Same-Day Signing Pressure
A salesperson shows up, gives you a number, and wants you to sign on an iPad before they leave. They may tell you the price is only good today, or that they have limited install slots, or that financing approval takes time so you need to start now. Legitimate solar installers give you a written quote, encourage you to compare, and are comfortable with you taking a week to decide. Any company that needs an answer today is protecting their commission, not your interests.
High-pressure close — salesperson pushing for signature before homeowners can think it over
Range Road Solar — written quote, no pressure, comfortable with comparison shopping
Demanding Full Payment Before the Work Is Done
In legitimate construction contracting, payment follows milestones. Ask any solar company to walk you through their payment structure before you sign anything. A reasonable structure looks like this: an initial deposit to cover permitting and engineering, a material payment due a couple of weeks before install, the balance due on install day, and a small holdback until the system passes inspection and is commissioned. If a company asks for full payment upfront, or cannot explain clearly when each payment is due and what it covers, that is a red flag.
Loan active and accruing interest before installation is even started
Range Road Solar — milestone payment structure: deposit, pre-install materials, balance on install day, holdback until inspection
Bundled Upsells You Did Not Ask For
Some companies sell solar as a gateway to other services — attic insulation, air sealing, ventilation work — bundled into the financing at inflated prices. These upsells often appear in the contract after verbal conversations and are priced at multiples of what the work actually costs. Review every line of a solar contract before signing. If you see items you did not specifically request and price-compare, ask for them to be removed.
Multi-page contract full of line items the homeowner never asked for or priced separately
Range Road Solar — one clean quote with only what you asked for, clearly itemized
Systems Priced Far Above Market
A properly sized solar system for a rural Alberta home or acreage typically costs between $3.00 and $4.50 per watt installed. If you are being quoted significantly above this range, ask for an itemized breakdown. If the company cannot or will not provide one, that is your answer.
Sticker shock — quote significantly above market rate with no itemized breakdown offered
Range Road Solar — transparent system design with production estimate and cost breakdown
Aggressive Cancellation Clauses
Some solar contracts include clauses that make cancellation difficult, costly, or practically impossible after signing. Read the cancellation section of any contract before you sign. If it is buried, vague, or uses language that makes you feel trapped, get a second opinion.
Locked into a contract with no clear way out — cancellation terms buried in fine print
Range Road Solar — short, plain-language contract with clearly stated cancellation terms
Subcontracted Crews
Some solar companies sell the job and then hire whoever is available to do the work. Ask who will actually be doing the installation. Ask if they are employees or subcontractors. Ask who to call if there is a problem after install.
Water damage from a poor roof penetration — the installer is long gone and unreachable
Range Road Solar — our own trained crew on every job, careful flashing and weatherproofing
How Range Road Solar Works
We Do Not Do Any of That.
If you want to compare our quote against what you have been offered, call us. We will tell you honestly whether the other quote is reasonable.
