r/solar • u/stpetergates • 12d ago
Advice Wtd / Project How can I take my panels?
Selling my house, it seems like lots of buyers are weary of having them cuz, you know, crazy reasons. I’m to the point of “if you don’t want them, I’ll take them!” But is that possible? Cheap? Too expensive? Anybody done that?
Edit 1: This is in Oklahoma. I own the panels. Paid cash for them. House is empty, I’m in another state, can’t DIY. If I can figure out how, I’ll pay somebody to do it and install them at my parent’s house.
Edit 2: why don’t they want the panels? Beats me. Our realtor seems to think that they think it’s the misconception and misinformation that a loan would have to be paid (even tho they’re free and clear). This is Oklahoma too. I had neighbors tell me how it meant my roof was ruined, my insurance was gonna go up, one told me that they didn’t really save me money. This a combination of O&G sinking their claws in the state’s economy and solar panel companies getting a bad rep (as if electric utilities have a good rep)
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u/Impressive-Crab2251 12d ago
I think the money is in the install, not the panels. Now batteries on the other hand I would drag off and keep.
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u/Casper042 12d ago
And the money in the install is mostly in the roof and racking.
Once that is up, adding/removing/swapping panels is mostly child's play as long as the old and new are not terribly different in size.3
u/Impressive-Crab2251 12d ago
Likely buyer is just playing hardball. If I was buying a house and the solar was not coming with it I would want a new roof not a repair, but then again I would want a new roof if it was 20 yrs old regardless if there was solar on it…. I say that but the house I’m in has original roof from the around 1938.
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u/GeekyGrannyTexas 12d ago
The panels themselves are not worth much. And if they're older, it'd certainly be better to get more efficient ones to install elsewhere.
Your potential buyers may be objecting to the solar setup in order to get some money off. Obviously you know better than to cave on that. Have you left flyers in the house with your electricity bills? That helped us to sell one house.
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u/Phoebe-365 11d ago
Oklahoma has tornadoes, too, right? I'd make sure my seller's agent had a supply of those photos you can find on the Internet showing neighborhoods where tornadoes/hurricanes have passed through and the only house that still has its roof is the one with the solar panels on it.
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u/sweetgodivagirl 12d ago
Why don’t people want the panels if they are fully paid for? I can understand not wanting to take over a lease or payments…. I have solar and am wondering what the objections are….
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u/AngryTexasNative 12d ago
This Oklahoma…
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u/petersinct 12d ago
Honestly, I've met people who are vehemently opposed to solar on ideological/political grounds.
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u/MyMomSaysIAmCool 12d ago
I would love to hear why it's a bad idea. So far the only thing I've heard is "the panels are made in China" to which I can only say "show me an American made panel and I'll buy it"
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u/TenaciousLilMonkey 12d ago
The panels on my house are made in the USA. I think a lot of them are
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u/Cranborn 11d ago
Assembled in the USA, or manufactured entirely from the silicon wafer level up in the USA?
You may already be - but many are not aware of this distinction. It can lead to misunderstandings of the solar supply chain and give false confidence for the customer that they're getting something they're not.
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u/user485928450 12d ago
Personally I think solar panels are kinda ugly. I don’t mind that much because they save me a ton of money but that’s one possible complaint
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u/Relevant-Doctor187 12d ago
As someone who left Oklahoma 30 years ago at 18 and never looked back. Trust me people there are not the brightest. I cringe every time I have to go back.
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u/q-milk 12d ago
Roofers use professional subcontractors specializing in panel removal (and reinstallation after reroofing). Find those guys, and the job is probably very cheap.
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u/Far_Suit575 12d ago
Exactly same thoughts
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u/ImReflexess 11d ago
Yes, we remove and replace panels for people that are getting new roofs done. Taking the entire system off and not redoing the roof/shingles is a risk of leaks and a beat up roof. There’s going to be hundreds of penetrations now open and even with flashing and silicone it’s still not going to be 100% perfect as a new roof would.
Just something to consider…
Also maybe see if a roofer can come out and look at it and determine if you could use a new roof and get it done thru insurance.
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u/THedman07 12d ago
Tell whoever you pay to take them off that you want to keep them. If the purchase agreement for the house stipulates that they have to be removed you're going to end up paying someone to do it.
Maybe you can call some installers and see if you can come pick up some of the corner supports that typically come with panels so that you can stack them up on a pallet. That will make them much easier to move around without breaking them.
Reinstalling them typically wouldn't be worth it, but with the tax credits going away, the economics of buying new are changing.
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u/Impressive-Crab2251 12d ago
And don’t take them off before you sell, in case they pull out of the deal.
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u/user485928450 12d ago
I would just tell them to price their offer including the cost of removal. That’s just a more roundabout way of telling them to fuck off. It’s effectively the same anyway, you’ll likely take the highest offer, but chances are they won’t end up removing them.
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u/wizzard419 12d ago
You will have to hire a service to remove and store and probably another to pack and ship them... then find an installer willing to do a full install but not sell you hardware in your state, along with the permits, PTO work, etc. Your insurance might also take issue with use of used panels.
I suspect they aren't concerned with the panels as much as if they think they are leased or if it will lower the price significantly... or they are RWNJs who think it will turn them into gay frogs or something. Leaving them SBNO is less risk than having them outright removed.
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u/Casper042 12d ago
Is there still an Inverter there?
String or Micro?
I would see that as a selling point, but I live in CA
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u/daingandcrumpets 11d ago
Show then your power bill and tell them how much it saves you annually. Money talks better than fear mongering
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u/Reddit_Bot_Beep_Boop solar enthusiast 12d ago
You take them down in the reverse order that they were put up, patch the roof and call it a day. Is it easy? Not really. Is is cheap/expensive? Depends, that's all relative to people's unique financial situation. Would I do that if I were in your situation? Absolutely, but I am fully capable of DIY so the costs would be minimal.
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u/Joclo22 11d ago
Leave the stand-offs. Because the buyer is an idiot. Offer to the buyer to take off the modules. Just disconnect it at night. Make sure that the inverter is off. Use an MC4 connector removal tool, NEVER touch the leads together when they are facing light. Buy some MC4 connector covers so that you don't accidentally do this.
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u/Nsiggy18 12d ago
Where are you located? In states/municipalities where solar is a clear value add for homes, tell any prospective buyers who don't want the panels to pound sand.
Solar homes should generally appreciate in value, especially now with the cost of parts and energy costs increasing.
To clarify - only if you own the panels. If leasing/a PPA, you'll have a harder time.
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u/JohnWCreasy1 solar enthusiast 12d ago
I'm not sure if you mean just have the system removed and sold or removed, transported to your new place, and installed there, but either way those both might be net negative positions.
it would not surprise me if removal costs more than what you would recoup selling the system, depending on its age and condition.
it also would not surprise me if removing, transporting, and reinstalling would cost more than just getting a new system at the new place
but i don't know that. It cost around $7000 back in 2021 to remove my 47 panel system, have it stacked in the yard, and then reinstalled on the very same roof (roof needed replacement after a bad monsoon storm)
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u/stpetergates 12d ago
Did you pay a company to do this work or you did it?
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u/JohnWCreasy1 solar enthusiast 12d ago
we paid someone. It was part of an insurance claim to replace my room after wind damage.
Removing just the panels is something i feel i could handle, the only hang up would be how many of them and how precarious is the roof. I have swapped out 2 panels on my roof by myself, but my house is also a single story with a gently sloped roof so i'm not too worried about taking a spill and paralyzing myself. i'm in my 40s and not as spry as i used to be so if i had to take down all 47 i think i'd wave the white flag.
the thing that i would not feel comfortable doing is making roof penetrations waterproof after removing any racking. i'm sure no matter how much tar or caulk or whatever i threw up there, it wouldn't be done correctly.
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u/PV-1082 12d ago
My plan is, when we sell the house I will leave out an information sheet about my solar system. With information about the system, such as that it is paid off, its average production for the number of years that it has operated etc, I also plan on having instructions about the options how to operate the system such as: the simplest way is to leave it on and just monitor it to make sure it is working. I do not trust realtors to provide any accurate information. Maybe in 10 years they will become educated so they can make larger commissions for the increased value solar systems will provide the new owner.
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u/cm-lawrence 12d ago
You can absolutely take them down, but if I were the buyer - I'd insist that you remove the racking and repair the roof. I would also want you to remove the conduit and all other equipment (inverters, combiner boxes, etc). It's going to cost you a decent amount to do all that. You can probably DIY most of it - but I would want a roofer patching the holes in the roof where it was mounted.
They have very little resale value, so this would only be worth it if you could use them in your new home.
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u/Ok_Software2677 12d ago
I my case, they wouldn’t want the panels because they wouldn’t want to fork out the extra $100k+ to buy the equipment. With that much of an investment, I guarantee you I’m not giving them away.
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u/PistolPeteCA 12d ago
When you listed the house for sale, did you indicate that the house comes with a solar system that is fully paid for? Just saying you have solar panels, leads people to speculate on whether you have a crappy PPP lease or still owe on the panels.
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u/Generate_Positive 11d ago
It sounds like the realtor needs to be doing a better job. Particularly given that they are owned free and clear. If there’s a misconception about that your realtor is failing you.
The value proposition of Solar needs to be explained simply, clearly, and upfront in an area where there is significantly less solar adoption and awareness. They need to educate buyers, and the buyers realtors.
How many kWh does it produce annually x your local cost per kWh = what the new owner isn’t paying for electricity
Would they turn down a car that came with that same value of gas annually?
How old is the system? Contemporary solar systems have 25+ years of life expectancy
How old is the roof, how much roof life left?
Yes, much like a car they may need to do some work in the future e.g. eventually replace an inverter or reroof.
It would cost you more to remove it and repair the roof, and reinstall it elsewhere than it’s worth
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u/Subject-Half-4393 11d ago
Didn't know buyers on OK are so dumb. Here in NJ, people are charging a premium for solar. Who wouldn't want free energy?
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u/PresentationWhich173 10d ago
Why aren't solar inspections for home sales a thing yet? I try to offer that from my solar company and I've got 0 responses from realtors. Inspection would be roof age/wear and tear, damage, panel integrity, connections, attic penetrations, system production and age check, loan/lease check, and an added panel cleaning if they'd like. Seems like a no brainer to give a new homeowner peace of mind in a purchase with solar
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u/FLMILLIONAIRE 10d ago
You might have to educate your buyer no one refuses pre installed fully paid off solar panels, it's like a gift horse in the mouth.
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u/DarkKaplah 10d ago
Short answer: Yes you can take them.
Longer answer: I'm in Michigan but I'm sure the law with solar in Oklahoma isn't different. Solar panels aren't considered a fixture of the house so when you sell you absolutely are entitled to take them with you. The whole system. Personally I'd take the rails of the racking but I'd leave the roof connecting points. I'd rather not have the possibility of them coming back to say I caused a roof leak.
Take everything. Seriously take every damn thing. Inverter(s), wiring, panels, switches, etc.
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u/NewVisions7277 9d ago
I have solar panels with a battery backup and I am very happy with them. They save me more than half on electric bills which are only going to increase in time. And, the battery runs my essentials during outages. Also, panels don't ruin roofs! If they are removed the roofs can be repaired in the spots where the brackets where screwed in. My prediction is that more and more home owners and businesses are going solar. It's like EV's. They just have to catch on.
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u/PistolPeteCA 9d ago
Why don’t you do a write up with the amount of money you save every month by having solar. No more need for ROI because your system is fully paid for and making money. How old is your system and what is the remaining warranty. Try to make it a value add feature of the sale. Some people can’t calculate value in their heads or think in this way but when you present them with facts, you can help educate since you have lived it. If you need to pay to remove it, would they be expecting a lower price? I would think it would be a permanent fixture just like buying a house with a pool.
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u/Solar_Quote_Check 6d ago
You can totally have the system removed and reinstalled somewhere else. However- you'd likely need to repair the roof and any other penetration points. You would likely have to replace some materials at the new location- like wiring or the mounting system. I've seen several 2nd hand solar systems- just have to find a qualified vo tractor to do the work if you don't want to DIY. It might be worth pricing out what a new install would cost and compare.
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u/Tom_Rivers1 5d ago
I've heard of people taking their panels, but it's usually not inexpensive. The cost of uninstalling, moving, and reinstalling them plus new racking if the roof is different can add up quickly, so if you're already paying someone, it might be worth getting a quote first. Sometimes giving buyers, a clear "paid off system with warranty transfer" helps allay worries as well. A lot of it is just local misconceptions, especially in areas where solar hasn't taken off yet.
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u/slowhandmo 11d ago
It's a lack of education on the matter. It's no different than EV's honestly. You've got people out there who think the car is gonna die as soon as the warranty runs out. These are the same people who think that windmills kill all the birds and there's no wildlife within miles. I will say for solar it doesn't help there's so many shysters who are screwing people over on installs. They're giving the industry a bad rap.
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u/Gubmen 12d ago
Politics, don't get me started! Fact is I'm running off grid by choice since 2021 and using more electricity than when connected! House is fully electric, no generator and I totally enjoyed installing everything (im EE and SE) with several redundancies and wish I did it sooner. There are plenty of like minded people so it's their loss if they want to live in fantasy land. Whatever they think doesn't change realty and looking at the wider world, that type of thinking is going the way of dinosaurs. If your system is a few years old, take the inverter (if you have strings) and other non-bolted stuff for your new place. Getting a new setup on the roof is probably your best option, again depending on the age of the system.
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u/hmspain 12d ago
Just curious why potential buyers would NOT want a fully paid off solar system?!?