When you're in the market for a new house, every little detail counts. If you overlook an important flaw, you could be in for major repair or overhaul bills in your would-be dream home. Fortunately, you can avoid unexpected costs with some savvy when it comes to choosing your home inspector. Your house is likely the biggest investment you’ll ever make, so it's worth paying for a quality inspector to ensure that a home's systems are in good shape before committing to buy.

An Expensive Proposition

Even when a house's interior and exterior look great, there could be problems lurking within the walls. The HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems are invisible to the average consumer, but they play an essential role in your quality of living – not to mention your pocketbook.

There could be problems with sewer lines, decaying ducts or outdated electrical products like knob-and-tube wiring – issues that could cost tens of thousands of dollars to remedy. A home inspector is your best friend when it comes to rooting out these hidden costs.

Insist on the Best

You don't want to rely on just anyone when it comes to something this important, so follow these tips to make sure you get the most from your home inspector:

To Buy or not to Buy

When an inspection turns up major problems, you can bring them to the seller and ask them to do the repair work, or at least cover part of the cost. Or, if an issue is serious enough, you could walk away from the sale altogether.

Once you take the plunge and make the purchase, don't forget to call an expert home services professional to make follow-up inspections every few years so you can spot any future problems before they develop.

pursue electric lights.

A Timeless StyleIn the post-Victorian era, brass chandeliers shimmered with crystal drops and porcelain lamps were embellished with colorful floral themes. For members of the British aristocracy, the early 20th century was a time of elegance, luxury and opulence.

A quick glance through the latest designer catalogs are ample evidence that the decor of previous eras are still hugely popular. The style can easily be recreated with antique brass desk lamps. In contemporary homes, an elegantly crafted modern light fixture can give you the look of the most treasured antique.

picture light would also do the trick.

A variety of ways exist to quickly and efficiently complete an electrical installation. One method involves using pre-made and pre-fabricated conduits, cables, panels, and devices. Pre-fab strategies cut down on repetitive labor costs and scrap material waste.

Furthermore, pre-fabricated components are assembled in quality-controlled factories by highly trained technicians. This ensures that every device and termination is in working order and properly connected. These technicians work faster and cost less per hour than a journeyman electrician, therefore saving the contractor time and money.

Another option to increase efficiency involves using pre-wired devices. They can be used for repetitive tasks like receptacles, switches, light fixtures, data ports, or fire alarms. They save time by eliminating the need to terminate each device individually. Instead, boxes are made to order and ready to install. The desired length of cable is attached and ready to run to the nearest junction point. Simply attach the box, route the cable, and connect to the supply wires. Most suppliers prepare a custom quote, further reducing time spent by the foreman planning and ordering parts individually.

Pre-wired panels are possibly the simplest way to save money, as they require no special tools. Wiring up a panel at the shop before heading to the job site allows you to function test it before installation. This ensures proper functionality. In addition, it keeps the interior of the panel away from weather and other possible sources of job-site damage. For larger or more complex panels, suppliers can be arranged and have the work performed by specialized technicians. Panels can even be ordered with pre-cut and pre-terminated lengths of cable or cord.

Most electricians have used pre-formed conduit, especially PVC which requires specialized tools to bend. However, entire runs of pipe can be custom ordered and pre-shaped. Especially useful in underground conduit networks or when complicated bends are required, these pre-made conduits drop in place and fit perfectly to the engineer’s prints. They also ensure that conduits are not damaged or kinked during the bending process and that no sharp edges or rough spots are left to damage wires or cables.

If the project demands it, entire buildings can be pre-made and pre-wired in a factory setting by trained technicians who specialize in quickly and efficiently preparing custom ordered buildings. Especially useful in industrial settings, these buildings come complete with all interior and exterior lights, switches, receptacles, and control wiring.

Often, motor control centers (MCCs) for large industrial installations are constructed this way. Therefore, on-site electricians are free to begin immediately running cables to motors and devices, with simple termination points inside a completed building. In addition to using fewer electrician hours, they also reduce required hours from other tradespeople such as welders or cladding installers.

Finally, pre-fab strategies are a great solution for reducing material waste, worker hours, and downtime while making deadlines a snap. Projects run smoother with fewer errors.

Electrical work is no joke. If left in the hands of an inexperienced or unqualified electrician, the results can be disastrous. Poor electrical work can leave you at risk of electrocution or electrical fire, and even if these issues don’t occur, it will still lead to ineffective operation. To prevent your breakers from tripping and your lights from flickering, among other things, you’ll want to do your research and make sure that the electrician you hire is the best for the job.

Hoffman Electrical has been providing electrical services throughout Florida since 1989. We can help you find an electrician in the St. Petersburg, FL area with the tips below!

The best electricians in St. Petersburg tend to share similar qualities. So when you’re doing your research, make sure you look for certain key qualifications. We recommend checking out the following:

When you’re looking for quality electrical work at an affordable price, call Hoffman Electrical. We proudly serve the St. Petersburg area, providing home and building owners with the best electricians for their specific needs and the most cost effective services. When you choose us as your St. Pete electrical company, you’ll receive: