If you have experience selling a home, then you probably also have experience with the return on your investment for certain home improvements.

You can expect to recoup between about 54 and 70 percent of your costs if you install a backup power generator or backyard patio or if you remodel a basement or bathroom, says Remodeling magazine. Install attic insulation and expect a payback so amazing that it took the magazine's editors – and the team at First Quality Roofing & Insulation – by surprise: a 107 percent return on investment.

Today, a new category of home improvements is clamoring for attention: solar panels, also known as rooftop photovoltaics, that soak up the sun. Whether you install them with resale value in mind or because you want to reduce your monthly electric bill by as much as 40 percent, studies show that your sunny outlook is more than justified.

Homes with solar panels sell for more

A study of 23,000 homes in eight states found that home buyers were willing to pay $15,000 more for a home equipped with rooftop solar panels. These home buyers viewed solar panels as an upgrade, along the lines of a newly refurbished kitchen.

The study – “Selling into the Sun: Price Premium Analysis of a Multi-State Dataset of PV Homes” – was conducted by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy.

Solar homeowners recoup their investment

Economists who studied homes in San Diego and Sacramento counties from 2003 through 2010 found that homes with rooftop solar panels sold for $20,000 more than those without them, enabling these homeowners to recover about 97 percent of their investment – all while enjoying lower utility bills in the meantime.

This study – “Understanding the Solar Home Price Premium: Electricity Generation and ‘Green’ Social Status” – was published in the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Solar homes sell faster

A study of 306 energy-efficient homes found that the 120 homes equipped with rooftop solar panels sold 20 percent faster than those without them. (In fact, the 120 “solar homeowners” expressed greater satisfaction with their homes, too. They often “bragged to others about their utility bills.”)

This study – “A New Market Paradigm for Zero-Energy Homes: The Comparative San Diego Case Study” – was undertaken by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

First Quality can transform your home into a solar home

The First Quality Roofing & Insulation team has watched Las Vegas residents add value to their homes with solar panels – all while taking control of their energy costs. You can, too, if you call us at 702-262-7847 for a consultation so we can evaluate your home.