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Electrical

Old or failure-prone wiring and panels are among the most expensive, and hardest to insure, problems a buyer can inherit. Here's what to look for before you make an offer.

The ten second check

What else is typical in a house this age?

Type the year the house was built and I will tell you what else tends to be true at that age, what it costs, and what to ask. One number, ten seconds.

A guess is fine. 1965, or just the 60s.

Anything worrying you? Tap any that apply, or skip it.

Free. No account. Educational and impartial, not a home inspection.

Knob-and-tube wiring

The pre-1950 wiring insurers flag, and why it's a before-you-buy issue.

$8,000 to $35,000+Address before purchase

Aluminum branch wiring

1965 to 1973 wiring that's a fire risk at the connections, but usually a cheap fix.

$50 to $15,000+Address before purchase

Federal Pacific & Zinsco electrical panels

Failure-prone panels flagged for replacement no matter how fine they look.

$1,500 to $4,000Address before purchase

Ungrounded outlets & missing GFCIs

Two-prong outlets and missing GFCIs, small fixes that can signal bigger wiring issues.

$150 to $300Address soon

Undersized electrical service (60/100-amp)

60 or 100 amp? Often uninsurable or undersized, a 200-amp upgrade is $2,000 to $4,000+.

$2,000 to $4,000+Address soon

Double-tapped & over-fused breakers

Cheap to fix, but a red flag for amateur or overloaded electrical work.

$100 to $400Address soon

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