My Experience with Solar Panels

Solar panels. Few home features spark as much curiosity—and confusion—as these shiny rooftop additions. For some homeowners, they’re a badge of sustainability. For others, they’re an expensive mystery that raises more questions than power output.

In this episode of Selling Greenville, the conversation turns personal, exploring what happens when solar panels move from theory to reality. From setup headaches to unexpected savings, this firsthand experience sheds light (pun absolutely intended) on what it really means to own—and sell—a solar-powered home in the Upstate.

My Solar Panel Experience

Solar isn’t exactly a household staple in Greenville. Most locals still associate it with California rooftops or eco-conscious suburbs—not traditional South Carolina neighborhoods.

The biggest hurdle? Perception. Many still see solar panels as clunky, unattractive, or overly complicated to maintain (like that treadmill everyone swore they’d use). Add in mixed experiences with insurance coverage, lender restrictions, and resale uncertainty, and it’s easy to see why solar adoption has been slow to catch on here—especially in a market where people still argue about whether beige is a color or a lifestyle choice.

But this real-world encounter offers a clearer picture—how solar impacts property value, what homeowners can expect in savings, and what happens when things go a little sideways (because in real estate, they always do).

The Setup: Buying a Home with Solar Panels

The story begins with a flip—a home purchase that came with something unexpected: a full set of solar panels already installed. Most real estate investors avoid properties with quirks like that. (After all, nothing kills a quick sale like a mysterious box on the roof.)

But in this case, the panels were on the back slope, barely visible from the street. That alone eliminated one of the biggest aesthetic objections buyers usually have. Better yet, the previous owner had already paid off the solar loan, clearing the way for a clean title.

That’s no small detail. Many homeowners who finance their solar panels end up with UCC liens—essentially, title defects tied to unpaid equipment loans. If the homeowner doesn’t have enough equity to pay off the system at closing, that lien can delay or even derail a sale.

In this situation, the payoff was already done. The panels were free and clear, just waiting to be reactivated.

The Surprise: A Smooth Setup

Getting solar service transferred sounded intimidating. Paperwork. Utility coordination. Technical terms that sounded more like science fair entries than real estate concerns.

But the process was easier than expected. Duke Energy’s Renewables Department handled most of it remotely. They already had the property’s system on file, which meant no on-site visits, no lengthy inspections, and no middle-of-the-day “we’ll be there between 9 a.m. and next Thursday” appointments.

After a few phone calls and a couple of forms (and maybe one or two confused moments trying to figure out which box connected to which box), the panels were back online.

And the results were instant.

The Payoff: Shockingly Low Bills

The first few electric bills were almost too good to be true. For a 2,500-square-foot home, complete with tall ceilings and summer air conditioning, the power usage should’ve landed somewhere around $120 to $150 per month. Instead?

• $43

• $37

• $25

• $33

• $25

  
  

Even with consistent AC use, the bills stayed under $50. In some months, the water bill cost more than the electricity.

That’s when the real value of solar started to click—not as a futuristic luxury, but as a long-term financial benefit. A $100 monthly savings might not sound like much, but over time, it adds up fast. For flippers, landlords, or homeowners planning to stay put, those numbers can make a measurable difference. (And yes, it feels great to outsmart the utility company for once.)

The Real Estate Reality

From a resale standpoint, solar panels remain a tricky conversation in Greenville. They don’t necessarily add value—but they can easily subtract it if buyers see them as a hassle.

When pricing the flipped home, the approach was simple: pretend the panels didn’t exist. Since they weren’t visible from the front and didn’t carry an active loan, they weren’t likely to scare anyone off—but they weren’t going to justify a higher list price either.

The result? The home sold quickly. Most buyers didn’t even mention the panels, and those who did didn’t seem bothered. Only one buyer passed on the property specifically because they didn’t “want to deal with solar.” Everyone else saw them for what they were—an extra feature, not a flaw.

In the end, the panels didn’t move the needle on price, but they didn’t hurt it either. (Kind of like having a treadmill in the garage—it’s nice to have, but no one’s paying extra for it.)

The Hiccup: The UCC Surprise

Just when it seemed like everything had gone smoothly, one last curveball appeared at closing.

The original solar company, Sunrun, had filed a UCC lien when the panels were first financed years earlier. Even though that loan had been paid off, the lien hadn’t been officially released. The buyer’s attorney flagged it, putting the transaction on pause until proof of release came through.

It turned out the original closing attorney—used months earlier during the purchase—had never followed up with Sunrun to get the lien formally cleared. Cue the last-minute panic.

Fortunately, a few firm emails (and a reminder that title insurance claims are no joke) got the issue resolved just in time. The lien was lifted, the sale closed, and the lesson was learned: never assume a lien release is automatic. Always confirm it, especially when solar is involved.

The Takeaways

After the dust settled, several clear insights emerged from this solar-powered adventure:

• Solar setup is easier than it looks. The paperwork is intimidating at first, but most utilities already have systems in place to simplify the process.

• Panel placement matters. If you have the choice, always install on the back of the house. Buyers forgive a lot—but not a cluttered front roofline.

• Loans complicate everything. If panels are financed, make sure the lien is paid and released before listing or closing.

• Savings are real—but not immediate. The math works best if you own the home long enough to offset the upfront cost.

• Greenville isn’t California. In this market, solar doesn’t add big value yet—but it can make a great conversation starter (and a small utility miracle).

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Bottom Line

The solar experiment turned out better than expected. The panels didn’t boost the home’s sale price, but they slashed energy bills, kept the title clean (after a little chasing), and offered a rare hands-on look at a technology that’s slowly finding its place in Greenville’s housing market.

For now, solar in the Upstate remains a mixed bag—equal parts opportunity and uncertainty. But as prices drop, awareness grows, and the sun keeps doing its thing, more homeowners may start to see those panels not as a risk but as a quiet, steady return on energy and investment alike.

Ien Araneta

Journal & Podcast Editor | Selling Greenville