Solar is a long-term investment, and the single biggest factor in whether you’re happy with it in ten years isn’t the brand of panel — it’s who installs it and whether they’re still around to answer the phone. Yet the installer is the part people research least. Here’s how to choose well, and the warning signs worth walking away from.
Check the accreditation — properly
The one that matters most is MCS (the Microgeneration Certification Scheme). You need an MCS-certified installation to claim the Smart Export Guarantee, and it’s a baseline sign the company works to a recognised standard. Don’t just take a logo on a website at face value — you can check a company’s certification directly on the MCS website. Membership of a consumer code such as RECC or HIES adds another layer of protection.
Ask who actually does the work
This is the question that separates good outcomes from bad ones. Plenty of companies sell the job and then subcontract the actual installation to whichever team is free in your area. That isn’t automatically bad — but it matters when something needs fixing later, because the people who sold it and the people who fitted it aren’t the same. Ask directly: are the roofers and electricians on my roof employed by you? A company that uses its own teams will say so plainly.
Understand the warranties — all of them
There are usually three separate warranties, and people conflate them:
- Product warranties on the panels, inverter and battery, from the manufacturers.
- A workmanship warranty on the installation itself, from the installer.
- Deposit and guarantee protection (such as IWA), which protects your money if the company goes under before the job’s done.
Ask how long each lasts and, crucially, who you call if the inverter fails in year six. If the answer is vague, that tells you something.
Be wary of the hard sell
Solar attracts a certain kind of high-pressure sales tactic, and it’s worth recognising it:
- “This price is only good today.” A genuine quote for a system that lasts 25 years does not expire at midnight.
- Huge “discounts” that appear when you hesitate. If a number can drop by thousands on the spot, the first number wasn’t real.
- Savings figures with no workings. Any reputable quote should show what its estimates are based on — your roof, your usage, sensible assumptions — not a headline number plucked from the air. Our solar savings calculator shows you a transparent estimate to sense-check any quote against.
- Pushing one brand for everything. The right kit depends on your roof and usage; a good installer recommends, they don’t railroad.
Look for local and specific
An installer who knows your area, has local references you can actually check, and offers to assess your specific roof — rather than quoting off a satellite image alone — is usually a safer bet than a national outfit you’ll struggle to reach afterwards. Reviews help, but weigh the recent ones and how the company responds to any criticism.
A simple checklist
- MCS certified (verified directly, not just a logo)
- Own installation teams, or a clear answer on who fits it
- Clear product, workmanship and deposit protection
- Written, itemised quote with the savings workings shown
- No pressure, no exploding discounts
- Local, contactable, with checkable references
Talk to a local installer
We’re an MCS-certified installer based in Wimborne, covering Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire — including Bournemouth and Poole. We use our own employed teams (here’s why that matters), show our workings on every quote, and we’ll tell you honestly if solar isn’t right for your roof. If you’d like a straight, no-pressure conversation, request a free quote — and feel free to hold us to every point on that checklist.