Solar Lead Follow-Up Script: Call Within Minutes, Qualify, Book, Then Follow Up for Two Weeks
By Sharrk Team · October 23, 2026
A good solar lead follow-up script calls within minutes, confirms the person owns the home, asks about the electric bill, and books the consultation; if they don't answer, you text and call on a set schedule for about two weeks. Sharrk runs that whole sequence for you: it replies to new solar leads in under 30 seconds by text or call, books the appointment, and keeps following up on its own.
What should you say when you follow up with a solar lead?
This script is for the outbound call back to someone who filled out a form or came from a lead source. (For a homeowner who calls you, use our inbound solar call script.) Keep it short: the goal of the first call is a booked consultation, not a quote.
Opener
"Hi, is this Dana? This is Sam with Bright Roof Solar. You asked about solar for your home on our website a few minutes ago. Do you have two minutes?"
Name the company and the reason for the call up front.
Confirm ownership and address
"Great. Just to make sure we're looking at the right place, you own the home at 41 Maple Street, correct?"
If they rent, thank them and ask whether the owner would be the right person to talk to.
Ask about the bill
"Roughly what does your electric bill run in a typical month? And does it go up a lot in summer or winter?"
"Who's your utility company?"
Roof and timing
"Do you know about how old your roof is? Any big trees shading it?"
"Is this something you're looking to do in the next few months, or are you just starting to research?"
Book the consultation
"The next step is a free consultation where we look at your roof and your actual usage and show you real numbers. I have Thursday at 10 or Saturday at 1. Which works better? We like both owners there if there are two names on the house."
If they ask about savings or the tax credit
"I don't want to guess at savings before we've seen your bill and your roof. The consultant will go through costs, financing and any incentives you may qualify for. One thing to know: the federal residential solar tax credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025, so be careful with anyone who still promises it."
The IRS says the 25D credit isn't allowed for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, and an expenditure counts as made when installation is completed. The FTC warns sellers not to overpromise savings from incentives.
What voicemail should you leave a solar lead?
Keep it short, with one clear next step:
"Hi Dana, this is Sam with Bright Roof Solar returning your request about solar for your home. I'll send you a quick text so you can pick a consultation time. You can also call or text me at 555-0142. Thanks."
Then send the text right away so the voicemail and the message arrive together.
What texts should you send to solar leads?
Each text names your business and gives a way to stop:
Text 1 (right after the first call attempt)
"Hi Dana, it's Sam at Bright Roof Solar. Got your request about solar for 41 Maple St. Want to grab a free consultation? Thu 10am or Sat 1pm both open. Reply STOP to opt out."
Text 2 (day 2 or 3)
"Quick question so we can prep your estimate: about how much is your monthly electric bill? A photo of a recent bill works too. Reply STOP to opt out."
Text 3 (around day 10 to 14, the break-up text)
"Hi Dana, Sam at Bright Roof Solar. I don't want to keep bugging you. Should I close out your solar request, or is later this year a better time? Reply STOP to opt out."
The break-up text asks an easy yes-or-no question, which gives quiet leads a low-effort way to answer.
How often should you follow up with solar leads?
Speed matters most on day 0 (our post on solar lead response time covers the research). After that, a mix of calls and texts for about two weeks gives the homeowner several chances to answer. This is a practical starting cadence, not a legal or industry standard.
| Day | Channel | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0, first 5 minutes | Call, then text | Run the call script; if no answer, leave the voicemail and send Text 1 |
| Day 0, a few hours later | Call | Second attempt at a different time of day |
| Day 1 | Call + text | Call in the morning; text a reminder of open consultation slots |
| Day 2 or 3 | Text | Send Text 2 (ask for the bill) |
| Day 4 or 5 | Call | Try early evening, still before 9 p.m. their time |
| Day 7 | Call + email | Call; email a short note on what the consultation covers |
| Day 10 | Call | Final live attempt |
| Day 12 to 14 | Text | Send Text 3 (the break-up text) |
| Day 30+ | Text or email | Monthly check-in for leads who said "not now," until they opt out |
Stop the sequence the moment the lead books, says no or opts out. For more on the overall number of touches, see how many times to follow up with a lead.
What compliance rules apply to solar lead follow-up?
Get these right before you automate anything. This is general information, not legal advice.
- Get prior express written consent for automated or AI-voice marketing. Under 47 CFR 64.1200, telemarketing calls to cell phones made with an autodialer or an artificial or prerecorded voice need the called person's prior express written consent: a signed agreement (an electronic signature counts) that names the number, clearly authorizes the calls and says consent isn't a condition of purchase. Your web form should collect it.
- AI voices count as artificial voices. In February 2024 the FCC confirmed that the TCPA's limits on artificial or prerecorded voice calls apply to AI-generated voices.
- Texts count as calls. The FCC has long held that text messages are calls under the TCPA, so the same consent rules cover your follow-up texts.
- Honor opt-outs fast. A request to revoke consent made by any reasonable means must be honored within a reasonable time, no later than 10 business days. Don't argue with "stop."
- Call only between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. The federal rule bars telephone solicitations before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. at the called person's local time. Check your state's rules as well.
- Don't misrepresent incentives or who you are. No promised savings figures before a site review, no "free solar," no implied government or utility affiliation.
Our guide to AI voice calls and the TCPA goes deeper on consent language.
Can AI handle solar lead follow-up?
Yes, with the lead's consent and a clear script. An AI agent can call within seconds, ask the same qualifying questions every time, book the consultation and run the cadence above without missing a day.
How Sharrk follows up with solar leads
Sharrk replies to new leads in under 30 seconds by text, call or both, using an AI voice agent that asks your qualifying questions and books the consultation onto Sharrk's calendar, Calendly or Cal.com. Leads can come in from web forms, webhooks, Angi, Thumbtack and Networx, and land in Sharrk's built-in CRM. If a homeowner wants a person, the agent can live-transfer the call.
The cadence runs as a Strike, an automated sequence of calls, texts and emails that can start when a lead enters a pipeline stage. Leads who went quiet months ago can go into a Hunt, a reactivation campaign, as long as you have their consent to contact them. Outbound calling requires Sharrk's consent attestation and an approved texting registration.
Mako, the AI assistant inside Sharrk, builds all of this from plain English. Tell it "call new solar leads right away, ask if they own the home and what their bill is, book a consultation, then follow up for two weeks," and it drafts the agent and the Strike for you to review and approve.
You can build and test agents for free with Sharrk Free, which needs no card, or book a demo to see a solar follow-up sequence run.
Related on Sharrk: AI receptionist for solar companies · AI answering service · Solar leads cost
Sources
- FAQs for modification of sections 25C, 25D, 25E, 30C, 30D, 45L, 45W and 179D under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (IRS, checked October 23, 2026)
- 47 CFR 64.1200, Delivery restrictions (eCFR; text read via Cornell LII, checked October 23, 2026)
- FCC Confirms that TCPA Applies to AI Technologies that Generate Human Voices (FCC, checked October 23, 2026)
- FCC: AI-Generated Robocalls Illegal Under the TCPA (Cooley, February 15, 2024, checked October 23, 2026)
- FCC Fact Sheet: Combatting Illegal Text Messages (FCC, November 22, 2023, checked October 23, 2026)
- Don't waste your energy on a solar scam (FTC Business Blog, August 7, 2024, checked October 23, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How do you follow up with solar leads?
Call within minutes, confirm they own the home, ask about their electric bill and book a consultation; if they don't answer, leave a short voicemail, text, and keep calling and texting for about two weeks. Sharrk can run this sequence automatically as a Strike.
How long should you follow up with a solar lead?
About two weeks of calls and texts is a practical starting point, followed by occasional check-ins for leads who said "not now." Stop immediately if the lead books, declines or opts out.
Do I need consent to text or AI-call solar leads?
Yes, marketing calls to cell phones made with an autodialer or an artificial voice, including AI voices, need prior express written consent, and the FCC treats texts as calls under the TCPA. Collect the consent on your lead form.
What hours can you call solar leads?
Federal rules bar telephone solicitations before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in the called person's local time. Check your state's rules as well.
Can I still mention the federal solar tax credit?
Not as a current benefit for new installs: the IRS says the 25D residential clean energy credit isn't allowed for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, and an expenditure counts as made when installation is completed.