Pre Purchase Electrical Inspections
When buying a home, we know to get a ‘Building & Pest’ inspection done, but these inspections rarely include electrical or plumbing. In order to ensure that the property you are intending to buy is ‘up to code’, safe and electrical sound so that you won’t be getting any nasty surprises down the track, it is highly recommended that you also have a pre-purchase electrical inspection. Remember, your home is often your greatest asset – it makes sense to spend a little to ensure you are buying a safe and quality home.
Pre-purchase electrical inspection is usually carried out before purchasing properties to identify any possible danger in electrical situations. Ensure your contract says “subject to building, pest and other inspections” so that if there is a problem, you have your ‘out’ with the phrasing of ‘other inspections’. The main purpose of the electrical inspection is to prevent costly repairs of properties once they are purchased. A pre-purchase inspection is a critical factor that will guide home buyers to make decisions on whether they will purchase the property or not. It will also serve as a guide in deciding what amount to offer based on the condition of the home.
Most home buyers do not ask for a pre-purchase electrical inspection. In fact, potential buyers only conduct a pest and building inspection which do not include an inspection of the wiring and electrical system of the property. Based on studies, New South Wales has 23% of residential homes which have problems in electrical fault wirings. I’m sure Queensland’s stats are quite similar. Once you purchase a home with problems in the power system, you may be spending a huge amount of money on essential repairs; money which you may not have planned to be spending so soon after a buy.
An electrical inspection must be carried out by an experienced and licensed electrician. An inspection must be done to ensure that the electrical system is fully functional and safe. A detailed pre-purchase inspection of the electrical system involves many factors including:
- Detecting any electrical hazard
- Inspection of exposed wires
- Checking any electrical items that do not follow current regulations imposed by the government
- Determining the adequacy of electrical service
- Evaluating safety switches
- Inspecting lighting and power points
- Checking the power box
- Identifying out-dated wiring
- Checking smoke alarms and its locations
Once the electrical system inspection is carried out, the electrician will provide homeowners with a comprehensive and detailed report on the inspection. The inspection report will include recommendations for any rectification on electrical problems, hazards and required upgrades to ensure safety and convenience of homes.
