What to collect, and when.

2 · System condition & age

Physical and operational status of the equipment

• Confirm the installation dateFrom the original permit or contract. Age affects both the value estimate and warranty coverage.
• Identify the inverter brand and typeEnphase microinverters, SolarEdge string plus optimisers, SMA, Fronius. Inverters typically last 10–15 years and are the most commonly replaced component.
• Confirm inverter warranty statusMost carry 10–25 years. Confirm the remaining term and whether it transfers.
• Check panel brand and conditionNote any visible damage, discolouration or cracking.
• Verify panel warranty statusTypically a 25-year performance warranty and a 10–12 year product warranty. Confirm transfer to the new owner.
• Inspect racking and mounting hardwareRust, loose fasteners, roof penetration issues. A solarIQ360 inspection covers the roof and mounting in full.
• Note any prior repairs or replacementsAsk whether panels, inverters or components have been replaced, and request the documentation.

3 · Permits & interconnection

Legal compliance and utility connection status

• Confirm the building permit was pulled and finaledAn open or missing permit can block close of escrow, and an unpermitted system is a material defect that must be disclosed.
• Verify the interconnection agreement with the utilityRequired for net metering credit, and it has to transfer to the new owner.
• Confirm Permission to Operate (PTO) was issuedThe utility issues a PTO letter when the system is approved to run. No PTO means it should not be operating. Ask for a copy.
• Check for open liens or code violations tied to the solarWith the local building department and the title company.

4 · NEM status & utility account

Net metering agreement and billing plan

• Determine the NEM versionNEM 1.0, NEM 2.0 or Net Billing, decided by the interconnection date. The legacy programmes are materially more favourable.
• Confirm the NEM agreement transfers to the new ownerThe new owner should contact the utility promptly after closing. Confirm the current requirement and window with the utility in writing.
• Identify the current utility rate planThe rate plan and the net metering programme are separate things, and both matter to what the system is worth.
• Request the last 12 months of utility billsThey show actual credits, net billing and amounts owed, and reveal whether the system is performing.
• Check for an outstanding true-up balanceTrue-up is billed annually. Establish whether the seller owes one and how it is handled at closing.

5 · Lease / PPA contract

Only if the system is leased or on a PPA

• Obtain a full copy of the lease or PPAMonthly payment, escalation rate, remaining term, buyout options and assumption requirements. Essential before listing.
• Note the monthly payment and the annual escalatorMost leases escalate 2.9%–3.9% a year. The Leased vs. Owned calculator turns that into a total obligation.
• Confirm the buyout option and its current amountMany leases allow a buyout. Request a current quote from the provider.
• Start the assumption process early in escrowThe buyer has to be approved, which commonly takes weeks. If they do not qualify the seller may have to buy the lease out at closing.
• Confirm whether the battery is on the same contractSome agreements bundle the battery; others hold it separately. Each has to be handled on its own terms.

6 · Monitoring & production

Verify the system is producing as expected

• Confirm monitoring is activeActive monitoring is what makes real and historical production verifiable at all.
• Request 12 months of production dataCompare actual output against what the system size should produce. A large shortfall points at equipment.
• Confirm the monitoring account transfers to the buyerWithout it the buyer has no visibility into how the system is performing.
• Check for active alerts or error notificationsMonitoring platforms flag underperforming or offline panels and inverters. Unresolved alerts should be investigated before closing.

7 · Battery storage

Only if a battery is present

• Confirm brand, model and usable capacity (kWh)Powerwall 3 is 13.5 kWh, Franklin WH 13.6, Enphase IQ 5P 5, SunVault 13. Capacity drives the value estimate.
• Confirm the number of units installedMultiple units multiply both capacity and value. Check the breaker panel or the installation contract.
• Determine battery ownershipAn owned battery conveys with the deed. A leased battery adds no appraised value and requires separate buyer qualification.
• Confirm whether it is backup-capableNot every battery backs up the house; many only shift usage off peak. Buyers who expect backup must verify it rather than assume.
• Check battery warranty statusUsually 10 years. Confirm the remaining term and whether it transfers.

8 · Recommended next steps

• Schedule a solarIQ360 inspectionA condition report, production verification, equipment documentation and the system's programme status, in one document.
• Run the Leased vs. Owned calculatorTotal lease obligation, estimated value added, and battery value.
• Initiate the NEM transfer with the utilityProvide the new owner's name, account information and service address. Confirm the current deadline with the utility.
• Contact the leasing company earlyIf the system is leased or on a PPA, at the start of escrow rather than the end.
• Disclose all known solar information to the buyerCalifornia requires disclosure of material facts: ownership type, lease obligations, permit status and known defects.