Before a solar quotation: separate site facts from savings assumptions

A quick estimate is not a site design

An initial rooftop enquiry often starts with a bill and a rough system size. These are useful inputs for a conversation, but they do not establish roof suitability, electrical safety, permissions or the final installation specification.

Keep sales assumptions separate from facts verified by qualified people. Label an early quotation as subject to the relevant survey and checks instead of implying that a calculator has approved the site.

Keep an evidence checklist

Build a record that another person on the team can understand without repeating every customer call. Record who supplied each important input and when it was checked. This is an administrative checklist, not a technical installation procedure.

• Customer and site reference, with permission to retain the information.
• Electricity use and the period covered by the supplied bill.
• Survey notes on usable space, shading and access for qualified review.
• Proposed system capacity and the assumptions behind the estimate.
• Equipment, labour and other charges included or excluded.
• Who is responsible for permissions, meter work and follow-up actions.

Explain what the savings calculator leaves out

The free Solar Savings Calculator is a simplified planning tool with editable assumptions. The output changes when you change capacity, generation assumptions, self-consumption, tariff or entered costs. It is not a location-specific engineering simulation.

A savings number should not be quoted as a guaranteed bill reduction or investment return. Weather, shading, usage patterns, export arrangements, maintenance and changes in tariffs can affect actual outcomes. Subsidy eligibility and local requirements must be checked separately with the relevant authorities.

Prepare the commercial quotation separately

Use the Rooftop Solar Quotation Calculator for a rough commercial estimate based on the fields it provides. Review every component of the total before turning it into a customer document. Keep the proposed work, exclusions and payment terms visible.

For a repeatable team process, explore the Solar Installer Pack and its onboarding and templates. A configured workspace helps organise records; it does not certify a roof, verify a subsidy or replace a qualified installer. Preserve the accepted scope and record approved changes as the job develops.