More and More properties have solar systems installed on their homes. If the home you are selling, or a home you are interested in has solar, make sure to obtain the expected cost of these systems prior to an offer. These can vary from no cost, to lease or ownership payments that can increase over time. Some leases have incremental increases that by the end of the lease, you are paying much more than you would be in this year, so always verify these amounts and compare to expected electric bills. You don’t need specific documentation quite yet, but if your offer is accepted, make sure to confirm the specific lease/ownership documentation during your inspection period. Confirm transfer costs, costs to uninstall/reinstall in the event of roof replacement or repair, and ultimately the difference in monthly cost vs that of your APS bill. Most, if not all buyers will now need to qualify for their loan amount, and the solar payment if the property has solar. Even if the monthly payment is significantly less than the utilities would have cost them without solar. So make sure both parties verify with the lender the added monthly obligation and that the buyer qualifies to avoid any surprises at closing.
As a seller, it is a great idea to pull APS bills prior to your solar install, and bills after your solar install to provide to the potential buyers. This way they can see the cost savings that they receive from your solar system. Unfortunately, not all solar systems provide an extreme cost savings. This can make the home a little more difficult to sell, but not impossible. There’s a great benefit to going green, however, a seller may need to slightly lower their value to compensate for a less advantageous solar program.