In recent years, the benefits of solar panels to Maryland homes and businesses have become even clearer. These benefits include lower operating costs, higher operational stability, complete regulatory compliance, and long-term energy independence. However, many Maryland property owners struggle to choose between local solar companies and national chains.
Knowing the complexity of solar panel installations, including financing, permitting, and more, Maryland business owners need an installation team they can trust. This article aims to cut through the marketing noise to help property owners in Maryland find personalized solar services that meet their long-term stability needs.
Factors to Look for When Choosing Between Local and National Solar Installers
Each type of solar contractor brings a different level of experience, corporate structure, and operational scope. To choose the right one for their needs, property owners should first ask themselves what their goals for solar adoption are, so that the differences between installers can be examined logically.
For example, businesses may prefer local installers due to their experience with Maryland-specific sustainability rules. Meanwhile, some homeowners may prefer a nationwide chain for peace of mind.
When choosing between local and national installers, here are the factors that home and business owners should focus on:
Company Size
National solar providers will have a larger company footprint and the branding to match. Local providers will be centralized to one region, often with local material suppliers, inspectors, and laborers who coordinate through their office.
Financing Structure
Larger providers offer broad financing options and bundles, usually aimed at converting the largest number of clients to their services. Alternatively, local providers personalize financing options to make sure their solar plans are transparent and affordable.
Installation Process
Standardized, one-size-fits-all solar system designs cast a broad net that can adequately serve many properties. Local teams customize the installation process to the roof structure, location, and long-term financial goals of individual property owners.
Warranty Information
Generic warranties offered by national chains can sometimes fall short of a business or homeowner’s needs. For example, these warranties often cover certain types of damage that are not relevant to the property’s exact location, or neglect other circumstances that are. When a local team offers a warranty and long-term maintenance schedule, it will be customized to the property’s environmental and legal needs.
Brand Recognition
One area where national chains excel is in their band recognition. They often have large advertising structures that can deliver recognizable appeal, potentially offering peace of mind to property owners. However, though local teams may not be as well-known, the quality of the service often outshines the potential benefits of using a more recognizable brand.
Regulatory Knowledge
As a national provider sends a team to inspect a property, they also need to research local permitting, code, and tax regulations to make sure their installation plan meets local requirements. This can invite unnecessary risks to a business’s sustainability status, operational continuity, and state incentives. Local teams will arrive on-site with knowledge of all relevant zoning and permitting requirements, reducing the risk of noncompliance.
Customer Experience
National teams are equipped to offer call centers and other customer support structures that are usually outsourced and rarely personalized to individual clients. One of the benefits of using local solar installers is the ability to speak with a person face-to-face or over the phone who is aware of your individual situation. Establishing a rapport with local service professionals makes it far easier for them to serve your needs more efficiently and provide long-term support for your solar investment.
Visual Comparison of Local and National Solar Providers
Consult this table as a summary of the specific differences between services provided by national and local solar providers:
| Installation Factor | National Solar Provider | Local Solar Provider |
| System Design | Standardized for broad industry deployment | Customized to the individual property’s requirements and the owner’s goals |
| Local Permitting, Code, and Incentive Knowledge | Limited knowledge of local nuances in favor of broader priorities | Intimate knowledge of local permitting and code requirements and incentives |
| Pricing Model | Fixed in-house financing and bundle options (low transparency) | Varied, flexible plans with detailed, occasionally instant quotes (high transparency) |
| Service Efficiency | Extended wait times due to dispersed operations and larger client volume | Flexible scheduling, fast turnaround times, frequent scheduling |
| Customer Service | Call centers, large-scale service apparatuses with less individualized support | Personalized, direct communication from local service teams |
| Reputation | Large-scale national branding and advertising | Small-scale local branding with local partnerships |
| Long-Term Maintenance and Warranties | Broad, often outsourced maintenance support | Installation, maintenance, and warranty support handled by the same team |
Essential Takeaway
National solar providers offer broad services backed up by branding. However, local solar providers can offer more transparent support, a wider range of customization, and knowledge of local requirements to help home and business owners optimize their solar installations for their needs.
Local Solar Providers Offer Personalized Services to Property Owners in Maryland
At Energy Select, our experienced team of local installers offers personalized services, including individualized solar assessments, system design planning, and long-term maintenance support. Our team can give financial quotes on the same day to help property owners make confident decisions based on their needs, rather than on broad marketing promises.
Contact our team today to schedule a solar assessment and capitalize on the benefits of solar arrays, with personalized service and region-specific knowledge for property owners in Maryland.