As you begin your Atlanta home sale, you may be wondering if you need to make some repairs to your electrical system first. Maybe you have an outdated wiring panel, like a Federal Pacific Electrical panel, or your house is older and has aluminum wiring. Having electrical issues in your home can potentially derail your sale. If you think you may have home wiring issues, you should know how to spot them, what to do about them, and what you can do when selling a home with electrical issues.
Common signs of electrical issues in a house
Electrical issues in a house don’t typically sneak up on a homeowner. But they do cause more than 50,000 house fires each year, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International. That’s why it’s important to know how to spot wiring problems. Warning signs include:
- Dimming/Flickering lights
- Hot outlets
- Buzzing sounds
- Sparks from outlets or switches
- Exposed wires
- Burning smell
- Loose outlets
- Excessive breaker tripping
- Rodents
If you notice any signs of home wiring issues in your Atlanta house, you should consider getting a home inspection done by a trusted electrician.
How much does it cost to repair home wiring issues?
Replacing faulty wiring in your home is not cheap. According to HomeGuide, electrical wiring repair costs typically range from $10,000 to $30,000, depending on the scope of the work, type of electrical system and materials needed, and the rate charged by the electrician.
If you do have problems with your home’s electrical system, it’s important to address the issues promptly. Failure to fix faulty wiring can lead to short circuits and even electrical fires.
How will electrical issues affect your home sale?
When you sell a house, some states require sellers to provide buyers with a disclosure form, which is a history of the house and its condition. Even though Georgia doesn’t require you to provide disclosure documents, it would be in your best interest to be upfront about any electrical issues. If a seller doesn’t disclose electrical problems, there could be potential ramifications later.
You may want to consider getting a pre-listing inspection done before you start selling. Getting an inspection before you even list your house can help you determine any existing or potential defects that could affect your home value or the outcome of your home sale.
Will your insurance pay for repairing home wiring issues?
Your homeowners insurance will likely not cover a replacement of your electrical wiring system. Old electrical systems, like aluminum wiring, are considered a risk for many home insurers. Aluminum wiring is a hazard because it’s less durable than modern electrical wiring and deteriorates at a faster rate. Electrical panels are usually only covered by a homeowners insurance policy if the damage is caused by some event, such as a home fire or lightning damage. Your home warranty plan may provide extra protection from electrical issues, but it won’t cover issues that result from circuit overloads, power surges, and power failures.
Once you’ve fixed your house’s electrical issues, it’s important to keep a record of the problems and the actions taken to correct them. Buyers will want to know how long they can expect their Atlanta house to be in good shape before they need to do maintenance or repair work, and most buyers will conduct an inspection before purchasing a home. Another reason to keep records of repairs is to try to reduce your tax burden. Home sales are taxed, and these taxes can be reduced by providing information on capital improvements you’ve made to your property.
Sell your house with electrical issues to We Buy Ugly Houses®.
When you sell to We Buy Ugly Houses®, you don’t need to worry about wiring issues affecting your home sale. If the cost or hassle concerns you, you can sell your house “as is.”
With our 3-step home-buying process, you have the opportunity to skip making electrical repairs and streamline your sale. We can take you from offer to closing fast, sometimes in as little as 3 weeks. If that seems too fast, we work with our sellers individually to figure out a closing date that fits their timeline.
We’ve bought houses for the past 25 years, and in that time, we’ve helped over 150,000 homeowners get an easy home sale, regardless of their selling situation or property’s condition.
Ready to simplify the process of selling a home with electrical issues? Reach out to We Buy Ugly Houses in Atlanta today to work with a local property buyer and get a free consultation toward a fast and convenient offer.
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
