Buying or selling a house with solar? Here’s what to check

Solar is turning up on more and more listings, and it can genuinely add value — but only when everyone understands what’s actually there. Whether you’re buying, selling, or the agent in the middle, a few simple checks make solar an asset rather than a question mark.

If you’re buying

• Ask what’s on the roof: panel and inverter make, model and age, and whether there’s a battery.
• Ask how the system is owned: outright, on finance, or leased — this matters more than any spec (see below).
• Ask for the monitoring: it shows whether the system is actually performing.
• Check the paperwork: a Certificate of Compliance, Record of Inspection and Electrical Safety Certificate confirm it was installed, inspected and signed off legally.
• Ask about warranties: panel, inverter and workmanship warranties differ, and not all transfer automatically on sale.

Ownership and finance can be a settlement landmine

One question matters more than any spec: is the system owned outright, still on finance, or leased or third-party-owned? An outright-owned system transfers cleanly with the house. A financed system may have a loan attached that needs settling, and a leased or ‘solar-as-a-service’ arrangement can come with a contract the buyer has to take over or pay out. This is exactly the kind of thing that surfaces late in a sale — so flush it out early.

The buy-back rate doesn’t come with the house

A common misunderstanding: the seller’s solar buy-back rate is a deal between them and their retailer — it does not transfer to the buyer. Whoever buys the home arranges their own retailer and plan, and the rate they get may be higher or lower. Tell buyers this up front so nobody’s disappointed after settlement.

If you’re selling

A little preparation turns solar into a selling point. Have the system details, the Certificate of Compliance, Record of Inspection and Electrical Safety Certificate, warranty documents, ownership or finance details, and a recent power bill or two ready for buyers. Being able to show the system works and was installed properly removes the doubt that otherwise makes buyers nervous.

For agents

You don’t need to be a solar expert to sell a solar home well — you just need to know the right questions and how to describe the system plainly. That’s exactly what SolarLink’s real estate training gives agents: the confidence to turn solar from a confusing feature into a clear advantage.