Here’s a clear, step‑by‑step outline of a typical residential solar‑panel installation and what to expect from first contact through system activation.

1. Initial contact and site evaluation

• You request quotes from installers or get an on‑site/virtual assessment.
• Installer collects energy bills, roof/site photos, and basic goals (offset % of electricity, add batteries, budget).
• Typical outcome: rough system size and estimated cost.

2. Detailed site survey and system design

• Installer inspects roof condition, orientation, tilt, shading (trees, chimneys), structural capacity, and available space. For ground mounts they survey slope/soil.
• They design the array (panel count and layout), inverter type (string, microinverters, or power optimizers), racking, conduit routing, and electrical one‑line diagram.
• Produces proposal with expected production estimates, equipment list, timeline, warranties, and interconnection/permit responsibilities.

3. Permitting and utility interconnection

• Installer submits local building/plumbing/electrical permit applications and often a utility interconnection application (for net metering or export).
• Permit and utility review times vary by jurisdiction — commonly 2–6 weeks but can be shorter or longer.

4. Scheduling and pre‑installation prep

• Installer schedules installation once permits are approved. You may need to:
  • Repair/replace an aging roof (recommended before solar if roof will need work within the array’s life).
  • Trim trees or arrange road access for equipment.
• Installer orders hardware (panels, inverters, racking), deliveries usually arrive just before install.

5. Physical installation (typically 1–3 days for most homes)

• Safety setup: jobsite barriers, PPE, fall protection.
• Mounting system: attach rails/attachments to rafters or to ground‑mount foundation (penetrations sealed with flashing and sealant).
• Panel installation: panels bolted to racks and electrically connected (series/parallel per design).
• Inverter and electrical work: mount inverter(s), install AC/DC disconnects, conduit, wiring to electrical panel or a new subpanel, and install generation meter if required.
• Battery installation (if included): battery bank mounted, connected to inverter/charger and safety disconnects.

6. Inspection(s)

• Local building or electrical inspector visits to verify work meets code; the installer usually schedules this.
• Utility may perform a separate meter exchange or final inspection for interconnection approval.

7. Commissioning and grid connection

• After passing inspections, the utility grants permission to operate (PTO, permission to operate).
• Installer commissions the system: powers it up, runs tests, verifies production and system communications (monitoring app).
• Installer walks you through system operation, monitoring, maintenance tips, and warranty paperwork.

8. Monitoring, maintenance, and follow‑up

• Most systems include online monitoring (production, faults).
• Minimal routine maintenance: keep panels reasonably clean, trim shading trees, check for loose hardware or wiring issues occasionally.
• Annual or biannual visual checks and occasional inverter firmware updates or servicing as needed.

Typical timeline (from first quote to activation)

• Quote to signed contract: days–weeks.
• Permitting and interconnection approvals: about 2–8 weeks (local variation).
• Installation work: 1–3 days for most single‑family homes (longer for large systems or complex sites).
• Inspection and PTO: 1–4 weeks after installation, depending on local schedules.

Other things to consider

• Roof age and structural condition — replace roof first if near end of life.
• Incentives and financing — check federal, state, and local incentives and financing options; paperwork can affect timing.
• Warranties — panels (typically 25+ years performance warranty), inverters (5–15 years), workmanship (varies).
• Choosing equipment — tradeoffs in cost, efficiency, reliability (panels, inverter type, battery chemistry).
• Safety & code compliance — licensed electrician/solar installer should handle electrical connections and permit filings.

If you want, I can outline what to expect for a ground‑mount, a solar + battery + backup panel system, an estimated timeline for your city (I’d need your location), or a simple homeowner checklist to prepare for the install.