7 Questions to Ask Your Realtor When Selling a Home With Solar Panels

Over 4 million homes in America now have solar panels installed, making it more common than ever for homeowners to sell properties with solar systems.

Selling a home is already stressful enough, and figuring out how your solar panels will affect the process can be overwhelming. If you're preparing to sell a home with solar panels, here are seven essential questions to ask your realtor to make it a smooth experience!

1. Have you sold a home with solar panels in the past?

Having a real estate agent with experience in selling solar homes is always a smart choice. Chances are, you haven't sold a home with solar panels before, so you'll want someone who knows the ins and outs of the process.

Solar energy offers several benefits, and it's important that your agent can effectively communicate these advantages to potential buyers. There will also be a few extra steps you'll need to take as the seller, and having a realtor who can help guide you through them will make the process much easier.

If your realtor doesn't have experience with solar homes, it shouldn't be a deal breaker, but it's definitely a question worth asking.

2. How do you factor in my solar panels when choosing a list price?

One key advantage to selling a home with solar panels is that they increase your home's value. Our solar experts conducted an extensive review of data and found that homes with solar panels sold for 6.8% more than homes without solar panels, on average. 

However, there are several factors that will ultimately impact how much value solar panels add to your home's list price:

• System size: Larger solar systems typically add more value to your home.

• System age: A system with only five years left on its warranty won't add as much value as one with 20 years remaining. If your system is newer, you can likely get a higher price.

• How it's financed: Solar power systems paid for in cash or with a loan tend to add more value than those financed with a solar lease or a power purchase agreement (PPA).

• Equipment used: Some solar installations use premium equipment, which could boost your selling price. Additional energy upgrades, like energy storage systems or smart electrical panels, can also boost your home's value.

There may also be local considerations, like the solar market in your area and how utility companies bill solar customers, which impact how much solar panels truly add to your home's value. 

3. I still owe money on my solar loan — what happens to my payments?

According to our 2025 Solar Industry Survey, about 44% of solar installations are paid for using solar-specific loans, making them the most popular way to pay for solar. If you still owe money on your solar loan and plan to sell your house, you will likely have to pay it off before someone else buys the home.  

In most cases, the loan company will file a UCC-1 financing statement on the solar system. While this isn't technically a lien on your property, mortgage lenders could delay the sale because of the filing. 

As the seller, you have two options:

1. Convince the buyer to take over the payments, transferring the loan and UCC-1 filing into their name.

2. Pay off the remaining balance of the loan, which you can often include in the listing price of your home. 

It's generally difficult to find a buyer to take over your solar loan, as they're already committing to a mortgage and other expensive costs associated with moving. Most sellers choose to factor the remaining loan balance into their home's listing price and use money from the sale to pay it off.

4. What happens to my solar lease when I sell my house?

Homes with solar panels financed through a solar lease or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) can be more complicated to sell. With these third-party financing agreements, you don't own the solar panels — the solar company does. So, you'll either need to buy out the remaining contract or find a buyer willing to take it over. 

Buying out a solar lease or PPA contract is rarely worth it. The payout price is typically extremely expensive, and you'll end up paying more to end the contract than if you had purchased the panels outright initially. 

This means you'll need to find a buyer willing to take over your contract that the solar company approves of. While it can be difficult to find such a buyer, your real estate agent should be able to highlight the benefits of these contracts and find someone willing to take it on. 

5. What documents and information do I need to give to the home buyer?

Your real estate agent should inform you of all the necessary documentation to provide the homebuyer with a smooth sale. Here are a few key items to prepare and pass on to the new owner of your solar-powered home:

• Solar system information: Provide a complete system overview, including its size, expected energy production, equipment brands and model numbers, warranty details, and any relevant information from your initial contract like plansets, engineering drawings, and electrical diagrams. 

• System monitoring log-in: If you have a system monitoring account, provide the details to the new homeowner. You may have to have the account transferred into the buyer’s name on or before the closing date 

• Installer contact information: Include the contact details of the solar company that installed the panels. If the new owner needs solar panel maintenance or repairs in the future, the installer will be their point of contact. 

• System performance history: Along with the solar system's estimated production, include actual performance data from your system. Copies of your old electric bills can show how much solar energy the system has produced and how much money it has saved. These savings could make your home more appealing to potential buyers!

• History of repairs or maintenance: If your solar panels have been repaired in the past, it's helpful to share this information. Letting the new homeowners know about any past issues that have been addressed or regular maintenance (like professional solar cleanings) will give them peace of mind that the system is in good shape. 

6. What happens to the solar incentives I qualify for?

Many homeowners install solar panels because of the great solar incentives that help reduce upfront costs and provide ongoing savings. Some of these incentives will be transferred over to the new homebuyer. 

When you sell your home and transfer ownership of the solar panels, the new homeowner will typically get any performance-based incentive the system qualifies for. For example, the buyer will need to contact the utility company and transfer the net metering account into their name to get the full savings on their electricity bills. For incentives like Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs), there may be special forms to complete through your state's government to transfer the credits to the new homeowner.

Unlike performance-based incentives, upfront rebates and tax credits aren't usually transferred to the new homeowner. As long as you claimed and used the federal tax credit when you installed the panels, you get to take advantage of the full credit. 

Keep in mind that the incentives tied to the solar installation could increase the selling price of your home. If the new owner can take advantage of these benefits, the home could be more attractive, especially in areas with substantial solar incentives.

Your real estate agent should help you identify any incentives you need to transfer. Still, it's also a good idea to contact your utility company or local government office to find out the exact steps you need to take. 

7. Can I take my solar panels with me?

Technically, you can uninstall your solar panels and take them to your new home, but we wouldn't recommend it. Removing and reinstalling solar panels usually voids any manufacturer and installer warranties associated with your system. It also increases the risk of damaging the equipment. 

Plus, when you get to your new home, finding a solar company willing to install used solar equipment could be difficult, even if you're the only person who's owned it! You're better off leaving the panels, taking advantage of the increased home value, and installing a new system on your new home! 

Pros and cons of selling a house with solar panels

Is it hard to sell a house with solar panels?

Homes with solar panels generally sell faster and for more money than houses without, thanks to the many benefits solar energy provides. 

A study from the National Association of Realtors found that 34% of respondents identified that a home's utility bills and operating costs were important to their clients when purchasing a property. Lower electricity bills, made possible by solar panels, can be a significant selling point, especially as electricity rates continue to rise. 

That being said, selling your house when you have a solar lease or a solar power purchase agreement can be more complicated than selling one with panels that were purchased with cash or a loan. Solar leases and PPAs require the new homeowner to take over the contract, which some might be hesitant to do, even if they provide monthly electric bill savings. 

Transferring a lease or PPA can also be more involved, as it requires approval from the solar company and can add an extra layer of complexity to the sale, making it more challenging to find a buyer who is comfortable with taking over the contract.

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