What an Inspection Covers
A thorough inspection looks at the whole system, not just the panel:
- Panel condition, breaker sizing, and overall capacity
- Wiring type and condition, including any outdated or deteriorated materials
- Grounding and bonding throughout the system
- GFCI and AFCI protection in required locations
- Outlets, switches, and fixtures for damage or improper installation
- Visible signs of overheating, scorching, or past repairs
When an Inspection Makes Sense
People typically request an inspection before buying or selling a property, after noticing a warning sign like a warm outlet or a persistent breaker trip, before a major renovation, or simply because the home's wiring has never been evaluated and they want to know where things stand.
Homes throughout DC, Maryland, and Virginia range from recently built to well over a century old, and each era of construction brings its own set of things worth checking — knob-and-tube remnants in an older rowhouse, aluminum branch wiring from a certain construction period, or additions wired without updating the original panel.
What You Get Afterward
After the inspection, we walk through what we found in plain language — what's in good condition, what's worth watching, and what should be addressed. If repairs are needed, we can discuss options, but the inspection itself is about giving you accurate information, not pressuring you into work you don't need.
We document conditions with notes and photos where helpful, which is useful whether you're making a repair decision now or keeping records for later.
Schedule an Inspection
Whether you're buying a home, planning a renovation, or just want peace of mind about your wiring, call (202) 521-4835 to schedule a safety and code inspection.
Commercial Safety Inspections
Commercial properties have their own set of inspection priorities — panel capacity for tenant buildouts, emergency and exit lighting circuits, and wiring in spaces that see heavy daily use. We tailor the inspection to the type of property and how it's used, rather than running through a generic residential checklist.
For property managers and landlords, a periodic electrical inspection is also a useful record to have on file, particularly across a portfolio of older buildings where electrical history can be inconsistent from unit to unit.
We also check for common distribution issues like double-tapped breakers, missing panel labels, and junction boxes that were left inaccessible behind finished walls — small items individually, but worth flagging so they don't get forgotten.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you issue code compliance certificates?
We identify conditions that don't meet current code and explain them clearly. Any official sign-off needed for permitting goes through the local permitting authority.
How long does an inspection take?
It depends on the size of the property and the age of the wiring; we'll give you a better estimate when we schedule your visit.
Will you find problems in an older rowhouse?
Older wiring methods, undersized panels, and past unpermitted work are things we specifically look for in the many older homes we see across the DC area.
Do you inspect commercial properties as well as homes?
Yes, we perform safety and code inspections for commercial buildings as well as residential properties across the DC, Maryland, and Virginia area.