Have you made your rental homes MODERN? Solar Roof?

Question

Solar roofing? Pros? Cons?

Scott Mac · Answer

Repair Bills (Just more things to go wrong over time).

Service life (adjust the cost for inflation and see what kind of CAPEX you need for it).

It's not needed to attract tenants (like an A/C system is in most places).

Makes at least 50% of the voting tenants not want to rent there (Political Hot Button)

Cheaper to out source electricity (I don't have to be in the electricity business. there are miles and miles of copper wire coming from the local utility that are already connected to the unit).

John Teachout · Answer

I can think of lots of ways to invest in a rental property without doing something that would have no tangible return. I think the average tenant would rather have a nicer kitchen than a "green" roof. I just don't see any upside to this at all in our area. I wouldn't even consider this on my own home because there would be no financial benefit.

Andrew Smith · Answer

Hi @Charlie Moore,

If you mean the Tesla Tile roof, it's really a non-starter. The tech is in fact tested by companies such as GE and was shelved.

The cost of a solar tile roof is as much as slate tile. Only a certain portion of those tiles will be able to produce power because of orientation and/or shading. That means a ton of cost with limited return.

In a "normal" installation of say 30 standard panels, there are 30 connectors to join them. With a tile roof, there are thousands to go wrong. Contractors don't like that either for the inherent fire risk.So unless someone is in the 0.01% financially and really wants to be the cool kid on the block, traditional solar represents a vastly better solution.

Jacob D Adamczak · Answer

Pro: Its cool up to date technology that will provide energy for you.  You may command a premium rent or sale for the green home.

Con: its new, untested technology that hasn't had the years of innovation and economies of scale to  drop prices to the point where its a profitable investment.

Analysis: You can still command a premium for a green home with a much more profitable investment on rooftop solar panels instead of the solar roof shingles.

Have you made your rental homes MODERN? Solar Roof?

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