Tips for Buying Used or Discount Solar Panel
One of the main drawbacks of solar panels is their cost. Recouping their cost can often take as long as twenty years. That means that you’ll essentially have earned zero profit in twenty years – you only start saving money from that point forward.
Instead of buying retail-priced solar panels, a great way to get more bang for your buck is to invest in used or discount solar panels instead.
Here are a few tips for finding and acquiring below retail rate solar panels.
==> Talk to Realtors in High-Networth Areas
Look for areas where there are many homes with solar panels. If you can find homes for sale that have solar panels on them, so much the better. But even if you can’t, talk to realtors in the area anyway.
Make them an offer to purchase any solar panel that’s on a property they’re trying to sell. Realtors often find that prospective buyers don’t want solar panels on their home because of aesthetic reasons, or they just don’t want the extra cost.
It’s a burden on selling a home, which means it can often convert into prime opportunity for buying a cheap panel.
==> Look for Out-of-Date Models
Another method for finding used solar panels is to contact manufacturers and distributors directly and ask for older models of their products.
Often times when a manufacturer updates their product line, they’ll try to sell off all their old products at discount prices.
In fact, if you can find a distributor or manufacturer who still has solar panels from two models back, chances are you’ll be able to get a steep discount on those solar panels.
==> Join a Discount Buying Group
Buying just one set of solar panels can be quite expensive. However, if you’re buying ten to twenty sets of solar panels, you can get a much better deal.
Naturally, you’re not going to buy that many solar panels on your own. However, if you join a solar panel buying group, you can often buy these panels together instead and get a nice discount off the price.
==> Always Get the Panel Tested
Before you pay for a used or discount solar panel, make sure you have a trained professional test it out. Often times the manufacturer or installer will be happy to administer the test for you for free.
Also check the solar panels for any clear damage. Check both the front and the back of the solar panels. In some panels, damage to the back is actually much more important than damage to the front, so don’t make the mistake of only checking the front panels.
Seriously consider buying a warranty for any used or discounted solar panels.
Finding discounted or used solar panels isn’t as easy as buying retail, but you can save a lot of money doing so.