Do Your Own Electrical Home Inspections Prior To Making An Offer

Tips for Sellers – How to Prepare for a Home Inspection.

A home inspector is required to inspect inside electrical panels, attic spaces and crawl spaces. Making sure the inspector has unimpeded access to these areas will help the inspection go smoothly.

If you have service records for any major components (such as furnaces and air conditioning), or invoices or engineering reports for any structural repairs that have been done to the house making them available to the inspector can answer questions he may raise and reduce the possibility of his calling for further evaluation on these systems

If there is any paper or wood scrap in the crawl space, or firewood stacked near the foundation, having it removed will greatly reduce the possibility of pest inspectors finding termites, which can result in an expensive treatment.

Be sure splash blocks or drain pipes are in place on all gutter downspouts, and that gutters are clean. Then check grading around the foundation to be sure all surface water drains away from the home. Water accumulation near the foundation is a primary cause of crawl space or basement water leakage, mold growth and foundation settlement. These can be expensive to repair.

Check the GFCI outlets around the house to be sure they trip when tested. This is one of the most common electrical defects found, and easily repaired by an electrician.

Electrical Safety Hazards & Safe Electrical Inspection Procedures

This electrical safety procedures article discusses safety hazards at residential electrical systems both outside and indoors, and suggests safety procedures for the electrical inspector, home inspector, or other professionals who examine residential electrical systems.

Safe electrical inspection procedures and safe use of volt meters, DMMs, multimeters, and similar electrical test equipment is discussed at the end of the article.

Homeowner advice for electrical panel safety: These safety suggestions are for professional inspectors and are not a guide for homeowners.

Homeowners should not remove the cover from an electrical panel – it is unsafe to do so. Homeowners should look at their electrical equipment for signs of trouble and should contact a licensed electrician to address any concerns that arise.

How much electrical energy would it take to kill a home inspector?

Wet skin (standing in water, sweaty) has a resistance of about 1000 ohms. (Dry skin will have a higher resistance, and of course an inspector wearing protective gear such as rubber gloves, rubber-soled shoes, standing on an insulated mat, will have still higher electrical resistance, and safety.)

COMPLETE INSPECTION OF YOUR HOME BY A BC LICENCED PROFESSIONAL

WHY CHOOSE US?

A home inspection isn’t just about protecting your investment, but also about protecting you and your family. Our Warranty Program protects against surprises that show up when you take possession of your new home – that were not evident at time of inspection. Also included with each inspection is complimentary appliance recall check and technical advice for as long as you own the property.

Residential Home Inspections

A home inspection isn’t just about protecting your investment, but also about protecting you and your family. The home inspector understands this and take their profession very seriously.

Pre-Listing Inspections

For Sellers and Selling Realtors; No one likes to be the last to know something, especially when you are selling your biggest asset! Be the most educated person in the room by having your own home inspected prior to listing the property.

Home Maintenance Inspections

Home Maintenance Inspections are for homeowners who want to educate themselves, identify any safety concerns and protect their biggest investment!

Electrical Inspection

Electrical systems in homes are very complex and potentially dangerous. The Electrical system causes more deaths every year than any other single system. Is it the electricity causing the deaths or neglect and unsafe practices? Your Seven Stars Home Advisors Inspector will always check the electrical supply where it enters your home. We will describe to the best of our ability the capacity and any variance that may be present. Once the main Electric panel is inspected and deemed safe the inspector will move indoors and inspect all of the other major components that comprise your homes electrical system. All safety issues will be acknowledged. An inspector will review whether the panel appears to be in a safe, operable condition and whether it has sufficient energy for the appliances and energy consumption typical of a modern home.

A representative number of receptacles will be tested and any concerns will be reported. Grounding and reverse polarity are a concern, however they are common and in most cases they are easy fixes. Appliances are included in this. Some of these items use massive amounts of energy and determining whether or not they are grounded is a valuable asset to the home owner.

If the home has electrical heat or electrically-driven air conditioning, the inspector will examine that component of the electrical system. In addition, he or she will look at electrical wiring to make sure the wires aren’t showing signs of cracking or aging that could spark fires or not properly conduct power.

Home Inspections Has You Covered

Pre-Purchase Inspections

Purchasing a new home also means buying that home’s problems. With a pre-purchase home inspection you can see exactly what you’re buying. Problems discovered during the inspection could allow you to renegotiate to offset the costs of repairs — potentially saving you thousands of dollars. We’ll even help you become familiar with the property.

New Construction Inspections

Unfortunately, new does not always mean perfect. In fact, new doesn’t even guarantee good. Material defects and human error during the construction process can lead to expensive problems later on. A new construction home inspection can help identify these problems early, when they’re cheaper to fix. Some issues may even be covered under warranty.

Annual Home Maintenance Inspection

Homes are composed of several complex systems, with components wearing out over time. We’ll give you an overview of the current condition of your home so you can see potential expenses before they happen. We’ll also give you helpful tips on maintaining your home to keep things running smoothly for many years to come.