Comment on How I Installed DIY Solar Power and Started Running My House on Batteries
zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago#1 absolutely is not accurate. My last house had a $40k solar system installed and it maybe raised my home value by $10k per my appraiser. I still thought it was fine because I had intended to live there forever. I ended up moving four years later :(
Sounds like you paid 40k for a system that’s worth around 10k. That absolutely happens with some companies that do the full installation, but it is a total rip off.
zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
The system was worth more than $10k (it was the largest allowed by law), but a good chunk of the cost was definitely the installation and 20 years full warranty. Luckily I was able to transfer that to the new owner. I have been specifically told that essentially all improvements you can do to a home won’t reflect the their cost in the sell value for the most part. You’re lucky to get 25% in most cases, solar is actually better than most things because it is fairly universally desired. Some things do better than other regionally, e.g. in ground pools can get most of their value in FL apparently as long as you don’t go overboard on costs.
Yeah that warranty…
Anyways, solar is a bit unique in that regard, as it isn’t just an general improvement, but actively pays for itself. Heatpumps also fall in that category. Most people realize that if they get such a system for cheap that is actually a discount on the home price and adjust their expectations accordingly. Of course I agree with you that it likely isn’t going to increase the value beyond what it cost to install.
zod000@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
I don’t think you do agree with me. I was saying it wouldn’t increase the value anywhere near what it cost to install unless you essentially did it yourself to keep the cost ultra-low (which wasn’t legally allowed in my area to begin with). Many of the laws regarding solar in much of the US have been made specifically to make solar less attractive, sometimes these laws were directly by the incumbent power companies (In our case it was Duke Energy).
The warranty was actually fine in my case, they came out and replaced/installed a bad panel and they had to replace the inverter when it died at no cost. The warranty was for 20 years when the panels should continue functioning longer, but that’s no longer my benefit. My power usage was really high, even at what I paid, after the rebate it was going to pay for itself in 8 years.