Battery backup and solar-interconnect calls pay well, but they’re also the easiest job on your board to underquote. A homeowner says “I want a battery” and hangs up, and you’ve learned almost nothing you actually need: panel capacity, existing solar or not, what they’re trying to protect during an outage. Show up without that, and the estimate you gave on the phone is now wrong.
Six questions on the intake call fix that before you ever load the truck.
1. Do they already have solar, or is this battery-only?
A battery retrofit on an existing solar system is a different job than a battery on a home with no solar at all: different interconnection, different permitting, sometimes a different inverter conversation entirely. Get this answered first. It changes everything downstream.
2. What’s the panel size and is there room for a backup subpanel?
Most battery installs route critical circuits through a dedicated backup subpanel. Ask the main panel’s amp rating and whether they know if it’s already full. If it’s maxed out, this may turn into a service upgrade conversation before the battery conversation even starts.
3. What do they actually want to keep running during an outage?
“Everything” and “just the fridge and some lights” are two completely different battery sizes and completely different quotes. Get a rough list (fridge, well pump, medical equipment, the whole house) so you’re not guessing at capacity on site.
4. Is this about PSPS outages, or day-to-day savings?
Fire-season power shutoffs and time-of-use bill savings point toward different system designs and different urgency. A homeowner calling the week after a PSPS event wants backup power, fast. Someone calling about their utility bill has more room to plan.
5. Where’s the panel relative to where the battery will sit?
Same driver as any electrical job: distance and routing set labor and material cost. Garage next to the panel is a very different install than a battery on the far side of the house.
6. HOA or permit concerns?
Battery and solar installs almost always need a permit, and some HOAs have placement rules for outdoor equipment. Flagging this on the intake call means it’s already on your radar instead of a surprise at the inspection.
Why this intake matters more here than on most jobs
Battery and solar jobs carry real material cost before you even show up. A wrong-sized quote isn’t a small miss, it’s thousands of dollars off. Getting six honest answers on the phone, even rough ones, turns a guess into a quote you can stand behind.
Wirewoman runs this exact intake on every solar and battery call: existing system, panel capacity, backup priorities, PSPS vs. savings, distance, and permit flags, then texts you a clean summary before you call back. Hear it on the demo line.
