Determine whether panels are owned, financed, leased, or under a power-purchase agreement—and coordinate transfer, payoff, roof, title, insurance, and lender review.
Quick checklist
Questions to investigate before the deadline
✓Obtain every signed agreement, amendment, invoice, and warranty
✓Identify owner, lender, lessor, servicer, and utility arrangement
✓Confirm payoff or transfer steps and deadlines in writing
✓Review roof penetrations, permits, production, insurance, and removal terms
First identify the arrangement
Panels may be seller-owned, financed with an unpaid balance, leased, or governed by a power-purchase agreement. Listing language such as ‘solar included’ is not enough to establish ownership or the buyer's future obligations.
Read the complete contract
Review payment terms, escalators, remaining term, early payoff, transfer and credit approval, liens or security interests, warranties, monitoring, maintenance, roof removal and reinstallation, insurance, performance claims, and what happens at sale or default.
Coordinate before deadlines
The solar company or lender, buyer's lender, title company, insurer, utility, and roofing or inspection professionals may each need information. Do not assume a transfer or payoff is complete until the required parties confirm it in writing.
Verified August 2026. General education only—not inspection, engineering, insurance, tax, title, or legal advice. Your signed contract controls rights and deadlines.