Top Electrical Issues That Could Delay Your Home Sale

Planning to sell your home this year? Don't let overlooked electrical issues deter potential buyers. Broken, unsafe, or outdated electrics can lead viewers to estimate repair costs, potentially discouraging offers. Addressing these concerns upfront can make your property more appealing and facilitate a smoother sale of your home.

Discoloured Electrical Fittings: A Sign of Overheating

While it's common for older white fittings to yellow over time, brown or black marks around plugs may indicate overheating during operation. Although some appliances generate heat, the plug itself should remain cool. Overheating plugs can be a safety hazard and may raise concerns for potential buyers.

Broken or Loose Light Fittings

Loose or broken light fittings not only appear unkempt but also pose significant safety risks, including electrical shocks, burns, and potential fire hazards. Promptly repairing these issues can enhance your home's safety and and make sure it doesn’t impact the sale of your home.

Missing or Faulty Light Bulbs: Small Fixes with Big Impact

Lighting is so important in your home, and a diligent buyer will likely test the lights in every room. If the bulb flickers, is dim, makes a significant noise, or just simply isn’t there, a buyer might be put off.

If a bulb is dim or missing simply because you haven’t gotten around to replacing it, it’s a quick and cheap way to immediately freshen your home and make a great first impression.

If it’s dim, noisy, or flickering because of faulty electrics, this can signify a bigger problem in your home which may be off putting to a buyer. You should look to get this fixed as soon as possible.

Outdated Electrical Wiring and Its Impact on Home Sales

Old fashioned wiring in your home is a huge problem whether you’re looking to sell or not. Old wiring will always lose point for design and style, but it’s also one of the most common causes of house fires so you and your buyers should be making sure it’s up to scratch.

Unfortunately re-writing a house can be a messy, expensive process, but this may put people off buying your home so it’s worth the investment (as well as for your safety while you still live there!).

Multiple Extension Leads: A Sign of Insufficient Outlets

While we’re on the topic of a house rewire, if a buyer sees a lot of extension cables they will know that there aren’t enough sockets to support a modern household. Lots of extension cables is also a fire hazard, a trip hazard, and an eyesore.

You can get more extension cables added to your home fairly cheaply. Checkatrade suggests it will cost around £100-200 per socket. If you’re already planning a whole home rewire, this is a great time to reassess your plug socket needs.

Considering a home upgrade? Check out our Smart Lighting Buying Guide