If you’ve ever been faced with unexpected electrical upgrades or repairs, the thought of doing the work yourself may have crossed your mind. The idea of potentially saving money and getting your hands dirty with a DIY job is appealing for many. However, when it comes to electrical work, lack of training and certification could have dire consequences, and in today’s blog, we’ll review six reasons why electrical work is best left to a professional.
If you have a home that is in disrepair or requires an overwhelming amount of electrical work to bring it up to code, don’t take your chances. At Cash 4 Kansas Homes, we buy houses in any condition throughout eastern Kansas. Contact us today to learn how you can benefit from our real estate solutions.
Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Wiring
Whether you have a fixer-upper or you have owned your home for years, it can be very tempting to attempt your own electrical work. However, there are several reasons why this is one task that is best left to the professionals.
Improper Technique and Materials
One benefit that comes with hiring a professional to complete the electrical work in your home is that he or she will have the knowledge and experience needed to know which materials and techniques are best suited for your specific job. Choosing to tackle the task on your own may involve quite a bit of guesswork if you’re not a certified electrician, and incorrectly performing a repair with improper or unsafe materials could spell disaster for your DIY job.
Code Violations
Chances are that your day job doesn’t require you to be intimately familiar with local municipal building codes related to electrical work. In the absence of this knowledge and experience, you could find yourself inadvertently disregarding code compliance and certain inspector check points. A trained electrician who works in your town will not only be extremely knowledgeable about the local building codes, but he or she will also know how tasks need to be completed in order to be approved by the building inspector.
Increased Risk of Fire
Although it might seem obvious, attempting to complete your own electrical work could also present increased odds of starting a fire. Regardless of whether it is a small fire that causes minimal damage, or a large one that totally destroys your home, one thing is certain: nothing will bring your DIY project to a screeching halt or make your home harder to sell than fire damage. Beyond that, in the absence of a professional electrician, you’ll have no one to blame but yourself, which means the repair and cleanup will be at your own expense.
Potential for Electrocution
No matter what type of project you are attempting to complete as a DIY enthusiast, the safety of yourself and your family should be your number one concern. When it comes to dangerous trades, there may not be another that is more dangerous than electrical work. If you fail to ensure your home’s main power source is off, or if you touch the wrong wires together, the results could be fatal. Aside from the risk of fire, this may be one of the most important reasons to hire a professional.
Fines and Fees
Along with the danger of being non-compliant, you may risk incurring fines and fees for DIY work that is completed improperly. Depending on how your town handles non-compliance issues related to building codes, you may be fined for improper work if it is discovered. Additionally, you could face fines and fees from your HOA as well. Finally, if you choose to sell your home with faulty electrical work, the buyer could request a concession for the work to be completed properly by a professional.
Expensive Corrective Repairs
Speaking of the monetary impacts that DIY electrical could have, it is also worth mentioning that your home improvement job could end up costing you greatly in terms of any corrective repairs or re-work that needs to be completed. If you fail to wire something properly and you require the assistance of a professional to remedy the error, it could cost you more in the end than it would have if you would have hired a certified electrician from the get go.
Cash for Homes in Kansas
Whether you feel like you’ve bitten off more than you can chew with your Kansas house flipping project, or you simply can’t afford the electrical work needed on your home to bring it up to code, Cash 4 Kansas Homes is here to help! We buy houses in any condition, and we’d love to help alleviate the stress of an unwanted or burdensome home. To learn more about how our services work, call our friendly team at 913-276-0769 today! We can’t wait to work with you and help you!
