THE SHORT ANSWER
Give every proposal revision a date or version, mark superseded copies, and assemble the exact signed agreement with all incorporated exhibits.
Inventory the documents
Collect proposal, layout, production model, equipment schedule, contract, finance disclosures, site-survey revision, change orders and warranty references. FTC guidance recommends getting promises in writing and retaining agreement details. [1] Record the file date and source for each.
Find conflicting fields
Compare customer and property names, module count, kWdc, inverter and battery models, annual kWh, cash price, financed amount, payment schedule and exclusions. Resolve differences explicitly. Do not choose the newest-looking PDF merely because its filename says final.
Check the financial copy
CFPB has reported risks from hidden solar-loan markups, fees and payment assumptions. [2] Keep the lender’s disclosures with the installation agreement and verify that the project price and financed amount correspond to the accepted scope. Tax consequences require independent verification.
Confirm incorporated exhibits
Ask which drawings, schedules or addenda are legally part of the agreement and ensure they are present before signing. Initial pages or acknowledgments only after they are complete. A separate sales email may not override the controlling contract language.
Archive and share the final set
Create a read-only folder or PDF packet labeled with the signed date and retain original files. Mark earlier drafts “superseded” without deleting the decision history. Give the appropriate project team the same final set so purchasing, permitting and installation use matching instructions.
Before your next conversation
- List every proposal component.
- Resolve conflicting design and price fields.
- Match financing to accepted scope.
- Archive the complete signed packet.
Primary sources
- Federal Trade Commission: Solar Power for Your Home
Primary source reviewed September 10, 2026. Utility rules, equipment availability, project design and contract terms remain specific to the property and proposal.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Issue Spotlight on Solar Financing
Primary source reviewed September 10, 2026. Utility rules, equipment availability, project design and contract terms remain specific to the property and proposal.
Planning examples and questions are Origin’s editorial guidance, not a property-specific diagnosis, engineering design, tax determination or promise of savings. Manufacturer and utility references do not imply an affiliation with Origin.
Make the decision specific to your home.
Use Origin Direct to reconcile proposal versions before signing.
Book an Origin Direct review →Scope, pricing and availability are confirmed for your property. A request is not a confirmed appointment.