Most people researching solar spend real time comparing panel brands and inverter specifications, and far less time vetting the company that will actually design, install and stand behind the system for years afterward. The installer matters at least as much as the equipment — arguably more, since the same panel can be installed well or badly.

Start With Empanelment and Compliance, Not Price
Confirm the installer is empanelled for subsidy-linked projects with the relevant utility or agency — this alone determines whether you’re even eligible for the PM Surya Ghar subsidy
Confirm the specific panels and inverter proposed are on the ALMM-approved list, not just that they’re “good brands”
Ask who handles the net metering application and utility paperwork, and whether that’s included in the quoted price or billed separately
This connects directly to subsidy eligibility: choosing a non-empanelled installer or non-approved equipment can disqualify a household from the subsidy entirely, regardless of how well the system is actually installed.

Insist on a Real Site Assessment, Not a Phone Quote
A number given over a phone call, or generated from a satellite image alone, is a starting estimate — not a design. A proper assessment should include a structural check of the roof’s load-bearing capacity, a shading analysis across different times of day and seasons, and system sizing based on your actual consumption pattern from real bills, not just a round number you asked for.

Ask for a Transparent, Itemized Quote
A serious quote breaks out what you’re actually paying for: panel brand, wattage and count; inverter brand, capacity and type; balance-of-system components like cabling, mounting structure and earthing or lightning protection; labor and civil work; and net-metering or liaison charges. A single lump-sum number without this breakdown makes it difficult to compare quotes fairly or know what you’re negotiating.

Warranty: Read Past the Headline Number
A product warranty (covering defects in the panel or inverter itself) and a performance warranty (covering guaranteed output over time) are two different things — ask for both, in writing
Ask specifically who honors the warranty if the installer is no longer in business years from now; panel and inverter manufacturer warranties are typically separate from the installer’s own workmanship warranty
Ask what’s covered for the mounting structure and cabling specifically — these are often glossed over in favor of talking about the panels