Electrical checks to consider before buying or renovating an older home

What to look for at an open inspection

You can spot a lot just by looking carefully:

• The switchboard: ceramic fuses, no visible safety switches or a cramped, ageing board.
• Power points: very few per room, or lots of double adaptors and powerboards in use.
• Old-style round switches, discoloured power points or loose fittings.
• Light fittings with scorch marks or brittle, discoloured surrounds.
• Smoke alarms: present, in sensible places and in date?
• Signs of DIY work, such as exposed cables or extension leads run through walls.

Questions to ask the agent or owner

Asking early can save surprises later:

• When was the switchboard last upgraded?
• Has the home been rewired, fully or partially?
• Is there paperwork from past electrical work?
• Have there been any recurring electrical issues, such as tripping?

Hidden issues that are easy to miss

Some of the most important electrical issues in an older home are not obvious at an open inspection. Wiring in the roof space or walls may be decades old, previous owners may have extended circuits without a licensed electrician, and the switchboard may have been altered over the years. Outbuildings, sheds and garden lighting are also common places for ageing or unsafe wiring.

None of this means an older home is a bad buy. It simply means you should go in with clear information. Knowing what may need attention lets you budget, plan the order of works and avoid opening up freshly painted walls later.

Moving in: a simple first-week checklist

Once you have the keys, a few easy, non-electrical tasks help you understand your new home:

1. Find the switchboard and check the circuits are labelled clearly enough to understand.
2. Locate and check the smoke alarms using the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Note any power points or lights that do not work, rather than investigating them.
4. Book a licensed electrician to look at anything on your list.

Why an electrical inspection is worth it

A general building inspection may not cover the electrical system in depth. An electrical safety inspection from a licensed electrician looks specifically at hazards and gives you recommendations to fix them, which helps you plan and budget.

Planning upgrades for an older home

Common upgrades include a switchboard upgrade, rewiring sections of the home, more power points, LED lighting and updated smoke alarms. If you are renovating, combining these with the building work is usually more efficient. See our renovations and rewiring page and the renovation planning guide.

Many established suburbs in Melbourne’s north have a mix of older and newer homes, including Heidelberg, Rosanna, Macleod and Eltham.

Frequently asked questions