{"id":7629,"date":"2019-01-31T17:57:13","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T01:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=7629"},"modified":"2026-04-15T02:24:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T09:24:34","slug":"electrical-home-inspection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/electrical-home-inspection\/","title":{"rendered":"What Sellers Can Expect from an Electrical Home Inspection"},"content":{"rendered":"

A home inspection covers a lot of details to make sure that the house you\u2019re selling is up to code, safe for a potential buyer, and doesn\u2019t have a costly hidden maintenance issue. But even though home inspectors are trained to identify a lot of issues, they might recommend that a buyer call on an electrician\u2019s expertise for an electrical home inspection.<\/p>\n

Jeff Glover<\/a>, a top-selling real estate agent in the Detroit, Michigan area<\/a> with 16 years of experience, said that one out of every 40 or 50 homes that he lists needs an electrical home inspection.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s often because of a home\u2019s age, its wiring, and whether the electrical service panel has been updated. \u201cA lot of older homes have different wiring,\u201d said Glover \u201cThere\u2019s a wiring called knob-and-tube that still exists in a lot of homes today. There are some complications with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you need to know about this particular home inspection<\/a> and how to spot any potential problems that might need a professional\u2019s help.<\/p>\n

\"electrician<\/a>
Source: (rawpixel)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Electrical home inspections 101: Keeping your home\u2019s wiring safe and up to code<\/h2>\n

Your home\u2019s electrical system is a vital component of protecting your family\u2014and anyone who buys your home. Electrical distribution or lighting equipment in the home remains the 4th leading cause of home fires<\/a>, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.<\/p>\n

The National Fire Protection Agency said in a 2017 report that electrical distribution, lighting, and power transfer equipment was involved in 57% of home structure fires<\/a> from 2010 to 2014.<\/p>\n

In all, U.S. firefighters from 2010 to 2014 responded to an estimated annual average of 45,210 home structure fires<\/a> with some type of electrical failure or malfunction, the NFPA said. These fires caused an estimated $1.4 billion in property damage and killed an estimated 420 people and injured about 1,370, NFPA statistics show.<\/p>\n

Homeowners can schedule an electrical inspection once a year as a preventive safety measure; it\u2019s also sometimes requested by a lender when refinancing your home<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, 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 system inspection<\/a> for anyone purchasing a home that was previously owned.<\/p>\n

The ESFI also recommends an electrical system inspection if your home meets the following conditions:<\/p>\n