Not every solar journey starts at the research phase.

For the Carter family in Midlothian, the decision to go solar had already been made. What they needed was confidence that they were moving forward the right way.

They shared how VirginiaSolar.org became a second set of eyes after they had already signed a solar agreement—and why that mattered.

Tell us a little about your home and where you’re located.

We’re in Midlothian, just outside Richmond. It’s a newer neighborhood, and solar is becoming pretty common around here. We’d been in the house long enough to feel comfortable making a bigger upgrade.

What made you start looking into solar?

We were already interested, and when a proposal came our way, it felt like the natural next step.

At the time, it checked the big boxes: solar on the roof, projected savings, and a timeline that seemed reasonable. So we moved forward.

What questions or concerns came up afterward?

Once the initial excitement wore off, we started digging into the details.

We had questions about:

• How the production estimate was calculated

• Whether the pricing was competitive

• How does the system size compare to our actual usage

• What parts of the proposal were flexible versus fixed
  
  

We didn’t feel alarmed—we just wanted clarity.

How did VirginiaSolar.org come into the picture?

We found VirginiaSolar.org while searching for explanations around some of the terminology in our proposal.

What stood out was that the site wasn’t trying to sell anything. It helped us understand how to read what we were already looking at. That made us more comfortable asking better questions.

Eventually, we reached out to see if someone could help us sanity-check what we had.

What did that review process look like?

It was more educational than anything.

The goal wasn’t to tell us something was “wrong,” but to help us understand:

• What was standard

• What was aggressive

• What could be improved

Through that process, we were introduced to another vetted local installer who walked us through an alternative approach.

What changed after that?

Quite a bit, actually.

The revised proposal:

• It was easier to understand

• Offered better pricing

• Came with clearer expectations around timing and production
  
  

The overall process felt smoother because we knew what questions to ask going in. It wasn’t about switching—it was about understanding.

How has the experience been since then?

Much more comfortable.

We felt like we were making informed decisions instead of just trusting assumptions. That confidence carried all the way through installation and activation.

Nothing felt rushed, and nothing felt confusing.

What would you tell someone who’s already signed but still has questions?

It’s okay to slow down.

Signing something doesn’t mean you have to stop learning. Getting a second perspective helped us feel confident that we were moving forward the right way—for our house, not just on paper.

Why We Share Stories Like This

VirginiaSolar.org exists to help homeowners understand solar at any point in the process—before signing, after signing, or somewhere in between.

Sometimes that means learning from scratch. Other times, it means reviewing what you already have and making sure it truly fits.

Both are valid.

Note on Privacy

Names and identifying details may be adjusted to protect homeowner privacy. These stories reflect common experiences shared by Virginia homeowners navigating solar decisions.