Pre-purchase Electrical Inspections

You think have found your new house, but what of the electrical wiring? Did you check the fuse box? Hot water system? What of the electrical components of your new home?

You’ve found your new home and are ready to put in your offer. The building inspector has signed off, your new home is earthquake sound and your finance is approved. The house is almost yours and you are sure you have covered all of your bases.

Before moving into your new home, did you check;

  1. The electrical wiring?
  2. The fuse box?
  3. The hot water system?
  4. The electrical components?

Did you know the number one cause of avoidable household fires after unattended cooking is electrical faults?

An electrical inspection can give you and your insurance company the peace of mind that your biggest investment is a safe one.

This post will look at what is checked in an electrical inspection and why you should get one immediately.

What is a pre-purchase electrical inspection?

Rather than simply tell you why you need an electrical inspection, first, let’s look at what it actually is.

An electrical inspection prior to buying a home is used to identify any dangerous electrical situations that may be very expensive to repair once a property has been purchased. An electrical inspection may also help you negotiate a fair price if you find any faults on the property that need to be repaired.

Sometimes, an electrical inspection will be included in the overall pre-purchase property inspection report (or building inspection), which will cover things like plumbing, heating, kitchen appliances, fire safety, foundations and more – but not always. You need to be sure that this is the case.
Electrical inspections can also identify any electrical problems you may face with the property in the future.

But buying a new home is not the only reason to have an electrical inspection done. Old buildings or those that may have been damaged during an earthquake should be assessed for electrical faults as well.

If you have been experiencing any electrical problems like regular power outages you should consider an electrical inspection to identify any safety problems or deficiencies. It should reveal if any electrical circuits or appliances are overloaded, if there has been any defective work carried out or if there are any problems with the earthing.

Other reasons to have an electrical inspection carried out include:

  • If the house is over 25 years old.
  • If you have old wiring.
  • If any DIY work has been carried out.

Brett SawyersI have used Potter Electrical on a number of occasions to service repairs to various properties. They have always fitted the jobs into their schedule and completed the work to a very high standard. Would highly recommend them.

Brett Sawyers | (Ray White Real Estate)

What does the electrical inspection include?

Now that you know what it is, you may still be wondering why you need one. Surely, this would all be checked in the building inspection? Not necessarily.

A comprehensive electrical inspection should also include the following:

  • Determining if there are any electrical hazards and what they are
  • Checking for uncovered permanent wiring or exposed or outdated wires
  • Testing safety switches and examining the power box
  • Evaluating the level of electrical service to the home
  • Noting the location of smoke alarms and testing them (particularly important for your insurance company in the case of a fire.)
  • Scanning for any electrical items that don’t comply with current government regulations or council approval.

You can even enlist your local electrical inspectors to help you plan any electrical changes to your renovations to ensure all compliance is maintained during the renovations. Similarly, if you are building a new home, an electrical inspection will help you to wire your home from scratch in the most efficient way to avoid any future costs you may have not accounted for.
Electrical inspections when purchasing or building your home are vital to ensure your peace of mind in what is likely the biggest investment in your life. Owners of established homes can maintain their property’s value with regular electrical inspections and have evidence for your insurance company if the worst should happen in the house you live in, or in that of a rental property
.
Regular electrical inspections are a vital part of being a responsible homeowner and landlord. Book yours today.

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