How to Spot Solar Installer Markup: 7 Red Flags in Your Quote (Florida 2026)
Most Florida solar quotes are inflated $5,000–$12,000 above market rate. Here are 7 red flags I check first when reviewing any homeowner quote.
Most homeowners I talk to in Florida think they're getting a fair deal from their solar installer. About 80% of the time, when I actually review the quote, they're being charged $5,000 to $12,000 above the real cost of the system. That's real money — money that could pay off your mortgage faster, or just stay in your bank account.
I'm Eric Brickus, an independent solar broker based in Florida. I review homeowner solar quotes BEFORE they sign, find the installer markup, and either save them money on the original deal or get them a better one. There's no charge to you — installers pay me on the backend when I bring them clean, qualified deals.
Here are the seven specific red flags I look for first when a homeowner sends me a quote.
## 1. Price per watt above $3.20 in Florida
Florida's 2026 fair-market install cost is around **$2.80 per watt** for a residential system. Take the total system cost and divide by the system size in watts. If you're seeing anything above $3.20/W, the installer is padding either their commission stack or paying expensive lead-gen channels and passing the cost to you.
Quick math: an 8kW system at fair market = $22,400. The same system at $3.40/W = $27,200. That's $4,800 in markup before any of the other red flags kick in.
## 2. "We'll include the inverter at no extra charge"
The inverter is roughly 10% of any solar system cost. It's never "free." When a salesperson presents the inverter as a bonus, they're running a classic anchor-and-discount play — the system was already overpriced, the "free" inverter is just visibility theater.
Look for a line-item breakdown. If they won't give you one, that's the red flag.
## 3. Lease escalator above 0%
A solar lease "escalator" is the annual rate increase built into your monthly payment. Some installers quote 2.9%–3.9% escalators that compound over 25 years. The pitch sounds reasonable ("utility rates go up too!"), but the math is brutal: a $150/mo lease with a 2.9% escalator becomes $295/mo by year 25.
Never sign a lease with an escalator above 0%. Period. There's no reason to give your installer guaranteed yearly raises just for showing up.
## 4. Vague panel make and model
If your quote says "premium 400W panels" without specifying a brand and model, you're being set up for a swap. The installer commits to "400W" and delivers whatever lowest-cost option is in their warehouse the week of install.
Your quote should name the exact panel: QCells Q.Peak DUO ML-G11+ 410W. REC Alpha Pure 410W. Silfab SIL-410 BG. If it doesn't, ask. If they hedge, walk.
## 5. Financing APR above 8%
Solar loans are heavily subsidized by the manufacturers because every install pulls federal tax credit. APRs at 5.99%–7.99% are normal in 2026. If you're being quoted 9.99% or higher, the installer is most likely rolling a "dealer fee" into the system price to buy down their displayed APR for marketing — and you're paying for it through the inflated system cost.
## 6. No mention of the 30% federal tax credit
The 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is still in effect through 2032 under current law (subject to the OBBB legislation pending review). Any reputable installer should be applying this to your quote breakdown so you see the net cost. If your quote shows only the gross number with no ITC line, the salesperson is hoping you'll forget to ask.
Your real cost = (Gross system cost - 30% federal tax credit) - state and utility rebates.
## 7. "We can only honor this price for 48 hours"
No legitimate solar deal expires in 48 hours. Solar pricing doesn't move that fast — equipment costs are set quarterly by manufacturers, labor rates are stable. The 48-hour pressure is a closing tactic to get you to sign before you can shop the quote against anyone else.
If you hear this line, that's your cue to send the quote to an independent broker (or just to another installer for a price comparison) within those 48 hours. Real installers will hold the same price for 30+ days.
## What to do with this list
Go pull out your current solar quote and check it against the seven points above. If you spot any of them, you're probably overpaying.
If you want a second opinion that's not trying to sell you a different installer's equipment, send me the PDF — I'll mark it up line by line within 24 hours and tell you exactly where the markup lives. **No charge. No obligation. Zero pressure.**
Upload your quote at [solarfying.com/review](https://solarfying.com/review) or text the PDF to my phone (number in profile). I review quotes from any installer — Sunnova, Sunrun, Tesla, Momentum, PosiGen, you name it.
🧮 Got a solar quote? Use our free Solar Quote Calculator to instantly check whether your price per watt is fair for your state — then get a free, independent review before you sign.