Sometimes I go back to basics and remind people the electrical portion of the general home inspection is arguably the most important aspect of the inspection. Over the years I’ve seen things that made me so glad the buyer asked for an inspection. Things that would be very dangerous if left for much longer. From poor do-it-yourself jobs, to very old wiring, to electrical panels with no covers, I’ve seen things that would make your hair stand up (and not just from the shock!)
According to the latest stats from ESFI (Electrical Safety Foundation International) home electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires each year, about 500 deaths, and more than 1,400 injuries. Not to mention $1.3 billion in property damage.
The good news is most electrical issues are not very complicated to fix. However, they do need to be taken seriously and corrected by professionals for the safety of the homeowners.
Brett Six
