Electrical Home Inspection – What to Expect

A home inspection covers a lot of details to make sure the home you’re selling is up to code, safe for a potential buyer, and doesn’t have a costly hidden maintenance issue. But even though home inspectors are trained to identify a lot of issues, they may not be adequately trained or certified to conduct an electrical home inspection and might recommend that a buyer call on an electrician’s expertise for an electrical home inspection.

At Swift Services Heating, Cooling & Electrical, we can handle this aspect of a home inspection for you.

Whether you’re buying a home or selling a home, the home’s electrical system is a vital component of protecting the occupants and ensuring their safety. Electrical distribution or lighting equipment in the home remains the 4th leading cause of home fires, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.

The National Fire Protection Agency said in a 2017 report that electrical distribution, lighting, and power transfer equipment were involved in 57% of home structure fires from 2010 to 2014.

Homeowners can schedule an electrical inspection once a year as a preventive safety measure; Believe it or not, it’s actually sometimes requested by a lender when refinancing your home.

In addition, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) of Rosslyn, Virginia, the premier nonprofit authority dedicated to promoting electrical safety at home and in the workplace, recommends an electrical inspection for anyone buying a home that was previously owned.

What Is an Electrical Home Inspection?

An electrical home inspection provides a thorough examination of your entire electrical system, ensuring all electrical wires, systems, and components (such as appliances) meet legal safety standards. The National Electrical Code (NEC) is the code that all electricians operate under when examining your home, and defines the parameters for minimum standards along the Grand Strand, as well as across the United States. Upon completion of your electrical home inspection, a Swift Services inspector will provide a detailed, prioritized checklist including areas in need of immediate attention, recommendations for improvements, and potential upgrade possibilities.

When Does a Home Need an Electrical Inspection?

There are specific times when homeowners should schedule an electrical inspection of their home. The Electrical Safety Foundation recommends that homeowners make an appointment for an electrical home inspection at these times:

  • When purchasing a home
  • When a home is 40 years or older
  • When adding an appliance
  • When a home has had a major renovation

What Does an Electrical Inspection Include?

Your local Swift Services Heating, Cooling & Electrical technician knows exactly what to look for when it comes to residential electrical hazards. An electrical home inspection from Swift Services Heating, Cooling & Electrical will check for these things:

  • Shock or electrocution hazards
  • Switch and wall outlet operation and condition
  • Verification that arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are operating properly
  • Confirmation of grounding systems
  • Validation of appropriate surge protection
  • Inspection of the electrical panel for appropriate labels, amps, and operation
  • An examination of outdoor electrical systems
  • Verification of the proper placement of smoke detectors
  • Testing of smoke detectors
  • Testing of carbon monoxide detectors
  • A check of all safety and security lighting
  • Verification of proper light bulb wattage
  • A detailed, prioritized report on all areas of attention concerning the electrical system of your home

Which Electrical Issues Might You be Required to Fix Before Selling a Home?

With real estate, everything is negotiable including inspection requests. But if a home inspection reveals issues with the house, you may be asked to remedy any problems that could pose a threat to the buyer’s health or safety such as faulty wiring or fire hazards. The absence of GFCIs is also a common thing home inspectors find and buyer’s agents will recommend that their client ask the seller to fix it.

More cosmetic electrical issues—such as changing out a light fixture or light-switch plate that is fully functional—would not be something you’d necessarily agree to change out per a buyer’s request unless you were in a position of really needing to sell quickly and you don’t want to lose a potential buyer over a light fixture.

If you’re selling a home or thinking about selling, consult with your real estate agent about whether you should get an electrical home inspection before putting the house on the market. Also, be prepared for this extra step to come up once you have a potential buyer for your home. Experienced real estate professionals will have been through this before with other sellers and be able to guide you through any surprises or expensive fixes for an ultimately successful sale.

A pre-listing home inspection, including an electrical home inspection, could make your whole home selling process go faster and easier for everyone involved. More and more sellers have opted for a pre-listing inspection in the past five years than they used to because they can catch things early on that might create roadblocks and delays later.

Swift Services Heating, Cooling & Electrical can take care of every aspect of an electrical home inspection for you. We also offer a full range of electrical services, which include not only electrical home inspections, but also the installation or replacement of GFCI and regular receptacles, installation or replacement of ceiling fans – with or without lights, inside and outside electric panel replacement, attic fan repair and replacements, electrical hookups for dishwashers and/or garbage disposals, installation or replacement of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, installation of surge protectors, electrical wiring for irrigation systems, photocell replacement for outdoor lights with timers, and even installation of RV outlets. So if you are in need of an electrical home inspection, or any of our other electrical services listed here, give us a call at (843) 352-6427, and we will schedule a time that is best for you to come out and give you a FREE ESTIMATE on any of our Myrtle Beach area electrical services listed here.

Also, check out our Promotions Page for any specials we might be running on Electrical Services.

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