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I found the main electrical panel. Not good for the seller.

By Clint Mckie

Home Inspector with Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections 10072923

March 15, 2014 09:02 PM

I found the main electrical panel. Not good for the seller.

At Desert Sun Home Inspections in Carlsbad New Mexico, we try not to cite codes in many cases.

There are codes for everything in and on the home. The codes are for a reason. Mainly the safety of the occupants of the home.

But these codes are not any good if not properly followed. In many cases the codes are violated by the home owners.

When these codes are not followed, they can cause all kinds of issues when you as a home owner want to sell the home.

Home owners just don't think when trying to improve the home to fit what they want.

Get expert advise!

When making any changes to your home, be sure to seek the advice of a licensed contractor in the proper field of where the improvement is located.

IE: If making electrical changes, Contact a licensed electrical contractor. And so on.

Take a look at what the home owner did to hide the electrical panel in the kitchen.

Panel inside cabinet. This is not allowed within the current codes or even the older electrical codes. There is not a Three foot service area for the panel.

This was installed by a licensed electrician, then they should have known this was incorrect.

Knowing the codes a s a licensed contractor is crucial when making "Improvements" to a home. The owner of the home now wants to sell the home and the home inspection takes place.

The issues are found and the home owner is now caught in the middle. Thinking every thing was good to go. After all,they did pay a licensed contractor to do the job correctly.

This is why you always get a "Full Home Inspection" by a certified inspector. For the peace of mind.

Call Clint at 1-575-706-5586

Have a great day every one.

If you are buying a home and want a very good home inspection. Call Clint McKie at 1-575-706-5586 Desert Sun Home Inspections can and will find the issues if there are any. We service Eddy, Lea and Chaves Counties in Southeast New Mexico. We offer a 90 day warranty. A homeowners manual and Recallcheck with each home inspection booked with us. These added benefits are included for the buyers.

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Comments(29)

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Donald Hester

NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA

NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Clint, The cupboard panel is always a special one. This seems much more common on older properties.

Mar 16, 2014 01:23 AM

David Shamansky

US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO

Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

You make a very good point and now I will stop connecting the doohickey to that thingamajig to properly fix whatever I may think is wrong lol

Mar 16, 2014 01:42 AM

Adrian Willanger

206 909-7536 AdrianWillanger-broker.com - Seattle, WA

Profit from my two decades of experience

How aggravating that must have been for the homeowner who trusted the contractor was going to the repairs to code.

Best-Adrian

Mar 16, 2014 03:34 AM

Jay Markanich

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA

Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I had one yesterday where the new "framing" around the panel box was so close I could not get the cover off. You have to wonder...

Mar 16, 2014 04:04 AM

Toni Weidman

Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL

20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

The contractor may not know that it was hidden if the cabinet was placed afterwards. I'm trying to be charitable here

Mar 16, 2014 10:30 AM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Bruce,

Nothing like having some work to do to get the panel up and clear from obstructions. Good luck getting that done.

Have a nice day in Hawaii.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 07:53 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Conrad,

Easy access is the whole idea. When it's tucked away, hard to work on things and the contractors tend to cut even more corners.

Have a good week ahead in Webster.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 07:55 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi James,

Actually pretty simple. There is not a three foot clearance in front and around the panel. This means, not to code and needs to be cleared or moved.

Have a nice day in Rogers my friend.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 07:57 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Rob,

Out of sight was right. If you didn't know where the panel was you might look for a while. I asked the seller!

Have a nice day in Bristol.

Best, Clint ,CKie

Mar 16, 2014 07:59 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hello Michael.

Another finding that makes the sellers cringe. But unless the buyers makes them change it. This will remain as is for the new owner as well.

Have a nice day in Brentwood.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 08:01 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Raymond,

Good point. I wouldn't be surprised if that was not the real reason, .

Have a great week ahead in Rochester.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 08:03 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hello Kat,

This is one fine example on what could be found by a certified inspector.

Better safe than sorry. Now is the time to find the issues, not later.

I like your new LOGO.

Have a good week ahead in Monroe, New York.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 08:06 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Joan,

Sometimes I have a heck of a time finding the main or a sub panel. I have found then behind furnaces before. Not a good situation for the sellers.

Have a good day in Denver.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 08:08 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Wayne,

This is so very true. I try and be a little lenient when I find owner changes. If the buyer can live with it, then not a big issue for the buyer.

Have a great week ahead in Fort Myers.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 08:10 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Roy,

As every Realtor, agent and broker should recommend a home inspection.

Have a good day in Gaithersburg.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 08:12 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Donald,

I a post a long time ago, I found the main panel in the bathroom. Inside a closet, and behind the water heater and it was an FPE. WOW.

Have a great week ahead in the Northwest my friend.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 08:17 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi David,

Good for you. Those doohickey's can break really easy. Better safe than sorry.

Have a very good day in Colorado.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 08:19 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Adrian,

There are really good contractors and those who have no issues cutting corners.

Sad but true.

Have a great day in Seattle.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 08:20 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hello Jay,

Like what are they trying to hide from the inspector kind of thing right?

I like to find things they really try and hide from us inspectors.

Have a great week ahead in Bristow.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 08:22 PM

Clint Mckie

Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM

Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Toni,

The cabinets were already in place when the upgrade took place. The old FPE panels were replaced with the newer panels. So the contractor knew this was not correct.

Have a nice day in Trinity.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 16, 2014 08:25 PM