U.S. News & World Report

When you’re looking to get more control over your energy costs, installing solar panels is a great way to do it. By providing decades of energy supply to your home at (usually) fixed costs, solar panels can be a cheaper alternative to the variable, often rising, costs of electricity from your utility and the electric grid. Whether you purchase a solar system outright or get solar installed by a third party under a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), solar power offers you a chance to reduce your spending on electricity and can increase the value of your home.

However, before signing on with just any old contractor, there are many considerations to explore to ensure you’re getting the most value out of a rooftop solar installation. Many contractors will promise high rates of savings compared to power from the electric grid, but the actual savings you’re likely to experience through solar may differ from what they promise. Here’s what you should know about saving money with solar panels – from incentives to maintenance.

“Get multiple bids, definitely,” says Craig Foley, chief sustainability officer for LAER Realty Partners, who teaches National Association of REALTORS® GREEN Designation classes.

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