Solar System Inspections for Real Estate & Insurance

Southwest Florida's real estate market has thousands of homes with existing solar systems — and most buyers have no idea what they are actually purchasing. A seller's disclosure says "solar panels installed" but tells you nothing about the condition of the panels, whether the inverter is nearing end of life, if the system is underperforming, or whether the original installation was done to code. A standard home inspection does not cover photovoltaic systems in enough depth to catch the problems that actually cost money. We do.

S7 Solar's inspection process is performed by a licensed Florida Solar Contractor (License #CVC57136), not a generalist home inspector who checks solar as a checkbox. That distinction matters to lenders, insurance companies, and real estate attorneys who need documentation they can rely on. Our report covers every component of the system: panel condition and output, inverter performance and estimated remaining service life, all DC and AC wiring connections, racking and mounting integrity, roof penetration sealing, and a review of available monitoring data. You receive a written report with photos within 48 hours.

Insurance claims are the other scenario where a licensed inspection report is non-negotiable. After a hurricane, hail event, or severe storm, insurance adjusters often request a solar-specific evaluation before processing a claim. A report from a licensed solar contractor carries weight that a general contractor's assessment does not. We document pre-existing conditions, storm damage, and performance impact in a format insurers accept. If you have filed or are planning to file a claim involving your solar system in Sarasota, Charlotte, or Lee County, schedule an inspection before the adjuster visit.

Annual performance inspections are also worth considering even if you are not buying, selling, or filing a claim. Most solar systems are warrantied for 25 years, but warranties require that the system be maintained. A panel degrading at twice the normal rate, a connection loosening over time from thermal cycling, or an inverter logging fault codes that no one ever checks — these are problems that compound quietly until they become expensive. Florida's salt air, hurricane winds, and intense UV accelerate wear faster than the national average. A yearly inspection catches problems while they are still minor.

S7 Solar is based in Venice and serves homeowners across Sarasota, Charlotte, and Lee counties. When you need a solar inspection, you want someone who knows the permitting history of the area, recognizes the common installation patterns from the major installers who worked this market over the past decade, and understands what hurricane exposure does to rooftop systems in Southwest Florida. We are not a national inspection company dispatching someone from out of the area — we are your neighbors, and we stand behind our reports.