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When you decide to sell your home in Fort Myers, there’s a lot that goes into getting it ready — fresh paint, a pressure wash, maybe even a little staging. But one of the smartest moves you can make before that “For Sale” sign goes up isn’t cosmetic at all — it’s electrical.
We’ve worked with plenty of sellers who’ve learned this lesson the hard way. A house can look perfect on the surface — shiny new kitchen, clean inspection report on the roof — and then a buyer’s inspector opens the panel and starts snapping photos. Next thing you know, you’re negotiating thousands off the price or scrambling to hire an electrician days before closing.
That’s why pre-listing electrical repairs are one of the best investments you can make before selling. They help you sail through inspections, avoid delays, and make your home more attractive to buyers and insurance companies alike.
At Coharbor Electric, we handle these kinds of repairs across Fort Myers all the time. Here’s what we’ve learned — and what every seller should know before listing their home.
Here’s the reality: buyers expect the electrical system to work flawlessly. They don’t want surprises, and their insurance company doesn’t either.
Fort Myers homes, especially the ones built before 2000, often have electrical systems that are safe enough for daily use but not up to current standards. Maybe it’s a few outdated outlets, a Federal Pacific panel, or aluminum branch wiring. It might all “work,” but it won’t fly under modern inspections.
When those issues come up during a buyer’s inspection, it gives them leverage. They’ll ask for a lower price, demand credits for “repairs,” or walk away altogether.
But when you fix those things before you list, you stay in control of the deal. The house sells smoother, faster, and with fewer last-minute surprises.
We’ve done hundreds of pre-sale inspections across Lee County, and these are the same problems that pop up again and again:
If your home still has a Federal Pacific (FPE), Zinsco, or Challenger panel, it’s going to come up during inspection — guaranteed. These panels have a long history of overheating and failing to trip breakers properly.
Most insurance companies in Florida won’t insure a home with those brands anymore. That’s an automatic deal-breaker for buyers.
The fix: Replacing the panel with a modern 150A or 200A load center. We do these every week, and it’s one of the biggest confidence boosters you can give a buyer.
A lot of Fort Myers homes built in the late ‘60s or early ‘70s still have aluminum branch wiring. It was cheaper than copper back then, but we now know it expands and contracts with heat, loosening connections over time.
Inspectors spot it fast, and most buyers panic when they hear “aluminum wiring.”
The fix: You don’t need to rewire the entire home. We can “pigtail” aluminum wiring — connecting short copper leads at each device with approved connectors — and make it insurance compliant.
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets are required anywhere near water — kitchens, bathrooms, laundry areas, outdoors, and garages.
If you don’t have them, they’ll show up on the inspection report with a bold “SAFETY HAZARD” tag.
The fix: We replace standard outlets with GFCI-protected ones and test every circuit for proper grounding. Quick, inexpensive, and it checks a major box for both the inspector and the buyer.
Homes built before 1970 often have two-prong outlets with no ground wire. Modern electronics need grounding for safety and surge protection.
A buyer’s inspector will note every ungrounded outlet, and it’ll turn into a point of negotiation.
The fix: We can run grounding wires or install GFCI outlets as a safe alternative when full rewiring isn’t practical.
We see this all the time — two wires crammed under one breaker screw or circuits carrying too much load. It’s a simple fix but looks alarming on an inspection report.
The fix: Add a subpanel or rewire the affected circuits. We’ll also label everything clearly to make your panel look clean and professional.
Loose or missing grounding is common in older Fort Myers homes. It’s not something homeowners notice day to day, but it’s an insurance problem waiting to happen.
The fix: We verify your grounding electrode system — rods, bonding straps, and neutral connections — and bring it all up to code.
Garages, attics, and lanai ceilings are prime spots for exposed wiring and open junction boxes. Even if it’s safe, it looks unprofessional during inspection.
The fix: We install proper covers, secure conduits, and neaten up any loose runs. It’s one of those “looks small, makes a big impression” repairs.
When we perform a pre-listing electrical inspection for a Fort Myers home, we go beyond just “is it working?”
We check for:
Panel brand, amperage, and breaker conditions
Wiring type and insulation integrity
GFCI and AFCI protection
Grounding and bonding
Outlet polarity and voltage testing
Fixture wiring and fan boxes
Exterior outlets and weatherproofing
Surge protection and lightning safety
We’ll walk you through what’s urgent, what’s code-related, and what’s just a “good idea” before you sell.
Once the inspection’s done, we’ll give you a written report with photos — so you can decide which fixes to handle before listing.
A homeowner in Whiskey Creek called us last spring before putting their 1978 ranch home on the market. Their realtor suggested an electrical check, just to avoid last-minute surprises.
We found an old Zinsco panel, missing GFCIs, and a few open junction boxes in the attic. Nothing dangerous, but enough to cause a buyer’s inspection issue.
They let us handle everything — new 200A panel, proper grounding, GFCIs in the kitchen and bathrooms, and cleanup work in the attic.
Two weeks later, the home went under contract. The buyer’s inspector gave the electrical system a clean bill of health. The sellers told us later, “That was the smoothest inspection we’ve ever been through. We didn’t have to negotiate a single repair.”
That’s what proper prep does.
Electrical updates don’t just keep inspectors happy — they make your home sell better.
Here’s why:
Faster closings: No waiting for repair estimates or re-inspections.
Higher buyer confidence: A clean electrical report builds trust.
Insurance-ready: Many carriers now require documentation for older homes — having that upfront saves time.
Better curb appeal behind the walls: Buyers love seeing labeled panels, new outlets, and up-to-code protection.
We’ve built our pre-listing electrical service around three things: speed, clarity, and documentation.
Here’s what you can expect when you work with us:
Quick scheduling — we know sellers have timelines.
Full inspection and written report before any work begins.
Straightforward repair estimates — no fluff or surprise add-ons.
Fast turnaround on panel replacements, GFCI installs, and grounding work.
Detailed completion report you can show to buyers, agents, or insurers.
Our goal is to make your home as “inspection-proof” as possible, so you can focus on the sale — not the stress.
Selling a home in Fort Myers is competitive. Buyers want move-in ready, and inspectors want code compliance. Electrical systems fall right in the middle — they’re not visible, but they’re a deal-maker or breaker.
Getting your electrical work squared away before listing gives you peace of mind, smoother negotiations, and often, a faster sale at your asking price.
👉 Call Coharbor Electric today to schedule your pre-listing electrical inspection. We’ll walk your home like a buyer’s inspector would, fix what’s needed, and leave you with a system that’s safe, compliant, and ready to impress at closing.
We make electrical prep simple, stress-free, and built for Fort Myers homes that deserve to sell without surprises.
SERVICE AREA
Serving Southwest Florida including: Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, and more...
Get clear, menu-based pricing before work begins--giving you more control to fit your needs and budget.
Highly-trained & experienced Electricians. Fully vetted and background-checked. Ready to exceed your expectations.
Serving SWFL customers for 13+ years. Licensed and Insured throughout Florida.
EC13004475. EC13012422.
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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