Electrical Repair And System Updates That You Need to Have If You Want to Sell Your Home | Wilmington, NC
Photo By george socka at istock
If you plan on selling your home, you may need to make repairs. Many people focus on cosmetic upgrades, as opposed to electrical system work. Unfortunately, for them, electrical work can make or break a house sale. Inspectors and homebuyers will be looking for signs that your home’s electrical system is not in order. The house inspectors’ job is to look for problems, and if your electrical system has problems, the inspector will find it. If you are interested in selling your home, you should have an electrician inspect your electrical system beforehand. This way, you can have electrical repair work done before you put your house on the market. If you live in the Wilmington, NC, area, you should contact Mister Sparky for all of your repair and maintenance needs for your electrical system.
Making or Breaking the Sale
It’s important to fix major electrical problems before you put them on the market. If you bought the home in as-is condition, then you may already be aware of the work that needs to be done. Doing the work little by little may make electrical work seem less daunting. Electrical repair should only be conducted by a professional electrician for safety reasons. A trained and professional electrician will be able to ensure quality and perfection for your electrical work. Which is important in order to prevent dangerous electrical malfunctions.
No GFCI Equipped Outlet
The most important thing to ensure when installing and repairing your home’s electrical system is safety. There are many obvious safety measures to take into account in order to ensure the safety of the residents and new home buyers. One of these safety measures is ensuring that outlets near sinks, or in basements are equipped with GFCI. GFCI stands for ground-fault circuit interrupter. This can be found in outlets in basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. The GFCI can cut off an electrical current in an instant. It does so automatically when it recognizes an imbalance in the circuit. This helps prevent electrical shock due to the imbalances in current, water can create if it were to come in contact with this outlet.
If you notice the outlets in your kitchen or bathroom areas do not have a GFCI installed, you will need to do so before you put your house on the market. This may not seem like a huge deal to someone who has lived in the house for a while and has not experienced any problems, however, this is something a home inspector will notice and recommend electrical repair for. Electrical issues are more likely to occur, without this safety precaution added.
Inadequate Electrical Service
Older homes have older systems, and may not need as much electrical power as modern homes do. New home buyers are going to want their home to be able to keep up with their lifestyle. This is why 200-amps of electrical service is now the new normal for homeowners and buyers. Older traditional homes usually only have 60 amps of electrical service in a home. If you are unsure of what amount of electrical service your home has and can take, you should contact a repair expert to assess your home’s electrical load.
An amp is short for ampere. An ampere is a unit of measure for electricity. 60-amps or 60 amps of electrical service is 60 units of that measurement. Our need for more amps of electricity has increased due to the amount of electricity that is used in modern homes and the fact that our electrical appliances and devices require more volts of electricity to work. Older homes could have 60 amps of electrical service due to the low amount of voltage needed to power traditional houses. New home buyers may want a more modern home and 60 amps of service can prove to be a problem. If you live in the Wilmington, NC, area, and only have 60 amps of electrical service, contact Mister Sparky of Wilmington to consult on what it will take to upgrade your system.
Luckily, electrical repair and installation of a higher amp electrical service do not have to be as high as 200 amps in order to pass your home inspection and to make a sale. Some homes only require 100 amps of electrical service in order to keep up with the latest and greatest technology. The size of the house usually determines what sort of electrical load is needed to power the home adequately.
Some insurance companies may refuse to insure a home with only 60 amps of electrical service, which may prove to be a problem for a potential home buyer. This is why it is so important to understand your home’s electrical load and only hire a licensed professional for repairs and upgrades.
Outdated Electrical Systems
Having an old or outdated electrical system may be the biggest let down to potential home buyers. Outdated, unkempt electrical systems pose a series of threats and problems to a property that must be addressed in an emergency. Even if you no longer plan on selling your home electrical repair and updating should be on your list of things to do. Homeowner insurance companies may not want to provide coverage to properties with outdated electrical systems, which could be a factor in a potential home buyer’s decision to purchase your property or not.
One of the biggest issues that occur with the old or outdated electrical system is the loosening of connections and wiring. Electricity is powerful and old wires will not last forever. Wires are bound to become frayed, loose, or even totally disconnected. This can cause ripple effects of damage that take place inside of your electrical system. This can also lead to electrical disasters such as electrocution or electrical fire. The electrical repair will help prevent these disasters from occurring. However, it is best to take a proactive approach to your electrical repair needs when it comes to aging electrical systems. Reoccurring electrical repair and maintenance are recommended to owners of homes with older electrical systems.
Electrical repair, maintenance, and updates should be handled by a trusted and licensed electrical professional. If you live in the area, and would like to sell your home, you should contact Mister Sparky of Wilmington for all of your electrical system needs.