“Oh, great. Another load of checks I need to do? I’m buying a house, that’s stressful enough!” – a large number of buyers, all over the world, 2018.
There are so many different considerations you need to address when you’re looking to buy a house, and that’s not easy. With so much on your plate, it’s not surprising things get forgotten and left behind.
Something that should never be ignored, though, is the electrics. Buying a house that requires a significant amount of electrical work is going to be more expensive than buying one that doesn’t. Carrying out these simple checks will at least ensure you know what you’re getting yourself into, and should eliminate any nasty, surprise costs that pop up in your first few days.
Plug sockets
Are all the plug sockets in your potential new home in good condition? If they’re not, it can pose a real danger to your safety, and costs a fair amount to sort out. Check that they’re securely fitted into the wall, and that there’s no obvious external damage.
Overloading
If the house you’re viewing is currently inhabited, then check that the sockets aren’t overloaded. Overloading plug sockets can cause electrical faults and, in some cases, fires. It would be worth considering having more installed if you think it’s likely you’ll need them. Do a quick check of how many there already are, and then check your existing home to see how many you use.
Healthy wires
Another one that can be easy to spot, but that’s incredibly important. Take a look at any wires you can see, and ask yourself a couple of questions: “should I be able to see this”, and “are these wires free of damage”? If the answer to either of these questions is no, then something needs to be done about it.
Other considerations
There are, unsurprisingly, more electrical issues that you’re going to need to consider both when you’re in the buying process and after the purchase has been completed. Hopefully though, this blog post has given you some pointers to get yourself started.
It would be worth having someone inspect the property as a whole if it falls short on any of our aforementioned points; if the basics are wrong, it’s worth looking a bit closer. In general, too, if you can see any visible signs of damage on electrical appliances then that is also worth having checked.
Ask for professional help
Finally, we’d advise having a property checked by professionals. Get in touch with an electricians and ask if they carry out Electrical Installation Conditioning Reports (EICR). Finding someone who does will put your mind at rest when it comes to your safety in your new home. After all, you want to be able to enjoy it!
London Electricians operate throughout London and have a superb reputation. We offer a 24/7 emergency callout service, and always provide extremely competitive rates. You can see what our customers have said about us by checking out our reviews, and you can get in touch by filling out our online contact form. Alternatively, give us a ring on 020 8728 9179.
