If you’re a Dearborn-area homeowner thinking about solar, the process can feel opaque — especially with door-to-door pitches that gloss over the actual structure. Here’s exactly what happens when you go solar with Salam Solar, step by step, in plain language.
Before we start: who this is for
Salam Solar’s $0-down program is built for Michigan homeowners in Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Hamtramck, Detroit, and the wider Wayne County area. The best fit is a homeowner with:
- A consistent DTE electric bill (the higher, the more savings potential).
- A roof in reasonable condition with enough sunlight.
- An interest in clean energy without taking on a solar loan.
If that sounds like you, here’s what the process looks like.
Send your address and a recent DTE bill
Everything starts with a quick form. We need your address (so we can pull your roof aerial), a recent DTE bill (so we know your usage pattern), and your preferred language for the rest of the conversation.
We do a no-cost remote review of your home
Before anyone visits or calls, our team checks your roof online, runs your DTE usage through our sizing tool, and gets a quick read on whether your home is a good candidate. Most of the time we can tell you “yes / no / probably” within 24 hours, with no commitment from you.
You get a clear home design
If you’re a fit, we send you a custom solar design — what panels would go where, the estimated production, and the proposed rate per kWh. This is the moment where most other companies get vague. We don’t. The numbers are written down so you can compare them to what you currently pay DTE.
We walk through the agreement together
This is the most important conversation. We sit down (in person, on the phone, or over video — whatever works for your family) and walk you through the actual agreement: what you pay, what you don’t, who owns the panels, who maintains them, what happens if you sell the house. In English or Arabic. Bring family members. Bring questions. We expect them.
Install and turn on
If everything makes sense and you’re ready, licensed installers handle the install. The system is monitored remotely. From your side, your DTE bill changes — instead of paying DTE for all your electricity, you’re paying Salam Solar for the clean power your roof produces, often at a lower rate.
What it costs
For qualified homes: nothing upfront. The solar company owns and maintains the panels. You pay only for the electricity your panels produce, under a no-cost solar agreement. There is no loan and no interest-based monthly payment.
How long does it take?
From the first form submission to panels turned on, the typical timeline in the Dearborn area is 6–12 weeks, depending on permits, utility interconnection, and roof prep. Most of that time is paperwork — the install itself usually takes 1–2 days.
What we won’t do
- Knock on your door uninvited.
- Pressure you to sign on the spot.
- Hide the rate or the structure.
- Pitch you a solar loan and call it “$0 down.”
- Skip the conversation about whether this is the right fit for your family.
That’s a low bar — and unfortunately, in this industry, even that low bar is often missed. We’re aiming higher.
Send your DTE bill and address. We’ll handle the rest.
Start My Home Check
Eligibility, utility rules, panel production, agreement rates, and final terms vary. Salam Solar will explain the full agreement before anything is signed.