Pre-Sales vs. Post-Sales Solar Design: What Every Installer Needs to Know
- Eli Escobedo
- Nov 21
- 3 min read
Introduction: Two Designs, Two Purposes
In residential solar, “solar design” can mean very different things depending on where you are in the sales cycle. A pre-sales design is about speed and persuasion — showing the homeowner what’s possible and earning their trust. A post-sales design is about precision and compliance — creating the final technical documents for permitting and installation.
Understanding these two stages — and managing the transition between them — is key to running an efficient, scalable solar business.
What Is a Pre-Sales Solar Design?
The goal of a pre-sales design is simple: convert interest into commitment.
It’s often created before a site visit, using satellite imagery and available data to generate a fast, visually appealing estimate of system size, layout, and savings potential.
Purpose:
Engage and educate homeowners.
Provide quick pricing and production estimates.
Build confidence in your professionalism and responsiveness.
Key traits:
Fast to generate (minutes, not hours).
Focused on aesthetics and clarity.
Accuracy within a reasonable margin of error (usually ±10%).
Tools involved:The Skyfire Solar App excels here — it instantly produces clean, accurate layouts that sales reps can use in real-time consultations or digital proposals.
What Is a Post-Sales Solar Design?
Once the contract is signed, precision becomes everything. A post-sales design is the engineer-ready, permit-ready plan set that ensures the system can be safely and legally installed.
Purpose:
Meet code and AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) requirements.
Generate structural, electrical, and layout documents.
Provide installers with clear, buildable instructions.
Key traits:
Exact measurements, load calculations, and electrical details.
Includes labeling, equipment specifications, and compliance notes.
Must be reviewed and approved by a professional engineer (PE).
Tools involved:Skyfire streamlines this step by converting the pre-sales layout into a permit-ready format automatically — saving hours of manual re-drafting.
The Disconnect Between Sales and Design Teams
In many solar companies, the sales and design departments work in silos. Sales promises a fast turnaround, while design teams juggle permit rules and field data. The result?
Duplicate work. Designers have to start over because the sales design wasn’t detailed enough.
Inconsistent data. Dimensions and equipment selections may differ between versions.
Delays and rework. Every redraw adds days and costs money.
By using a unified platform like Skyfire, pre- and post-sales teams work from the same data — ensuring continuity from the first sketch to the final permit set.
How to Align the Two Stages
Standardize Your Design WorkflowUse templates that keep branding, measurements, and layout rules consistent from pre- to post-sales.
Automate Where PossibleLet software carry key data forward — address, measurements, azimuth, roof pitch — so nothing gets lost.
Train Sales Teams on Design BasicsThe more your sales team understands technical feasibility, the fewer unrealistic promises they’ll make.
Use One Source of TruthCentralized tools like Skyfire keep every version of a project synced and accessible to your whole team.
Why It Matters: Time and Trust
Every handoff between sales and design is a chance for error or delay. Streamlining that transition means fewer reworks, faster installs, and happier customers.
When your pre-sales visuals look professional and your post-sales documents are accurate, you build credibility at both ends — and that’s how modern solar companies scale efficiently.
Conclusion: Design Smarter From Start to Finish
Pre-sales design wins the deal. Post-sales design delivers on the promise. The smartest installers know how to connect the two seamlessly — and the right tools make it effortless.
With Skyfire Solar App, you can generate pre-sales layouts in minutes and convert them into permit-ready plan sets automatically, keeping your projects accurate, fast, and profitable from the first conversation to the final inspection.
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