Fixer-Upper Requires Residential Electrician

May 17
08:17

2011

Aloysius Aucoin

Aloysius Aucoin

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Buying a fixer-upper will likely require bringing in a residential electrician. Here are some things to think about.

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A fixer-upper might be a smoking deal financially but will require some elbow grease and professional help including a residential electrician. With the slew of foreclosures,Fixer-Upper Requires Residential Electrician Articles bank owned properties and repos on the market, individuals who thought they’d never be able to afford a place, are now able to snap up first homes. As long as the house is in a good location, purchasing a ramshackle place can be a wise investment decision. A bit of hard work and creativity can surely turn that lump of coal into a diamond. But for some remodeling tasks, a residential electrician will need to be called in. Electricity is not something to be messed around with by a novice. Can you spell electrical shock or fire? No, call in a pro.

Here are some reasons to call in a certified professional:
- Not working: When there are electrical components and plugs in a house that aren’t working, it will take a trained and experienced individual to troubleshoot the problem. Wires work together and if one part is amiss, it can short out the whole system. Other than a burned out bulb, if a fixture isn’t working, it needs to be explored by a pro.

- Moving appliances around: Did the last homeowner keep the washer and dryer out in the garage but you want yours inside the workroom? Chances are that some rewiring will have to be done. A typical electric dryer takes a 220 voltage outlet rather than the traditional 110s scattered around the room. Plugging one’s dryer into a lamp outlet is a big no-no. Same with the kitchen stove. If a new homeowner wants to trash the old shoddy cabinetry and kitchen arrangement, chances are he or she will need to move the oven, range and stove. This appliance also requires a 220 outlet and an electrician will have to rewire the configuration.

- Hard-wired lamps and fans: Recessed lighting, hanging lamps, fluorescent fixtures and those hanging above the bathroom vanity will all need to be wired in by a person who is competent in electric gadgetry. Fixer-uppers most likely have ugly fixtures or none at all. In order to transform the eyesore home into eye candy, shiny and trendy lamps, fans and lighting will have to replace the old dogs.

- Heaters and air conditioners: Temperature control systems within the home may need to be updated or replaced as well. Some old homes that haven’t been maintained may not even have a proper HVAC system. In order to live comfortably in one’s new home-sweet-home, air conditioning units and heaters must be installed or made functional. This may be in the form of central units or room systems such as baseboard heaters or window AC units.

An inexpensive fixer-upper can be a budget minded home buyer’s dream-come-true. As long as the place is in a desirable location, almost anyplace can be transformed into a charming abode. Painting inside and out, cleaning up the landscaping, tearing out old cabinetry and installing new appliances and fixtures can turn the house into a comfortable and welcome respite for all of the family members. Having a residential electrician come in to repair and install appliances, lights, fans and wiring will be icing on the cake.