Solar Install Specials Are A Trap
Solar “specials” are everywhere. Big glossy ads with sharp prices that look too good to miss. But here’s the truth: most homes don’t actually qualify.
It’s like this: your local fish and chip shop is offering a $15 family pack — 2 hot dogs, 2 fish, 2 scoops of chips, 3 potato fritters. Solid deal. But if you ask for just one extra hot dog, suddenly it’s $4 a piece and you’re left scratching your head: “How can they charge $4 for a hot dog when I'm only paying about $2 in the special?”
You can't get extra hot dogs for half the price and expect them to be anywhere near as good…
Because bundles are cheap. Extras aren’t.
Solar works the same way.
Lets be honest, nobody likes potato fritters. They're the most boring thing around. But we take the special to save a penny, even if the fritters go uneaten.
And maybe in this whole solar thing, saving a penny is all that matters to you. Chances are if you have the simplest roof (not tiles of any kind); you can probably make the most of the advertised specials.
But if you want:
the best ROI
a great backup experience
a system that doesn't reduce the lifespan of your roof
You'll have to ignore the 'solar specials' and get some tailored quotes for a tailored price.
Why the “special” price rarely applies to your home
In those monthly sales packages, solar companies drop their price as much as they possible can to grab your attention.
Because of the cost cutting, there's no fat left in the offer - so if your project is even marginally complex, the price increases at the rate of $4 per hot dog.
Common cases that increase the price of monthly specials:
More than one roof face → More wiring, more panels to position, more labour.
Metal tile roof → Leaks are super rare, but they do happen more on metal tiles than corrugated iron. That extra risk (and time on the roof) adds cost.
Concrete tile or shingle roof → Harder to work with, more fragile, more time needed.
Multi-storey homes → Extra scaffolding, extra safety requirements.
Inverter far from switchboard → More cabling, more hours, more cost.
Extra sub-board required → Electrical work is never discounted.
None of these variations make solar unfeasible. But they do mean the price goes up.
Stick to the specials, or ignore them entirely
Monthly specials have one objective: They exist to get you on the hook.
If your time and energy is valuable, don't take the bait.
If you need a tailored system design and a simple apples to apples quote comparison, hustling solar companies over their monthly specials is just as shameless and exhausting as trying to convince the chip shop to sell you extra hot dogs for $2 a piece. If you're lucky, you might get the hot dog but without the sauce, batter or the stick.
