Buyer’s Electrical Walkthrough Checklist in Fort Myers Homes | CoHarbor Electric

Buyer’s Electrical Walkthrough Checklist in Fort Myers Homes

If you’re house-hunting around Fort Myers, you already know how fast things move — you find a place, make an offer, and before you know it, you’re standing in a half-empty living room trying to decide if it’s “the one.”

But before you get swept up by the shiny kitchen and the waterfront view, there’s something way less exciting — but way more important — that deserves your attention: the electrical system.

We’ve seen it time and time again — a buyer falls in love with a home, closes the deal, and then finds out a month later that half the outlets don’t work, the panel’s a fire hazard, or the wiring’s older than they are.

So we put together this buyer’s electrical walkthrough checklist — the same things we look for when helping Fort Myers homeowners inspect or upgrade their systems. You don’t need to be an electrician to use it, but knowing what to look for can save you thousands down the road.

1. Start at the Heart: The Electrical Panel

The electrical panel tells you more about a home than most people realize. It’s the brain of the whole operation — distributing power from the utility company to every outlet, light, and appliance.

When we inspect a panel, here’s what we check first:

• Brand and type: Some older brands like Federal Pacific Electric (FPE), Zinsco, and Challenger are notorious fire risks. If you see those names, plan on a panel replacement.

• Amperage rating: Look for a label that says “100A,” “150A,” or “200A.” Older Fort Myers homes built in the ‘60s and ‘70s may only have 60A panels — fine for 1968, not for 2025. Modern homes should have at least 150–200 amps to safely handle today’s loads.

• Condition: Check for rust, corrosion, missing knockouts, or scorch marks. A panel that’s been damp or overheated is a red flag.

• Breaker setup: Double-tapped breakers (two wires under one screw) are a common problem. They can cause arcing or overheating.

If you open the panel and something doesn’t look right — or it looks like a spaghetti bowl of wires — call us. We’ll tell you exactly what you’re looking at.

2. Check for Modern Wiring

Wiring type tells you a lot about when the home was built and how safe it is.

Here’s what you might find in Fort Myers homes:

• Copper wiring: The gold standard. Durable and safe when installed correctly.

• Aluminum wiring: Common in homes built between 1965–1975. Aluminum expands and contracts with heat, which can loosen connections and cause arcing. It’s not an automatic deal-breaker, but it’ll need proper connectors or “pigtailing” to be safe.

• Cloth-covered wiring: Found in older homes (pre-1960s). The insulation breaks down over time and can become brittle or exposed.

• Knob-and-tube wiring: Rare here, but sometimes seen in very old historic homes. Outdated and uninsurable in most cases.

If the listing says “updated electrical,” ask for details — what was updated, when, and who did it. Sometimes “updated” just means a few outlets were replaced.

3. Test Outlets and Switches

You don’t need fancy tools for this — just a phone charger and a little patience.

Walk through each room and:

• Plug your phone charger into a few outlets. Do they all work?

• Do you see any two-prong outlets? Those aren’t grounded.

• Are outlets near sinks and outside marked GFCI (with “Test” and “Reset” buttons)? If not, that’s a quick code fix we can handle.

• Try flipping switches. Do any lights flicker or hum? That could be a loose neutral or bad dimmer.

Also, feel the outlets — if any are warm to the touch, that’s a problem.

We once inspected a “move-in ready” home near McGregor where half the outlets had reversed polarity (hot and neutral swapped). The buyer had no clue until we tested it. That’s the kind of thing insurance inspectors catch right away.

4. Ask About the Breaker Labeling

Open the panel and look at the circuit directory. Are the breakers labeled clearly? Or does it just say “lights,” “outlets,” and “???” on every line?

A well-labeled panel isn’t just neat — it shows the home was cared for. Sloppy or missing labels tell us there were probably DIY additions over the years. That’s not always bad, but it means we’ll want to trace a few circuits to be sure everything’s done correctly.

5. Look for Signs of Overloading

If a house has too many appliances, tools, or gadgets plugged into one circuit, breakers can trip or wires can overheat.

Here’s what to check:

• Multiple extension cords or power strips? That’s a sign the home doesn’t have enough outlets or circuits.

• Buzzing breakers or flickering lights when heavy appliances start up? That usually means the circuit’s overloaded.

• Rooms with no outlets on certain walls? That can indicate outdated wiring.

If you’re buying an older Fort Myers home, it’s common to need a few dedicated circuits added — especially for modern kitchens or EV chargers.

6. Check the Age of Fixtures and Fans

Old light fixtures can look charming, but sometimes they’re hiding problems.

Take a quick glance at ceiling fans, chandeliers, and recessed lighting:

• Do they wobble, buzz, or flicker?

• Are any mounted loosely or pulling away from the ceiling box?

• Does the dimmer switch hum when you use it?

Small details, but they tell us a lot about how the house was wired and whether proper boxes were used.

7. Inspect the Outdoor and Garage Wiring

Fort Myers humidity can be rough on outdoor electrical.

Outside, check that:

• Outlets have weatherproof covers (bubble-type enclosures are code now).

• Landscape lighting wiring isn’t exposed or cracked.

• The pool, spa, or dock equipment is properly grounded.

• Garage outlets and openers are GFCI-protected.

We’ve seen plenty of homes where someone added outdoor lighting or a pool heater without a permit. Everything “works,” but the wiring’s undersized or unprotected — not something you want to discover after closing.

8. Ask for Permits or Electrical Upgrades Records

If the seller says they’ve replaced the panel, added a subpanel, or done remodel work, ask for documentation. A permitted, inspected upgrade is a big plus — it means everything was done to code.

If they can’t produce paperwork, that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe, but it does mean you’ll want a licensed electrician (that’s us) to verify it before closing.

9. Check for Smoke Detectors and Surge Protection

Every home should have:

• Smoke detectors in every bedroom and hallway

• Carbon monoxide detectors (if there’s gas service)

• Whole-home surge protection at the panel (a must in storm-prone Fort Myers)

These are small upgrades that make a big difference. If they’re missing, they’re easy fixes — and smart negotiating points for buyers.

10. Consider Future Additions

If you plan to add a pool heater, EV charger, or spa circuit later, now’s the time to check that your panel and service can handle it. It’s much cheaper to upgrade while the house is open for inspection than to retrofit after you move in.

We help a lot of buyers plan their upgrades right after closing — adding circuits for future solar, shop tools, or backyard lighting. A few smart tweaks now save big headaches later.

Real-World Example: Colonial Blvd Home Inspection

A couple buying an older home off Colonial called us for a walkthrough. The place looked great — remodeled kitchen, new roof — but the panel was a 1968 Federal Pacific with aluminum branch wiring.

Their insurance company wouldn’t approve coverage without an upgrade. We replaced the panel, pigtail-connected the aluminum wiring with copper, and brought all GFCIs up to code. They closed on schedule and even negotiated part of the repair cost into the sale.

That’s the value of catching these things early.

Wrapping It Up

A good-looking house isn’t always a safe one — and that’s especially true in Fort Myers, where storms, salt air, and age can take their toll.

Before you sign that contract, take the time to check the electrical system. You don’t have to be an expert — just know what to look for and what to ask.

👉 Call Coharbor Electric today for a buyer’s electrical walkthrough. We’ll inspect your panel, outlets, and wiring, flag potential issues before you close, and give you a clear, honest picture of your new home’s electrical health.

We make electrical inspections simple, transparent, and built for Fort Myers homes — so your “dream house” doesn’t turn into a shock later.