Answer
Before requesting a homeowner decision, explain the current layout, system-size basis, modeled energy and financial assumptions, shading and access limits, equipment scope, milestones and unresolved questions. State which choice is requested and what review remains. Customer preference or agreement does not establish technical approval, permit issuance or utility permission.
A homeowner’s design review should make the proposed option and its limits understandable before the customer chooses a next step. Calling that choice “approval” can conceal different decisions: a preferred layout, a commercial agreement, permission to survey, technical release or authority permission. State exactly which decision is being requested.
This is a customer-explanation checklist, not a final design or a legal determination of consent. The DOE homeowner guide covers roof suitability, electricity needs and purchasing questions. FTC consumer guidance recommends reviewing contracts and asking questions. Neither source validates an individual proposal.
1. Show the roof layout and excluded areas
Confirm the building and roof planes being discussed. Identify proposed modules, excluded surfaces and known obstructions. Explain whether each exclusion comes from customer preference, an observed condition, a preliminary assumption or a reviewed project requirement.
Label imagery source and date where available. A roof drawing does not establish structural capacity, waterproofing condition or local access requirements. Keep unresolved survey and technical reviews visible.
2. Explain system size and why it was selected
Name the proposed module quantity and rating basis, inverter scope and customer objective. Distinguish DC array capacity from AC inverter rating and annual energy; these describe different properties. Show which consumption records and constraints informed the option.
Do not describe the largest visual layout as automatically the best system. A later review may change available area, equipment or the proposed size.
3. Identify the annual output and loss assumptions
State whether energy is modeled or measured, its unit and period, the model/version and source inputs. Retain weather, geometry, shading and loss assumptions relevant to the explanation. Ask the reviewer to resolve duplicated loss treatment rather than inserting standard-looking percentages.
A modeled annual result is not constant monthly production or a guaranteed output. Generation, self-consumption and export are separate quantities, and their relationship depends on load timing and the operating arrangement.
4. Explain shading and access constraints
Show the objects and conditions represented by the current analysis. Distinguish observed features from modeled geometry and user reports. Explain known limitations without suggesting that every obstruction is included or that one shade percentage uniquely determines energy loss.
Route access, roof, electrical and structural questions to the responsible reviewer. The customer can state preferences; those preferences do not supply missing technical evidence.
5. Show financial inputs beside the scenario
Identify consumption period, current tariff source/date, import and export treatment, price boundary and financing inputs where applicable. Keep conditional incentives separate from confirmed source-backed inputs. Taxes and financing require their own applicable review.
Production alone cannot establish savings or payback. A customer should be able to see which assumptions would change the financial scenario and what remains unresolved.
6. Name equipment and service scope accurately
Say whether equipment is selected, representative or subject to availability. Identify included work, exclusions, customer responsibilities and the source of warranty or service terms. Do not extend a manufacturer warranty into an installer performance promise without the actual reviewed agreement.
A substitution should return through the relevant technical and commercial review, with customer authorization handled under the agreement and project procedure.
7. Distinguish permitting and utility milestones
Explain which project and jurisdiction route applies and its current status. Customer preference, contract acceptance, permit issuance, inspection and utility permission are different decisions. Identify the responsible owner and dependency without guaranteeing a date or outcome.
8. Record open decisions and the next conversation
Ask the homeowner to describe the option and the next step in their own words. Resolve misunderstandings before requesting the stated decision; do not treat a nod, silence or receipt of a PDF as automatic authorization. Record questions, changes requested and any refusal or deferred decision.
| Decision record | What to retain |
|---|---|
| Proposed option | Site, design revision, equipment basis and scope |
| Customer explanation | Layout, energy and financial source references |
| Unresolved conditions | Question, responsible reviewer and release boundary |
| Requested decision | Its exact purpose and applicable authorization route |
| Customer outcome | Chosen option, change request, deferral or refusal |
| Next action | Owner, dependency and current document reference |
Evaluate Solar Proposals against these explanation needs in a guided review. Confirm supported outputs and manual dependencies; software does not approve the homeowner’s decision, project engineering or external permissions. The acceptance handoff guide covers carrying an accepted basis into delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a final engineering design?
No. A proposal must identify assumptions and later validation steps.
Can software remove human review?
No. Professionals retain responsibility for project review and approvals.
Sources
Primary research and reference material used for this desk-research article.
