If you hope to increase your home’s value before putting it on the market, consider an electrical upgrade. Several electrical upgrades can increase your home’s resale value and attract more potential buyers, including grounded outlets, an electrical panel upgrade, and home rewiring.
Grounded & Sufficient Outlets
Two-prong outlets are no longer sufficient for homes. If you still have these old-fashioned outlets in your home, it’s time for an upgrade. Consider transitioning to grounded outlets. Grounded outlets accept plugs with three prongs, making life much easier and more convenient. Buyers expect this type of outlet in every home, making it a crucial upgrade.
Take a walk around your home and note the locations of all the electrical outlets. Could there be more outlets in certain areas? If the answer is yes, you should talk to an electrician about adding more outlets.
Today’s new homes feature outlets in various areas to increase convenience, including on both sides of the bed, near the front door, and in bathrooms. Sufficient outlets in the right areas will make your home more appealing to potential buyers.
GFCIs
A ground fault circuit interrupter, or GFCI, balances the flow of electricity through an outlet from the hot conductor to the neutral conductor. The GFCI trips and stops power when this flow is unbalanced.
At Lon Lockwood, we suggest upgrading all outlets in the bathroom, kitchen, garage, and other “wet” areas to GFCI outlets. This simple fix significantly reduces the risk of electric shock in your home.
A New Circuit Breaker Panel
Like old electrical service or insufficient outlets, an old-fashioned panel with fuses will likely turn buyers away. Consider a panel upgrade to an electrical panel with breakers.
Fuse boxes are outdated, and finding replacement parts can be a problem. Circuit breaker panels provide ground fault protection and are better suited for modern electrical loads.
Traditional 60- and 100-amp panels fail to support today’s lifestyle of multiple appliances and electronics running simultaneously. Buyers will prefer a home with 200-amp service as this panel has more circuits for all their devices.
If you’re considering adding more appliances, outlets, or lights to your home before the sale, you’ll likely need 200-amp service. Doing so will ensure you meet today’s safety standards and electrical codes.
Rewiring Your Home With Structured Cables & Copper Wiring
If your electrical wiring is outdated and your home needs to be rewired, consider getting this done before putting your home on the market. These wires are behind walls and can be a lengthy process. Buyers won’t want the responsibility and the expense of rewiring a home they’re purchasing.
Tube and knob wiring are often the cause of house fires. That’s why our team at Lon Lockwood Electric recommends an electrical wiring upgrade with copper wiring to improve your home’s safety and value. It’s a seamless, hassle-free process when you work with the right electrician.
If you decide to rewire your home, you’ll also want to consider structured cabling. These high-speed cables appeal to tech-minded buyers and all their devices, from TVs to smart home systems and everything in between. Your buyer will enjoy greater system reliability, minimum downtime, and compatibility that’s second to none.
Electrical wiring protects your home from surges, adds convenience, and provides greater reliability when using multiple large electronics simultaneously. Investing in new wiring protects your home from electrical issues or failure and will boost your home’s attractiveness to potential buyers and increase the resale value.
Hiring the Right Electrician
As you can see, electrical upgrades add safety, dependability, and convenience for new homeowners. Implementing one or several electrical upgrades can increase your home’s resale value and appeal to potential buyers. It’s important to hire professional electricians to ensure safety standards and codes are met.
Lon Lockwood is a family-owned and -operated, licensed, and insured electrical company. Our background-checked technicians are highly trained and experienced, and we offer financing options to ensure you get the quality electrical service you need at a price you can afford.
Boost your home’s resale value with electrical upgrades from Lon Lockwood. Contact us today at (585) 766-4702.
I am an electrical engineering professional with extensive experience in residential electrical systems, renovations, and upgrades. Over the years, I've worked on numerous projects involving electrical installations, panel upgrades, rewiring, and safety enhancements, aligning with industry standards and local electrical codes.
The article highlights key aspects of electrical upgrades that significantly impact a home's resale value. Let's break down the concepts mentioned in the article:
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Grounded Outlets: These are essential for modern homes, accommodating three-prong plugs for increased safety. Transitioning from old-fashioned two-prong outlets to grounded outlets enhances convenience and aligns with buyer expectations.
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Sufficient Outlets: Assessing the need for additional outlets in various areas of the house is crucial. Today's homes require outlets in specific locations (beside beds, near the front door, and in bathrooms) to meet the convenience demands of potential buyers.
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GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters): Upgrading outlets in 'wet' areas like bathrooms and kitchens to GFCI outlets significantly reduces the risk of electric shock. GFCIs balance electrical flow, tripping to prevent potential hazards.
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Circuit Breaker Panel Upgrade: Outdated fuse boxes should be replaced with modern circuit breaker panels. Panels with higher amperage (e.g., 200-amp service) support multiple appliances and electronics concurrently, meeting modern lifestyle needs.
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Rewiring with Copper Wiring: Outdated wiring, such as tube and knob wiring, poses fire hazards. Upgrading to copper wiring enhances safety and reliability. Structured cabling, catering to tech-minded buyers, ensures high-speed connections and system compatibility.
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Hiring Professional Electricians: It's crucial to engage licensed and experienced electricians to perform these upgrades. Companies like Lon Lockwood, mentioned in the article, emphasize the importance of safety, offering skilled technicians and financing options.
In summary, implementing these electrical upgrades not only enhances safety but also increases a home's resale value by meeting modern standards and buyer expectations. Grounded outlets, GFCIs, circuit breaker panel upgrades, rewiring with copper wiring, and strategically positioned outlets contribute significantly to a home's appeal in the real estate market.
For anyone considering such upgrades, consulting reputable electricians like Lon Lockwood, who prioritize safety and quality service, is crucial to ensure the enhancements are properly implemented and meet industry standards.
