Nine red flags in a Tampa solar sales pitch

Most solar companies in Florida are fine. The bad experiences share a small set of tells.

1. Price expires today

Hardware pricing doesn't move hourly. Same-day-only discounts exist to prevent comparison.

2. No license number on the proposal

Florida requires licensed contractors for this work. Ours is EC13012465. If a proposal doesn't name a license holder, ask who's actually pulling the permit.

3. Production numbers with no shade model

Any credible proposal shows modeled annual kWh with shade losses by roof plane. A round number with no model behind it is a guess.

4. Sizing from square footage

Array size comes from twelve months of utility usage, not from house size.

5. Vague financing

Lease, prepaid lease and loan are structurally different. If nobody will state the escalator, the term and the total payments, that's the answer. Our financing page lays out the structures plainly.

6. "The system pays for itself immediately"

It doesn't. There's a payback period, and an honest one depends on your rate assumptions.

7. No roof assessment

A 12-year-old shingle roof under a new array is a future detach and reset nobody mentioned.

8. Signing before a site visit

Aerial imagery is a starting point. Someone should look at the panel, the attic and the roof.

9. The installer is a mystery

Ask directly: who does the install, and who answers a leak call in year four?

What to ask for instead

A written scope, modeled production with assumptions, the license number, the workmanship warranty term, and total cost after all fees. Any real contractor hands those over without a fight.

Talk it through with a Tampa crew

Origin is a Tampa-based solar, roofing, battery and electrical contractor (Florida license EC13012465). Start with the quick questionnaire, read the Tampa solar install page, or book a consultation — in person, virtual, or a call back.