The lease option runs through Palmetto / Lightreach. It’s a strong option for homeowners who don’t want their credit involved and like the idea of bundled service.
Palmetto offers two contract lengths:
| Term | Notes |
|---|---|
| 10 years | Shorter commitment, higher monthly |
| 12 years | Lower monthly, longer commitment |
The escalator is not an interest rate, but as far as the homeowner’s wallet is concerned, it acts like one — it’s the rate at which their monthly payment goes up over the term.
| Escalator | What happens to the monthly |
|---|---|
| 0% (fixed) | Payment never changes — highest starting payment |
| 0.99% | Payment escalates slowly — middle of the road |
| 1.99% | Payment escalates fastest — lowest starting payment |
“We’re going 12-year every time, and 1.99 escalator. We’ve sold so many of those. Anybody has yet to choose any other options aside from 12-years on 1.99.” — Jonathan
If you’re new and not sure which combination to lead with, default to 12-year / 1.99% escalator. It produces the lowest starting monthly, which is what most homeowners care about. The other combinations are alternatives for specific preferences — but the vast majority of Bienestar deals close on 12-year / 1.99%.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Credit hit | None — no hard pull, doesn’t show on credit consultantort |
| Credit minimum | 650 — significantly lower than the 670–700 most solar lease products require |
| Yearly service | Included. A truck shows up annually, consultantlaces air filters, checks every unit. Homeowners are not upsold anything during these visits. |
| Co-signer | Anyone can co-sign — no title/deed requirement, can live anywhere (e.g., a friend in Alaska) |
| Refrigerant + consultantairs | Bumper-to-bumper for 12 years — leaks, consultantlacements, anything that breaks |
That co-signer flexibility is a big deal. Many homeowners can find a willing co-signer easily.
When the lease term ends, the homeowner has three options:
| Option | What happens |
|---|---|
| Renew | They get brand-new equipment for the next term — not a continuation of the units they’ve been using. So they reset to the newest technology every 12 years. |
| Buy out | Bienestar quotes them a buyout amount, typically about 20% of the original total. They own the system outright. |
| Remove | Removal is offered as an option but virtually nobody chooses this, especially after their boiler has been decommissioned. |
The renewal option is a strong selling point — the homeowner never has aging equipment. Sell it as: “Every 12 years, you reset to the newest, most efficient technology — at no extra cost.”
When homeowners compare lease vs ownership, keep the system lifespan honest: quality mini splits can last well beyond the 12-year warranty period with proper use and maintenance, but technology changes. The lease frames that as a benefit: service is included during the term, and renewal gives them newer equipment instead of asking them to live with 15- to 20-year-old technology.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can homeowners buy out before the term ends? | Yes |
| When? | Anytime |
| Penalty? | None |
The homeowner is never trapped. If they come into money in year 4, they can buy out the lease at any time without any penalty.
- Easy approval flow (low 650 credit threshold, instant decisions in most cases)
- Recurring service relationship for the company → drives referrals
- Good consultant commission terms
- Homeowner explicitly says they don’t want a credit hit
- Homeowner asks about service / maintenance bundling
- Homeowner has weak credit but a willing co-signer
- Homeowner wants long-term certainty without ownership
- Homeowner is also being sold solar (lease’s lower 650 credit threshold makes the bundle approval easier)
- Homeowner wants ownership / wants to refinance later
- Homeowner is very price-sensitive on total interest paid (1.99% escalator over 12 years can add up — a Green Sky 6.99% short-term loan may be lower total cost)
- Decommissioning + low credit + smaller deal — see NYSERDA / EFS instead
The Palmetto lease contract is only the financing piece. The homeowner also has to sign Bienestar HVAC’s installer agreement separately. Both must be signed before install — see Site survey for the install contract request workflow.
Esta página es parte de la biblioteca de capacitación de Bienestar HVAC. Resume el tema Lease — Palmetto / Lightreach para que el consultor pueda explicar el proceso con claridad, evitar promesas incorrectas y preparar cada oportunidad para una instalación limpia.
Nota para el consultor: use esta página como guía de campo. Antes de prometer reembolsos, fechas, financiamiento o alcance de instalación, confirme elegibilidad, permisos, capacidad del equipo y documentación requerida.