Electrical Tips for Brand-New Homeowners

Congratulations! You just got done signing your name more times than you can count and now have the keys to your first house. The sense of accomplishment and the relief of being done with navigating today’s frenzied real estate market have you ready to take on your newly earned title of “homeowner.”

Before you start picking out furniture and planning the housewarming party, though, you’ll want to ensure that your new home’s electricity is flowing like it should. Here are a few helpful home electrical tips to consider as you settle into your new abode.

Safety first

As with anything related to your home’s electricity, safety comes first. This is why it’s highly  recommended—especially for first-time homeowners—to have a trusted residential electrician perform a general safety audit of the home’s electrical system.

You may be thinking, “Why do I need to have an electrician look at things? I got the house inspected before I bought it!” Well, most home inspectors aren’t licensed electricians, so they may not catch all the items that need to be addressed. Additionally, the aforementioned craziness of today’s real estate market has many folks waiving inspections to increase the likelihood of the seller accepting their offer. Perhaps you were one of them.

To secure your safety and provide peace of mind for you and your family, here are a few things that the qualified professional will have on their electrical safety checklist:

- Wiring: Checking for damaged and outdated aluminum or knob-and-tube wiring

- Outlets: Testing proper polarity and confirming GFCI installation/function

- Electrical service panel: Verifying labeling, proper breaker size, and amperage into home

In addition to making it a safer place, having a professional electrician in your corner can also help make your new home a better place to live for years to come.

Upgrades galore

Whether your new place is five years old or 50, chances are you’re already thinking of some upgrades that’ll make it more modern, more efficient and more comfortable. And many of those upgrades are ones that your local Baltimore electrician can make happen.

You’re probably planning on remaining in your new house for quite a while, so you want to make sure it has some future-focused features. An electrician can help install things like an electric vehicle charger, video doorbells, or LED disc lighting.

Soon, you’ll also learn that homeownership can get quite costly. Upon receiving the first BGE bill in your new residence, reducing electricity costs might become a priority. Fortunately, a pro can make sure your home is outfitted with energy savers like high-efficiency LED lighting and can replace outdated, inefficient energy hogs like magnetic light ballasts in garages, basements or workspaces.

There’s also the work associated with settling into a new home, and you have enough to do already. You worked hard to attain your new place, so you want to enjoy it, after all.

Relax and enjoy

Bringing in a Baltimore-area electrician will make your new place more enjoyable, while freeing your time so you can actually enjoy it. They’ll even tackle the smaller jobs!

“Simple” tasks like replacing outlets, installing light fixtures or ceiling fans are no match for an experienced pro. Plus, they’ll ensure your home and family are protected from power surges and smoke or carbon monoxide by installing the proper detectors and equipment.

Finally, having just completed the home-buying process you’re probably sick and tired of paperwork. So the idea of having to deal with permits and wondering which of these upgrades will require one is something you’d like to avoid. A pro electrician can lead the way. That’s called peace of mind and protecting your—new, big—investment.

After you get the keys to your first home, one of the first calls you make should be to a Baltimore-area electrician like Milton Electric. They’ve been helping families make their homes safer and more comfortable for nearly 75 years. Call (410) 276-3420 today or simply click here to get in touch. And again, congratulations on your new home!