A real site assessment is how we design a system that performs as quoted. Here is what our team checks on the roof, at the switchboard and meter, around your block and in your bills, and what you receive afterwards. Every Blue Energy Solar quote follows a visit to your property. During the site assessment our team checks the roof, shading, switchboard, meter and the way your household uses electricity, then turns that information into a written quote for a system designed for your home. Knowing what we look at, and why, helps you prepare, ask better questions and compare our quote fairly with any others you receive.
Before we arrive
A little preparation makes the visit more useful and the quote more accurate. If you can, have the following ready:
- your last four electricity bills, or a year of usage data if your retailer provides it;
- photos of your switchboard and meter, plus the inverter label if you already have solar;
- a list of planned changes, such as an electric vehicle, pool, renovation or replacing gas appliances;
- notes on access: locked side gates, pets, the roof space manhole and any areas we should avoid.
When you request a quote online, you can upload a bill and roof photos at the start, which lets us arrive with a draft layout already in mind.
On the roof and around your block
The roof tells us how many panels fit, where they should go and what the installation will involve. We look at:
- Material and condition. Cracked or brittle tiles, rusted sheets and failed pointing should be fixed before panels go on, not after.
- Orientation and pitch of each roof face. This shapes production through the day and across the seasons.
- Usable area. Vents, skylights, antennas, edges and ridgelines all reduce the space available for panels.
- Shading. Trees, neighbouring buildings, chimneys and even a satellite dish can cast shade, and winter shadows are much longer than summer ones.
- Access and safety. The number of storeys, roof pitch and edge protection needs affect how the installation is carried out safely.
- Cable routes. How cabling travels from the array to the inverter, and whether the roof space allows a neat, protected run.
You do not need to go on the roof, and please do not climb up to take photos for us. Our roof suitability checker gives you an early view from the ground.
At the switchboard and meter
The electrical side is where desktop quotes most often go wrong. At the switchboard we check the age of the board, whether it uses old ceramic fuses or modern circuit breakers, whether safety switches protect the circuits, and whether there is space for new protection devices. We also look for backing panels that may contain asbestos, which cannot be drilled or modified.
At the meter we confirm whether your supply is single-phase or three-phase, what type of meter you have, and whether it will need to be reconfigured or exchanged. Then we choose a location for the inverter and any battery: shaded where possible, with the required clearances, ventilation and a practical cable path. Anything that needs extra work, such as a switchboard upgrade, is listed separately on your quote.
If a battery or EV charger is part of your plans, now or later, we also measure up for them. That means checking wall space in the garage or on a shaded side of the house, the distance from the switchboard to where the car is parked, and whether your supply and main switch have the capacity for a charger alongside everything else. Where there is safe access through a manhole, we may also look into the roof space to check framing and plan cable routes.
How your household uses energy
Two homes with identical roofs can need very different systems. We talk through who is home during the day, when large appliances such as air-conditioning, the pool pump and hot water run, what tariff you are on, and what matters to you: lower bills, blackout backup, charging a car or simply using more of your own solar. For businesses, this conversation extends to interval meter data and when demand peaks occur. These answers decide whether a battery makes sense, how large the system should be and which equipment suits you.
If you already have solar, the conversation changes slightly. We look at how the current system performs, the age and condition of the inverter, and whether your existing approval and export settings allow what you want to add. Sometimes the best advice is to replace an ageing inverter at the same time as adding a battery; sometimes it is to leave a system in good condition exactly as it is and add storage alongside it.
Why we do not quote from satellite images alone
Satellite and aerial images are useful for an early look, and we use them to prepare. They cannot replace a visit, because too much of what drives the price and performance of a system is invisible from above.
| What an aerial image shows | What a site visit adds |
|---|---|
| Roof outline and general direction | Actual pitch, tile or sheet condition and roof structure |
| Trees at the date the image was taken | Current tree height and winter shadow paths |
| Larger roof obstacles | Small vents, antennas and recent additions |
| Nothing about the switchboard | Board condition, space, safety switches and possible asbestos |
| Nothing about the meter or supply | Phases, meter type and connection details |
| Nothing about wall space | Inverter and battery locations, clearances and cable runs |
Our aim is that the quote reflects the real job, so extra works are identified before you sign rather than discovered on installation day.
What you receive afterwards
After the visit, we prepare a written quote that is designed to be easy to compare. It typically includes:
- the recommended system size, with a proposed panel layout;
- the specific equipment, such as JA Solar panels and an inverter or battery from Sigenergy, GoodWe, Fox ESS or Sungrow;
- any additional works listed as separate lines, for example switchboard upgrades, roof repairs, tilt frames or backup circuits;
- incentives applied, such as STCs and the federal battery discount, with a reminder to confirm current values because they step down;
- an indicative estimate of production and how it matches your usage;
- what we handle for you, including installation, rebate paperwork and the grid-connection application.
Where there is a genuine choice, such as installing a battery now or preparing for one later, we set out both options. There is no pressure to decide on the day.
Next steps
If you are not ready for a visit yet, our energy market lists a digital Residential Energy Assessment from $99 that looks at your bills, appliances and upgrade options (price indicative). When you would like a site assessment and quote, request a quote and upload a recent bill to get started. You can also read more about our team and approach.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be home for the site assessment?
Yes, ideally. We need access to the switchboard, meter and roof space, and the conversation about how your household uses energy is the part that shapes the design most. If several people make decisions about the home, it helps if they can all be there, so questions are answered once. If you cannot attend, tell us in advance and we will discuss what access and information we need.
What happens if the assessment shows my roof is not suitable?
We tell you plainly. Sometimes the fix is simple, such as using a different roof face, repairing tiles first or adjusting the layout around shade. In other cases a ground-mounted array or a solar carport may be an option. And occasionally the honest answer is that solar will not perform well enough to be worth it, in which case we will not recommend going ahead.
Can I compare your quote with quotes from other installers?
Absolutely, and we encourage it. To compare fairly, check that each quote names the exact panel, inverter and battery models, lists additional works such as switchboard upgrades, shows how incentives have been applied, and explains warranties and after-sales support. A lower price that leaves out works needed for your home is likely to rise later, so compare the complete scope rather than the headline figure.
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