Energy
Why Are My Solar Quotes So Different?
If you've sent your details to three or four solar companies and got back quotes that don't even look like they're for the same job, that's normal — and it's not a sign you're being scammed by all but one of them. Whether you're in Adelaide, further out in the Hills, or anywhere else in South Australia, the gap usually comes down to the same three things: what equipment is actually in the quote, how that installer runs their business, and what's included in the number versus what gets added later.
The equipment isn't the same equipment
"Solar panels" and "battery" aren't single products — every installer sells across a range of tiers, and the panel brand, inverter brand, and battery chemistry can each sit anywhere from entry-level to premium. A $6,000 difference between two quotes for a similar-sized system is often, at least in part, a genuinely different product sitting behind each number. That's not necessarily a reason to pick the cheaper or the pricier one — it's a reason to ask each installer directly what tier they've quoted and why, rather than assuming "solar is solar."
Installers run very different businesses
Some installers do their own sales, their own installs, and carry lower overheads as a result. Others run call centres or door-knock sales teams, pay commission to the person who signed you up, and subcontract the physical install — all of which adds cost that has to come from somewhere. Neither model is automatically worse, but it's part of why the same equipment can carry a different price from two different companies. A lower quote from a leaner operation can be a genuinely good deal; a lower quote from a business with a large sales and marketing operation is worth a second look at what's been trimmed to get there.
The scope isn't always the same scope
This is the one that catches people out after they've signed, not before. Switchboard upgrades, scaffolding for difficult roof access, extra cabling runs, and the cost of connecting to your specific meter setup don't always make it into the headline number. Two quotes that look close on price can end up a long way apart once the exclusions show up as "extras." The fix is simple but easy to skip when you're comparing numbers quickly: ask each installer what's not included, not just what is.
Why this matters more than picking the cheapest number
Most people comparing three quotes side by side don't have the time or the independent knowledge to line all of this up properly while also trying to make a decision. That's the gap a second opinion fills. A paid review is about your quotes. If I can also quote you through my installer partner, I'll say so in writing, and the choice is yours.
If you've already got quotes in hand and want them properly compared on substance rather than just the bottom line, that's what a Solar Quote Review is for. If you're earlier than that and still working out what you actually need, a Clarity Session is the better starting point.
Got a question about your own quotes before you book anything? Email jarrod@jarrodosborn.au — I read every one.
Get your quotes compared on substance, not just the bottom line.