Our Process

Getting started is simple — just call our office or use our Easy Quote form to book a time that works for you.

During your first call:

• You’ll get answers to your initial questions. 
• We’ll gather a few details about your home and energy goals.

From there, we’ll create a customized solar design to review with you at our next meeting. 

Your Valley Solar designer will walk you through a fully interactive solar design, where you can explore “what-if” scenarios – like adding panels or removing trees – and instantly see the results. 

Your design review includes: 

• Solar Shade Report: A detailed analysis of your home’s solar potential. 
• Production Estimate: Month-by-month projections of expected energy output. 
• Equipment Options: Recommendations tailored to your goals and budget. 
• Savings Projections: A clear breakdown of your solar ROI and financing options.  If we can’t show you at least 30% savings, we won’t take the project. 

With your approval of the preliminary design, we’ll schedule a detailed Engineering Assessment — where our team comes to site to verify every detail.

After thousands of installations, we’ve honed every detail of our Engineering Assessment for accuracy and repeatability — giving us the confidence to guarantee your system’s performance. 

Time on site: plan for ~2 hours (complex sites may take longer). 

During the visit, we:

• Review the plan with you — We take time on site to review every aspect of the project with you — confirming equipment placement, conduit paths, and aesthetic preferences — so your final design reflects exactly what you expect on installation day.  
• Inspect electrical systems and roof conditions — Evaluate service equipment, roof structure and condition; verify electrical code compliance and confirm readiness. All data is recorded for engineering stamps and permits.  
• Capture high-fidelity data — Collect 200+ high-resolution photos and precise measurements, all uploaded directly into our engineering system.  
• Create a 3D model by drone — Use high-precision drone imagery to safely model your roof and surroundings.  
• Validate design with dual modeling — Reconcile the drone-based 3D model against the design from Step 2. By cross-verifying two data sources, we achieve exceptional accuracy and consistency.  

The result: A construction-ready design with exceptional precision. That accuracy is why we back your system with a 95% Solar Production Guarantee — we only guarantee what we can deliver. 

Your designer will meet with you one more time to review the updated system design and walk through the construction agreement. This step ensures you have complete clarity before giving the go-ahead to proceed. 

In this meeting, you’ll see:

• Any updates to your system design based on the Engineering Assessment
• Adjustments for structural or electrical upgrades (if needed) 
• Your system’s Guaranteed Annual Production, backed by our 95% Solar Production Guarantee 
• A detailed review of the Construction Agreement, warranties, and scope of work 
• A clear explanation of pricing, payment terms, and incentives 

No last-minute surprises. Just the full picture — so you can move forward with confidence. 

With your final design approved, Valley Solar manages all permits and utility applications.

We take care of:

• Engineering stamps and interconnection applications 
• Building, electrical, and fire permits 
• Procurement of all system materials 

As each milestone is completed, you’ll receive status updates and see real progress in your customer portal — keeping you in the loop as we move smoothly towards installation.

Every installation begins with a project walk-through led by your installation lead. Together, you’ll review equipment mounting locations, wire paths, and site logistics to make sure everything proceeds exactly as planned. 

Because we never use subcontractors, every person on your roof is a licensed Valley Solar electrician or apprentice — trained, background-checked, and committed to delivering quality work. 

Our installation standards include:

• Professional, courteous crews who respect your home and property 
• Strict adherence to Valley Solar and OSHA safety standards 
• A clean job site at the end of each day 
• A post-installation orientation to introduce you to your new system 

As the region’s largest solar contractor, we’ve perfected our process through thousands of installations. That experience shows in every detail — precise workmanship, reliable scheduling, and systems built to last. It’s no coincidence that many local building inspectors choose Valley Solar for their own homes.

Your relationship with Valley Solar doesn’t end when your panels go up. Once your system is online, we audit its performance and enroll you in 10 years of SunAlert™ monitoring at no extra cost. You’ll receive proactive, local support from the same team that installed your system — never a call center or subcontractor. And with our 95% Solar Production Guarantee, you can be confident your system will perform exactly as promised. 

What you can expect:

• Performance audit: Within weeks of activation, we verify your system is producing as projected — and make immediate corrections if it’s not. 
• Personal follow-up: You’ll receive a courtesy call once your system receives permission to operate (PTO). 
• 24/7 monitoring: SunAlert™ tracks your system continuously and alerts our team at the first sign of underperformance, so we can act before you even notice. 
• Guaranteed results: Your 95% Solar Production Guarantee ensures your system delivers the energy we promised — backed by our commitment to make it right if it doesn’t. 
• Dedicated local service: Our in-house service team supports hundreds of systems across Western Massachusetts and will be here to maintain yours for decades. 

This long-term commitment is why Valley Solar is the name homeowners recommend to friends and neighbors — and why most of our new customers come through referrals.