Joel DyckReal Broker SK Ltd.
Saskatoon · From the topic map

The Saskatoon house I want has solar panels. What should my buyer's agent check before I make an offer?

Check first whether the solar system is owned or leased, since a leased system attaches a monthly payment to the house. An appraiser working to Appraisal Institute of Canada standards credits the paperwork, not the panels, so get it in writing before you offer.

For an owned system, ask for the installation cost, in-service date and production history. A home inspection, typically $400 to $600, should also confirm the roof under the panels is sound, since system age and size affect how much weight that documentation carries.

For a leased system, your agent should confirm whether the lease can be assumed, what the remaining term and payments look like, and whether your lender is comfortable financing a home with an active lease obligation attached, since some are reluctant.

Either way, get the paperwork before the offer, not after, because a lease you can't assume can turn into a condition to remove the panels or renegotiate. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.

Still have a question?

Ask Joel directly. No form, no obligation, and a real answer even when the answer is that now is not the time to sell.