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Electrical

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

Knob-and-tube wiring

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

$8,000–15,000+Address before purchase

Aluminum branch wiring

1965-73 wiring that's a fire risk at the connections — but usually a cheap fix.

$300–1,500Address before purchase

Federal Pacific & Zinsco electrical panels

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

$2,000–4,000Address before purchase

Ungrounded outlets & missing GFCIs

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

$150–300Address soon

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