What Made Us Choose Sources for Solar Installers Expert Score?

March 21, 2024

We always try to do our best in the industry, so we are very picky with the sources that we use to make our expert reviews. The above, therefore, only serves to seriously scrutinize, evaluate, and, if you will, rank solar companies in our review process here at Solar Power System. This, therefore, calls for data from only reputable and authoritative platforms. These are generally bedrocks, including EnergySage, SolarReviews, Yelp, ConsumerAffairs, BBB, Trustpilot, Indeed, Angi, Birdeye, and Google Reviews, representing the maximum panoramic performance in both reliability and customer satisfaction of solar installers.

Our commitment to detail and unbiased reviews is fueled by the belief in the power of an informed decision. The different perspectives accrued from these platforms give us a whole view of each solar installer, taking into consideration all—from the customer reviews and expert ratings to the longevity and performance of solar panels. This eclectic mix of sources ensures not only that our reviews reflect real-world experiences but also the technical and ethical standards solar companies keep.

It is not, therefore, aggregating the ratings from such platforms that one may engage in analysis but rather to understand the narratives behind each review, service delivery consistency, and integrity of companies involved. Patterns started to reveal themselves: the ones that would answer to an installer’s sense of commitment to quality, customer service, and practices of sustainability. From that deep analysis comes the backbone of our expert score, guiding the consumer through a maze of solar installation choices with clarity and confidence.

This repository of information empowered us during the review process not to be stuck with the surface evaluation of the solar installers but to go deep inside all small details that define their operations and affect customer satisfaction. It’s a testament to our dedication to fostering a more transparent, reliable, and consumer-centric solar industry. We participate, hence pushing the cause of more homeowners going solar and even further, pushing the service and accountability standards in the industry higher.

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energysage.com

EnergySage is a go-to-place for comparing solar companies, prioritizing transparency, expertise, and consumer welfare. The platform offers a strong marketplace where users can discover reliable local installers and benefit from a competitive environment that promotes quality and value.

What makes EnergySage stand out? Their thorough reliance on ratings and reviews paints a clear picture of their reliability and service, with both good and bad feedback taken seriously.

Beyond simple ratings, EnergySage evaluates companies based on various factors, including service options, efficiency, and warranties, giving you a complete picture to help you make smart choices. This method ensures unbiased, reliable evaluations of solar companies based on real user feedback.

EnergySage’s commitment to independence and thorough research makes it a great tool for people considering solar energy investment. It aligns perfectly with our goal of offering honest reviews of solar installers.

solarreviews.com

SolarReviews is a dependable platform offering detailed reviews and ratings for solar companies and panels. They meticulously verify consumer reviews to make sure they’re real and trustworthy, filtering out any fake feedback.

SolarReviews employs an expert rating system for solar installers and manufacturers to mitigate bias from incentivized reviews. This approach provides a comprehensive view, considering the long-term performance of solar panels, which often endure for over 25 years. Additionally, their online calculator assists users in grasping potential costs and savings, enabling them to make informed decisions without being influenced by paid removals of negative reviews.

Since 2012, SolarReviews has been committed to maintaining integrity in the solar industry by connecting users with thoroughly vetted, reliable installers. It has evolved into a top resource for solar education and price comparison, helping homeowners make well-informed solar investments.

yelp.com

Yelp.com is a widely used platform where users can provide ratings and reviews for various businesses, including those in the solar industry.

Here’s how they evaluate and rate solar companies:

  1. User reviews: Yelp primarily relies on user-generated reviews. Customers who have interacted with a business can leave a review detailing their experience. This includes both a star rating (1 to 5 stars) and a written review.
  2. Business response: Businesses have the opportunity to respond to reviews, which can provide additional context and demonstrate their commitment to customer service.
  3. Review quality: Yelp uses automated software to recommend the most helpful and reliable reviews for the Yelp community. The software looks at dozens of different signals, including various measures of quality, reliability, and activity on Yelp.
  4. Business information: Yelp also provides detailed information about the business such as location, hours of operation, and contact information.

Integrating Yelp’s comprehensive review system and business interactions into our analysis, we deliver well-rounded recommendations on solar installers based on authentic customer experiences and company engagement.

consumeraffairs.com

ConsumerAffairs.com is a platform that provides comprehensive information about various products and services, including solar companies. Here’s how they rate and evaluate solar companies:

  1. Consumer reviews: ConsumerAffairs has a vast number of consumer reviews for almost every solar company. They use both software and manual checks to ensure the reviews are from real customers.
  2. Expert ratings: Consumer reviews alone don’t reliably measure the quality of a company. Many installers offer incentives for positive reviews, which can inflate their review score. To address this issue, ConsumerAffairs has created an expert rating score for solar installers, which considers multiple ranking factors.
  3. Manufacturer ratings: ConsumerAffairs understands that standard user reviews might not reflect the long-term durability of solar panel equipment, which can endure for 25 years or more. To offer a more comprehensive perspective, ConsumerAffairs has designed an expert rating system for solar manufacturers based on select key criteria.
  4. Unfiltered reviews: ConsumerAffairs refuses to allow any solar company to pay them to hide bad reviews.

ConsumerAffairs is dedicated to transparency, ensuring solar companies can’t remove negative reviews by paying. This makes it a trusted tool for evaluating solar options, helping us recommend top solar installers based on reliable data.

bbb.org

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a non-profit organization that has been setting standards for ethical business behavior for more than 100 years. When it comes to rating and evaluating solar companies, the BBB uses several factors:

  1. Business profile: A profile for each accredited business, which includes basic information like the business’s contact information, its founding date, and the names of key company officials.
  2. BBB rating: The BBB assigns ratings from A+ (highest) to F (lowest) to businesses. These ratings represent the BBB’s opinion of how the business is likely to interact with its customers. The rating is based on information BBB is able to obtain about the business, including complaints received from the public.
  3. Customer reviews: These reviews are not used in calculating the BBB Rating; however, they’re displayed on the business’s profile for other consumers to read.
  4. Customer complaints: The BBB also provides a platform for customers to file complaints against businesses. The number and nature of complaints, as well as how the business has handled them, can affect the business’s BBB rating.
  5. BBB accreditation: Businesses that meet the BBB’s high standards are invited to seek BBB accreditation. An accredited business must adhere to the BBB Code of Business Practices, which represents sound advertising, selling, and customer service practices that enhance customer trust and confidence in business.

Adding BBB’s multi-tier evaluation approach helps us recommend solar installers that not only meet high service standards but also uphold ethical business practices.

trustpilot.com

Trustpilot.com is a consumer review website that allows users to post reviews for online businesses, including those in the solar industry. 

Here’s how they rate and evaluate solar companies:

  1. Consumer reviews: Trustpilot primarily relies on user-generated reviews. Customers who’ve interacted with a business can leave a review, including a star rating (1 to 5 stars) and written feedback about their experience.
  2. Company response: Companies can respond to reviews, offering additional context and demonstrating their commitment to customer service.
  3. Verified reviews: Trustpilot utilizes a verification system for reviews to ensure their authenticity, thereby maintaining the integrity of the platform and offering consumers more reliable information.

Trustpilot’s company profiles offer a condensed overview of each solar company’s overall rating and recent feedback, simplifying the process of assessing their reputation at a glance.

indeed.com

Indeed.com is a job search platform that also provides a space for employees to rate and review their employers, including solar companies. Here’s how they evaluate and rate companies:

Employees can leave reviews about their experience working at the company. This includes both a star rating (1 to 5 stars) and a written review. These reviews can provide insight into the company’s work environment, management, culture, and more.

While Indeed.com is a job search and employer review platform, it can provide valuable insights into a company’s internal processes and how they treat their employees. This to some extent reflects how things are going behind the walls. A happy workforce often leads to happy customers, so employee satisfaction can indeed be a good indicator of a company’s overall performance. However, it’s just one piece of the puzzle.

angi.com

Angi.com, formerly known as Angie’s List, is a platform that provides reviews for local service providers, including solar panel installers. Here’s how they rate and evaluate solar companies:

  1. Angi local reviews on solar panel companies are provided by customers who have used the services of these companies.
  2. Users can share some details about their home project, and Angi matches them with up to 3 pros. This allows users to compare quotes and choose the best pro for the job.
  3. Angi provides information about solar panel installation, repair, and cleaning services. Users can find top-rated solar panel companies in their area.

Through Angi’s certification process, businesses with at least one review must uphold an average rating of 3 stars or higher and maintain all relevant licenses. Angi reserves the right to revoke certification and advertising for businesses that fail to meet these standards.By analyzing Angi’s detailed reviews and certification process, we can recommend solar panel companies that not only meet but exceed customer expectations, ensuring a high level of satisfaction and confidence in the services provided.

birdeye.com

Birdeye.com is a leading review management and messaging platform for local businesses, including solar companies. Here’s how they rate and evaluate solar companies:

  1. Consumer reviews: Birdeye collects and manages reviews to enhance its online reputation. They employ a combination of software algorithms and manual checks to verify that reviews are from genuine customers.
  2. AI-powered insights: Birdeye uses AI to capture, understand, and enhance customer feedback in real time, enabling businesses to gauge sentiment and compare performance with competitors.

Surveys: Birdeye provides a platform for businesses to run surveys to improve customer experience.

Their review management system and AI-driven insights enable us to suggest solar companies that are not only highly rated by customers but also consistently improving their services based on genuine customer feedback.

Google Reviews

Google Reviews is undoubtedly the most widely recognized review platform for businesses and customers alike, where individuals share their experiences with solar companies. Here’s why it’s a valuable source of information:

  1. A broad user base: Google is one of the most widely used search engines globally, resulting in a large number of customers likely to leave reviews about their experiences with solar companies.
  2. Ease of access: Google Reviews are often displayed prominently in search results when you look up a business, making it simple for potential customers to gauge a company’s reputation fast.

Authenticity: While not flawless, Google works to detect and remove fake reviews, which helps ensure authentic feedback from real customers.


Disclaimer

*Understanding that reviews are subjective and influenced by personal experiences is crucial, even when considering platforms like the ones mentioned for assessing a company’s reputation. That’s where we step in – we handle all the legwork of researching, evaluating, and rating solar companies from various sources. So, you can rest assured when choosing a solar company with us.

What extra indicators do we use to add clarity to the Expert score?

Website Visits

This refers to the number of times a company website is visited on WEB. A high visit volume suggests the company is well-known or in demand. However, it’s crucial to understand that a high visit volume doesn’t always mean the company has a positive reputation or offers quality service.

Website Visits Trend

This refers to the changes in a company’s website visits over time. A rising trend signals increasing interest, possibly from effective marketing, good reviews, or new products. Conversely, a falling trend may indicate declining interest. Analyzing company trends gives insights into a performance and reputation over time.


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James Savino
James Savino

As our Chief Writer & Data Scientist James combines his extensive knowledge of renewable energy with a talent for clear, engaging writing. He's instrumental in crafting content that educates and inspires our audience about solar energy.

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