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When you’re house-hunting around Fort Myers, it’s easy to get caught up in the curb appeal — the freshly painted trim, that screened lanai, or the palm trees swaying in the breeze. But underneath all that charm is one system most buyers overlook until it’s too late: the electrical.
We’ve done hundreds of inspections across Lee County — everything from 1950s ranch homes to new builds east of I-75 — and you’d be surprised how often the electrical system tells a completely different story than the rest of the house. A clean kitchen doesn’t mean safe wiring. A shiny new panel cover doesn’t mean it’s wired correctly inside.
That’s why we always tell homebuyers, before you sign the papers, do a proper electrical walkthrough. You don’t need to be an electrician to spot the big red flags — just a flashlight, a few minutes of attention, and this checklist.
If there’s one thing you take time to look at, make it the main electrical panel. It’s the best snapshot of the home’s electrical health.
Here’s what we look for (and you can, too):
Panel brand and model: Certain brands like Federal Pacific (FPE), Zinsco, and Challenger are known fire hazards. If you see those names, that panel needs to go.
Amperage rating: Find the label — 100A, 150A, or 200A. Anything below 100 amps is too small for modern living. If the home’s over 1,500 square feet and still has a 100A service, you’ll probably need an upgrade.
Signs of damage or heat: Rust, scorch marks, or melted plastic are warning signs.
Double-tapped breakers: Two wires jammed under one screw is a shortcut that can cause arcing or tripped breakers.
Labeling: Each circuit should be clearly marked — “Kitchen outlets,” “Master lights,” etc. If it just says “lights” on every line, that usually means the system’s been pieced together over the years.
We’ve opened panels that looked brand new on the outside, only to find 40 years of patchwork wiring inside. Looks can be deceiving.
The wiring tells the story of the home’s age and how it’s been cared for.
In Fort Myers homes, you’ll typically see one of these:
Copper wiring: Modern and reliable when installed right.
Aluminum wiring: Common in homes built from 1965–1975. It expands and contracts with heat, loosening over time — a known fire hazard if not properly maintained.
Cloth-covered wiring: Found in older homes (pre-1960s). The insulation becomes brittle with age.
Knob-and-tube wiring: Rare, but if you’re looking at a historic home downtown or in Dean Park, it’s possible. It’s ungrounded and uninsurable in most cases.
If the seller says “updated electrical,” ask what exactly was updated. Sometimes it means a few outlets were changed — not a full rewire. We can spot the difference in seconds.
This is one of the simplest things you can do during a showing — and it reveals a lot.
Bring a small phone charger. Plug it into random outlets around the house. If some work and others don’t, that’s a red flag.
Check for two-prong outlets. Those mean no grounding, which can damage electronics.
Outlets near sinks, the garage, or outdoors should be GFCI-protected (the ones with “Test” and “Reset” buttons).
Feel for warmth or buzzing when you plug in.
Flip the switches. If any lights flicker or hum, there may be a loose neutral or old dimmer switch.
A home inspector might note “outlets function at time of inspection,” but they don’t always dig deeper. We do.
Old fixtures can tell you more than you think.
Fans that wobble or make noise may not be mounted on proper electrical boxes.
Recessed lighting that flickers could mean old wiring or loose connections.
Mixed fixture styles — some modern, some vintage — sometimes hint at partial electrical updates (a patch here, a replacement there).
One of our clients bought a beautiful home near McGregor with designer fixtures — but half the lighting was still wired on pre-1980 aluminum branch circuits. It looked new but wasn’t.
Fort Myers weather is tough on outdoor wiring. Salt air, humidity, and heat break things down faster than most people realize.
Outside, check that:
Outlets have bubble-style weatherproof covers.
Landscape lighting wiring isn’t exposed or frayed.
The pool pump or spa has a dedicated, grounded circuit.
The garage outlets are GFCI-protected.
If there’s a detached garage or shed, ask how it’s powered. We’ve seen people run 100 feet of buried extension cord and call it “electric.” That won’t pass inspection, and it’s not safe.
If the home’s older but the listing says “updated electrical,” ask for proof — a permit record, invoice, or inspection tag.
We’ve seen plenty of houses where the work was “done” by a handyman or unlicensed contractor. The wires work for now, but they’re undersized or improperly grounded. That can void insurance or cause issues when you try to resell.
Coharbor Electric can pull the permit history for you if you’re not sure what’s been inspected or approved.
Sometimes, the clues are small but obvious once you know what to look for.
Too many power strips or extension cords in one room = not enough outlets.
Lights dimming when the AC kicks on = panel might be undersized.
Warm breakers or buzzing sounds = overloaded circuits.
If the seller’s using extension cords to power half the room, that’s not “convenience” — it’s compensation for bad wiring.
While you’re walking through, take a minute to see if the basics are in place:
Smoke detectors in every bedroom and hallway.
Carbon monoxide detectors (for homes with gas).
Surge protection — either at the panel or point-of-use.
These aren’t expensive fixes, but they make a huge difference in safety — and they’re required by most Fort Myers insurance carriers now.
Electrical systems wear out over time. Even if everything works, you’ll want to know when key components were last serviced.
Ask the seller or agent:
When was the panel last replaced or serviced?
Has any rewiring been done in the past 10–15 years?
Have outlets or switches been updated recently?
If they don’t know — or give vague answers — plan on budgeting for a licensed inspection before closing.
If you plan to add a pool heater, EV charger, or new outdoor kitchen, your electrical service needs to handle it.
A quick check now saves money later. We help a lot of new homeowners plan upgrades right after closing — especially if they’re moving into older homes not designed for modern loads.
One buyer called us to look at a 1972 home near Whiskey Creek. Everything looked fine on paper. The seller said, “It’s been updated.”
When we opened the panel, we found:
Aluminum wiring
Two double-tapped breakers
No grounding conductor to the water line
We gave the buyer a report, estimated the repair cost, and they used it to negotiate $3,000 off the purchase price. They closed happy, and we came back later to do the upgrades.
That’s exactly why a little electrical awareness before you buy makes such a big difference.
Buying a home in Fort Myers is a big deal — and the last thing you want is to move in and find out your “dream house” needs a panel replacement or full rewire.
A simple walkthrough, guided by the right checklist (and preferably a licensed electrician), can help you spot issues before they turn into expensive surprises.
👉 Call Coharbor Electric today to schedule your buyer’s electrical walkthrough. We’ll inspect your panel, outlets, and wiring, document what’s safe and what’s not, and make sure your investment’s protected before you close.
We make electrical inspections simple, honest, and built for Fort Myers homes — so your new home starts off safe, solid, and storm-ready.
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At Coharbor Electric, this is what to expect when entrusting us with fixing your electrical issues.
The first step is to get all the information we will need so that we can correctly assess the problem or situation. The photos or videos you send will be sent directly to the electrician.
Once our electrician has the info he needs, we will dispatch one in the next available spot–armed with expertise, equipment, and the parts he’ll most likely need.
Our Promise is to to You is to perform the job completely, efficiently, and to the Florida electrical code standards. We are committed to fair and honest pricing.
We offer flat rate pricing for service calls, so you always know the price up front. Simple to understand. Flat-rate fixed price so you can be confident you’ll get what paid for.
As a Florida homeowner, you have an endless list of choices for electrical contractors to hire…some great, some good, some bad.
At Coharbor Electric, our benchmark is to be “great”. If you decide to hire us for your electrical service, here’s what you can expect from our electricians:
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