Although many people undertake home inspections when looking to buy a property, it should not be a one-time thing. The initiative helps you get value for your money as you ascertain that the systems are in good condition. You will give a lower offer than the asking price if you need to undertake electrical repair and maintenance. Still, you will need the service when renting a house to ensure safety for you and your loved ones. We will offer you insights into the different types of home inspections and why they are necessary.

An Overview of Electrical Home Inspection

An electrical home inspection or EICR entails having a qualified and certified electrical engineer assess your home system for potential risk hazards such as exposed cables, earth testing and making sure your safety devices work properly. It is an in-depth evaluation of the items with the expert reporting on the findings. The professional will need to access different parts of the house such as the consumer unit or fuse board, circuit breakers and RCD devices. It is best to be there during the home inspection to see how everything is tested. Apart from getting an electrical certificate for compliance, you can know your house condition from the exercise and the extent of damage to systems and how old your wiring is.

Professionals are unbiased with the report. All safety issues will be markes as a C1 (immediately dangerous) C2 (potentially dangerous) or C3 (recommended upgrade) In addition, you will get detailed information on the action to take. Therefore, ensure you get a reputable company to inspect to be sure about the findings. The exercise does not take a lot of time to complete, and it is best to do it during the day. It should not take more than three hours to complete a home inspection for a standard house. However, the duration depends on the property size and the rooms the technician will have to evaluate.

Types of Electrical Inspections

A professional electrical home inspection company will offer different services under the business. Although you can consider your current needs when selecting a suitable company, it is best to take the complete package. You could have a general electrical condition report referred to as an EICR. You also have the option of certifying works carried out on your property, that particular inspection is called an electrical installation certificate. Alternatively for any minor works you could ask for a minor works certificate.

Electrical inspections can vary in terms of how in depth they are You can ask for anything from 10% – 100% of accessories such as sockets and lights be tested. Of course the more accessories you test the more time will be needed for testing.

The Cost

Companies charge differently for an electrical home inspection. It mostly depends on your job location, the types of inspections you need, the number of rooms and the inspector. The percentage of accessories tested will also play a part in pricing. A firm with many years in the field will charge higher than newly established ones. The costs tend to vary from £80 up to £400 in most cases.

Finding the Right Company for your Home Inspection

Finding the right technician is critical for your home inspection outcome. You want to hire someone with the skills and expertise to perform the tasks. Here are some factors to consider when looking for a suitable home inspection company;

• Experience: there are two ways to determine a company’s expertise. You can consider the number of years they have been operating. Online reviews play a large role in identifying the good from the bad. At the same time, the number of home inspections a firm conducts in a year shows its experience in the industry.

• Licences and Certifications: The NICEIC is one of the bodies that oversee electrical companies in the UK. it ensures you get trained skilled and insured technicians for your home inspections.