factors dictate how a solar power system should be mounted. Your expert installer needs to know this.
- Customer Care: Don’t use a solar installer that only wants to install. Get what you pay for, and that means full-service assistance in permitting, design, and government rebate paperwork.
- Warranties: Solar systems are supposed to be built to last for around 30 years, but if they don’t, you need to make sure your installer offers warranties on both panels and inverters so that your investment is protected.
Want to learn more about Akeena Solar? Join our community on Facebook.
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