If you want to improve the efficiency of your home with the Green Deal, the first stage is to find an advisor. The advisor will assess your home, calculate what measures can be implemented in your property and calculate potential savings.
So you’ll want to find an advisor you can trust. There are certain questions to ask:
Is the Green Deal advisor trained and accredited?
To be eligible for the Green Deal finance, you can only use companies registered with the scheme. This is the same with advisors too. A list of all Green Deal assessors can be found on the Oversight and Registration Body website. Some companies will claim to be Green Deal accredited but won’t appear on the website: This is because they haven’t completed the full training. All accredited advisors will have undergone training and assessment and you’ll be protected by the Green Deal ombudsman. You can apply for a Green Deal quote with us to receive accredited advisors too.
What is the advisor’s background?
To be accepted as a Green Deal advisor, the assessor will have the necessary training and accreditation. However, this won’t give you a full background of the professional so it’s important to do your own research too. Preferably you’d want an assessor with a vast range of experience. There will be a difference between those with years of experience in the energy sector and those who have simply undergone the training as a bolt-on to their other services.
Is the assessor linked to a Green Deal provider?
The Green Deal providers are responsible for implementing the energy efficient home upgrades, depending on assessments made by the advisor. Some providers will have a number of advisors working for them, making the process of implementation easier. The advisor will have to remain impartial whilst conducting the home survey, but can then become a salesperson for the provider.
You can decline to have products sold in this way though, and you can even take the survey to another provider if you wish. Of course, it’s always recommended to shop around in order to get the best prices for the work you want.
Be aware, because an advisor who appears independent could still have links to a certain provider. They will likely receive a fee or commission for recommending you to the provider. It is important to know that they must state this and can’t sell until the assessment has been completed.
Is your advisor local?
Using a local advisor will typically see you receive a better service because they’re more likely to rely on word of mouth and recommendations for their business’s future. Which? consumer watchdog often find that local companies are better met by homeowners. One way to guarantee getting a local advisor is to look at the dialling code. Don’t rule out those with 0845, 0330 or 0800 though because they may be local, just with a business phone number. As the Green Deal is still a fairly new scheme you’re less likely to get many recommendations.
How much does the advisor charge?
Some advisors will charge for the Green Deal assessment. A charge is less likely to apply if you use an assessor linked with a provider. Prices ranges from £99 to £200+ and cheaper reports are often found with larger companies such as British Gas or InstaGroup. Independent companies will be more likely to charge a premium cost, but you will know it’s truly independent. Remember that you can take a cheaper report from one company and then shop elsewhere for the products.
Are there alternative options?
Do remember that there are alternatives to taking up the Green Deal finance. This is just one option open to you, and for instance you could invest in home improvements yourself without touching the Government scheme. This way you can benefit most from savings achievable from improved energy efficiency rather than taking a loan for the products.