There is a tool on the SolarQuotes site that almost no one uses.
Not because it is hidden on purpose. Mostly because it is hard to stumble across.
Years ago, when the team and I were arguing about the limits of “trust us, we’ll pick three good installers for you”, we built the Find An Installer tool as an escape hatch.
It does one simple thing. It gives you control.
Instead of waiting for three installers to make contact, you can browse local installers on a map. You can sort them by distance from your house, not just by who says they service your area. You can also filter out installers who cover your postcode but are based a long way away.
You can filter by the brands they install, what they are good at, and their ratings. You can zoom right down to your suburb and see who is actually located near you.
If you like the old way, nothing changes. If you want more control, this tool is for you.
The Find An Installer tool comes with a medley of filters to narrow down your search.
You Can Bypass Us Completely
Once you find installers you like, you have two options.
You can select them and still have SolarQuotes broker the quotes, with the Good Installer Guarantee behind you.
Or you can bypass us and contact them directly. Their phone numbers and details are right there.
That part is deliberate. SolarQuotes exists to help people buy solar safely and with less stress, not to trap anyone in a funnel.
The tool is a bit rough around the edges. It was built years ago and could be better. If you use it, we would love feedback on how it feels to use and what is confusing or clunky.
Going Beyond The SolarQuotes Network
One thing it clearly needs is to include more great installers who choose not to be in the SolarQuotes network. We are happy to list all good installers on the map, whether they choose to be a paid client or not. The switch is already in the code to include them, and indicate they are not SQ-vetted. The database just needs filling.
The only difference: you’ll have to contact non-SQ installers directly, they won’t get the full vetting treatment, and we can’t protect you with the Good Installer Guarantee.
So if you use the tool and notice a good local installer missing, say so in the comments. We will happily add them as a free listing.
When someone asks me, “Who’s good near me, sells this brand, and actually knows what they are doing?”, this is the page I open. It is where I can give an answer I am happy to put my name to.
Phase Shift is a weekly opinion column by SolarQuotes founder Finn Peacock. Subscribe to SolarQuotes’ free newsletter to get it emailed to your inbox each week along with our other home electrification coverage.
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A good tool for the reasonably well informed buyer !
Regional options still lacking unfortunately.
One installer within a 300 km radius, mid-north NSW coast. Pretty much the same as when I checked with SQ back in 2018 before that install. SQ options effectively non-existent for our latest system (we moved home).
There are many good installers in the region who’ve been around for a long time. Can only presume they see little value in paying SQ for leads given most of their business is via customer referral. The bush telegraph works better for them.
as per the post: “So if you use the tool and notice a good local installer missing, say so in the comments. We will happily add them as a free listing.”
Would be handy if there was a filter for “willing to quote on difficult roofs”. Ours is 36° so we struggled to get quotes, and even when selecting this option via your website one company pulled out before quoting, and the other bumped up the quote by almost 4k after inspection despite having all the details (steepness, height, tyle material etc) prior.
Ended up paying European prices outside of Solar Quotes for the install, seems like a lot of Australian solar installers only want want to do easy installs..
great idea – some installers love a challenge – others are process-driven and focused on high-quality installs with no surprises. The former exist, but are hard to find.
SolarHub in the ACT! We’re a SQ client for our Wollongong branch but our head office in Canberra isn’t listed and we’ve been installing Solar in ACT for 15 years. If you add us that would be great Finn.
My first attempt at a Battery system was to ask Solar Quotes to give me three quotes. After three phone consolations, I realized that I was talking to phone jockeys in national sales room who knew very little about the regs in my state and would probably be sub-contracting an installer. So I had zero confidence in the outcome I would get. I suspect that it is big national sales orgs who pay to buy referrals on Solar Quotes.
My second attempt was using the “find a local installer” tool. I was much happier with this, as I wanted a local business who would not flinch at a pre-contract site-inspection. I then looked up their websites and selected two who looked like they had a reasonably sized team and good reviews. (Cross checked on Solar Quotes and Google). Then I called them and started the conversation, still on the look out for BS. I’m happy with the final outcome.
Alas, Franco, I think you’re spot on. I too tried SQ and found myself dealing with sales people who had no real idea where my suburb was. I had indicated in my SQ request that my house would need pre-quote inspection as it is far from a straight forward install. Only one supplier bothered to attend. All suppliers submitted quotes that didn’t meet my clearly-stated criterior.
I’m going to try your method.
Thank you Finn for this article.
Castlemaine 3450 area – missed 1 of the long term locals: Newstead Enviroshop.
Is Sculli Solar Solutions worty of adding to your list?
There’s a dearth of Melbourne eastern suburbs businessses on your map.
I suggest adding Total Solar Solutions [Bayswater, VIC] to your map. They come highly recommended from a close friend and I also discovered they have dozens of very good reviews here on SQ!
https://www.solarquotes.com.au/installer-review/total-solar-solutions/
I have no idea why they are not part of your network.