Electrical inspection: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What electrical inspection is

An electrical inspection reviews a home's panel, wiring, grounding, outlets and fixtures, usually for a sale or a safety check. The inspector looks for defects and unsafe conditions, then gives a written list of what needs repair and what the fix should be. People order one when they are buying a home, when they have an older house, or when they have seen a problem and want a full picture before they spend money.

Signs you need it

  • You are buying a home and the wiring, panel or grounding has not been checked by a licensed electrician
  • The home is older and you have not had its electrical system reviewed
  • Outlets trip, spark, or show scorch marks, and you want to know whether the rest of the system is safe
  • Your insurer or lender has asked for a documented electrical review
  • You have had a renovation or a DIY electrical job, and you want the work checked
  • The panel has a brand, a size or a condition you are not sure about

What the pro does

  • Review the service, the meter base, the service entrance and the main disconnect for condition and labeling
  • Open the panel and check the breakers, the bus, the neutral and ground bars, and the wire terminations
  • Test outlets for polarity, ground, GFCI and AFCI protection where required, and check for open or reversed wiring
  • Check the fixtures, switches and junction boxes for heat, loose connections and unsafe installations
  • Look for the wiring types in the home, such as older cloth or aluminum, and note the condition of each
  • Write the defects and recommended fixes into a report with photos, and explain each item to the customer

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Size of the home and the number of circuits, outlets and fixtures to check
  • Access to the panel, attic, crawlspace and any finished areas that need opening
  • Whether the service and the grounding system are included in the review
  • Whether the inspection includes infrared scanning or extra testing
  • Age of the home and the types of wiring found, which can add time
  • Whether a follow-up visit is needed to check a repair

What a written quote should spell out

  • The areas inspected, including the panel, service, outlets and fixtures
  • Testing performed, such as polarity, ground, GFCI and AFCI checks
  • A written report with photos and each defect listed by location
  • Recommended fixes for each defect, marked by urgency
  • Whether a follow-up review of repairs is included

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Will you open the panel and check the breakers, the bus and the grounding?
  • What tests do you run on the outlets, and which protection do you check?
  • How will you report the defects, and will the report include photos?
  • Do you inspect the attic or crawlspace, or only the living areas?
  • Will you tell me which defects are safety issues and which are upgrades?
  • Is a follow-up included if I want a repair checked after it is done?

Red flags

  • Gives a clean report without opening the panel
  • Skips the outlet testing or only checks a few outlets
  • Says the wiring is fine because it has worked for years, with no inspection
  • Recommends a repair that is not in the report, to sell extra work during the visit
  • Does not show the defects with photos or a written list

What you can do yourself

Checking the outlets with a plug-in tester, looking for scorch marks, and noting the age of the panel and the wiring you can see are reasonable first steps. Do not open the panel or remove any cover to look inside. A full electrical inspection needs a licensed electrician who can open the panel and test the circuits under power.

Licenses and permits

Electrical inspections are commonly performed by licensed electrical contractors, and some inspection roles require their own license or certification. Check with your state or local licensing agency for the rules that apply to inspection work and to any report used in a sale or an insurance review.

Electrical inspection questions

Is an electrical inspection the same as a home inspection?

No. A general home inspection looks at the whole house, and an electrical inspection goes deeper into the panel, the wiring and the grounding. Many buyers order both, especially for an older home.

What should I do with the list of defects?

Sort the items by safety first. Fix the ones that could cause a fire or shock before anything else, then plan the upgrades. Ask the electrician which items need a permit.

Why does the inspector check the grounding?

A ground gives fault current a safe path back to the source, so breakers can trip and shocks are reduced. Missing or open grounds are common defects in older homes, and they are often easy to fix once found.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More electrical guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request electrical inspection