Buying a new home straight from the builder is exciting. You tour the construction site, picturing your family making memories in the kitchen and watching movies together.

The fresh paint, modern fixtures, and upgraded amenities represent your endless possibilities within these walls.

But behind the walls, dangerous electrical wiring could be hidden. It could threaten your safety and investment. Don't become part of the over 51,000 yearly home electrical fires.

Protect what matters most with a professional pre-purchase electrical inspection.

Be Informed About the Full Scope of Work Needed

While you may fall in love with the aesthetic details like crown molding and granite counters, what really matters is inside the walls. 

You should find electricians locally where you're buying the home to get an early inspection. 

Just search on Google for "[your city] electricians" to find good ones near you. For example, if you're buying a home in Charlotte, search for "Charlotte electricians" to find trusted electricians in that area.

Hiring locally is important. They know the building codes and standards for new construction in your specific city and state.

An electrical inspection will reveal:

• Any improper, insufficient, or dangerous wiring that needs to be addressed

• If the electrical capacity can support your modern needs and future upgrades like electric vehicles

• Any code violations present that could affect home insurance rates and financing

Without looking inside, you won't know if loose connections, overheating wires, or overloaded circuits exist. And once you legally own the home, the builder is off the hook for repairs. 

Don't get saddled with negative surprises - use inspection results to negotiate fixes before closing.

Verify Safety for Your Family's Wellbeing

We rely on electricity to power our modern lifestyles, but it also poses serious risks when infrastructure is inadequate. 

The Electrical Safety Foundation reports over 51,000 home electrical fires annually in the U.S., causing:

• 500 deaths

• 1,400 injuries

• $1.3 billion in direct property damage

Many fires and shock incidents result from faulty electrical work. 

Protect your most precious people and possessions by hiring a qualified inspector to thoroughly check the following:

• Condition of all circuits, wiring, and panels

• Presence of grounding and bonding

• Overload protection and capacity for home size

• Placement, operation, and GFCI protection of outlets

• Correct installation and function of lights and ceiling fans

• Smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector wiring and operation

Spotting deficiencies allows you to require the builder to make it right, giving you peace of mind before moving in. 

Don't risk disaster down the road - prioritize safety upfront.

Avoid Costly Repairs and Upgrades After Moving In

Imagine this nightmare scenario - you move into your gorgeous new home only to have the electrical system fail repeatedly. 

• Lights dim and flicker whenever the A/C runs. 

• Circuit breakers trip, and appliances lose power for no reason. 

• You want to install a hot tub but learn the electrical panel can't handle the added load.

Now, you face paying thousands out of pocket to upgrade undersized wiring and the panel to fix issues the builder left you with. 

Any code violations also mean you might have trouble getting homeowners insurance or financing until costly repairs are made.

A pre-purchase electrical inspection avoids all of these worst-case issues. You can identify deficiencies ahead of time and hold the builder accountable for repairs BEFORE closing. 

You buy the home with full knowledge of the electrical system, avoiding surprise repairs.

Ensure Work Meets Minimum Safety Standards

Licensed electricians follow local building codes and national electrical standards to design home wiring safely. 

However, oversights happen during fast new construction timelines. A professional home inspector checks for violations of important codes like:

• Minimum panel capacity based on home size

• Required GFCI and AFCI circuit protection to prevent shocks/fires

• Limitations on the number of outlets per circuit

• Minimum wire gauges and circuit breaker sizes

• Required pools and hot tub circuits

• Limitations on running wires through studs/joists

• Maximum allowable voltage drop levels

Ensuring your new home meets all requirements provides confidence in the safety and performance of the electrical system. 

Don't settle for dangerous corners being cut in your biggest investment.

What's Inspected in a Typical New Home Electrical Inspection

A thorough inspection by a qualified electrician takes 2-3 hours for a typical single-family home, more for larger custom homes. 

They will methodically examine:

• All wiring connections, routing, materials, and installation methods

• Inside of electrical panels to check brand, amps, breakers, and organization

• Load testing of all circuits with electrician tools to ensure adequate power

• Grounding and bonding for proper electrical fault protection

• Placement and operability of outlets, switches, and light fixtures

• Correct functioning of GFCI, AFCI, smoke detectors, and CO detectors

• Condition of all wiring, breakers, panels, and electrical components

The inspector also makes note of any damaged elements, code violations, overload risks, and inadequate wiring. You receive a detailed report showing issues found and recommended fixes. 

Use this report to ensure the builder resolves all deficiencies before you close.

FAQ

Here are answers to a few FAQs about why pre-purchase electrical inspection is so important:

Should I Hire an Electrician or Home Inspector for the Electrical Inspection?

Both electricians and qualified home inspectors can perform the inspection. Electricians have specialized expertise in electrical systems, while inspectors examine the whole home.

How Much Does an Electrical Inspection Cost?

Expect to pay $200-$400 for a typical single-family home inspection. The cost varies based on your area and the size/complexity of the home.

When Should I Schedule the Electrical Inspection?

Schedule the inspection 1-2 weeks before your target closing date, so any issues have time to be addressed. Avoid doing it too early in the build.

What If Problems Are Found During the Inspection?

Use the inspector's report to request repairs and renovation from the builder before closing. If major issues exist, you may need to delay closing until they are resolved.

Final Thoughts

As excited as you may be about your new home, don't let emotion override the need for due diligence. Add an electrical inspection to your closing checklist so you know exactly what you're buying.

Taking this proactive step limits surprises, empowers your negotiations, and provides peace of mind that your electrical system is safe, sufficient, and code-compliant. 

Contact a qualified electrician or home inspector in your area to schedule your new electrical inspection today.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.