Pre Purchase Electrical Inspection Adelaide
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A pre-purchase electrical inspection is a licensed electrician's check of a home's wiring, switchboard, safety switches and smoke alarms before you buy or sell. It shows what is in good order and what needs work. Call us and we will explain what the inspection covers and what you receive.
Compliance paperwork is a regular part of our work for home owners: over 100 jobs in the 12 months to October 2026 involved a certificate of compliance.
Why get an electrical inspection before you buy
A general building report often looks at electrical only briefly. Wiring is hidden inside walls and ceilings, so problems are not obvious from a walk-through. An electrician's inspection tells you what condition the electrical system is in before you commit, so surprises do not land after settlement.
For sellers, knowing what needs fixing lets you deal with it first or price it in.
Buyers sometimes assume that a house that looks fresh and newly painted has sound wiring. Paint and new fittings can hide old cables and an ageing switchboard, so the surface tells you little.
What a checklist covers
- The switchboard: age, condition, fuses or breakers.
- Whether safety switches (RCDs) protect the circuits.
- Smoke alarms: type, age and whether they work.
- Power points, switches and lights: condition and signs of damage.
- Visible wiring in the roof space and under the floor where access allows.
- Signs of past DIY or unlicensed work.
We note what we see and what we could not reach, so the report is honest about its limits. Nothing is hidden in the fine print.
Switchboard condition, safety switches, smoke alarms, power points and visible wiring are the core of the checklist. Our switchboard upgrade and safety switch installation pages cover the usual fixes.
Smoke alarms and safety switches matter for legal as well as safety reasons. The SA Government says all South Australian homes must be fitted with a working smoke alarm, and that the type you need depends on when you bought the property or its age. If you buy a home, you have six months from the title transfer to fit the correct alarms. It also says that by law, safety switches for power point and lighting circuits must be installed in new homes and buildings where electrical circuits are added or altered. See our guides to smoke alarm rules in SA and safety switches and RCDs.
What the process looks like
- You book a time and arrange access to the home.
- We inspect the visible electrical parts and test what can safely be tested.
- We explain in plain terms what we found.
- You receive a written report of findings and recommended work, with photos of the switchboard, safety switches, smoke alarms and visible wiring.
- If you want, we can quote on any repairs.
Tell us the address suburb, the age of the house if you know it and your settlement timeline when you book, so we can fit the inspection around your contract.
What an inspection cannot show
An inspection covers what can be reached and tested safely. It cannot see inside sealed walls. If something is found that suggests a deeper problem, we will say so and explain what further checking would involve. We do not guess at things we cannot see.
That honesty matters. A report that claims to see everything is less useful than one that says clearly where the limits are.
Certificates and compliance
In South Australia, electrical work is certified with an electronic Certificate of Compliance (eCoC), which your electrician lodges through the Office of the Technical Regulator system and passes to the owner. The OTR says new owners can request copies of previously issued certificates from the previous owners. Our guide to the certificate of compliance in SA explains how to ask for a copy.
If your inspection turns up electrical work that needs doing, keep any paperwork for it. It is useful to have on file whenever the home is sold.
How long does it take?
A standard home inspection is typically a short visit, longer for large homes or tricky access. We will confirm when you book.
What to ask your electrician
- Can I see your licence number?
- What will the written summary include?
- Can you quote on any repairs found?
- What parts of the home can you not inspect?
- How soon can you inspect, given my contract timeline?
You can also ask whether the report can be shared with your conveyancer or the seller, and how soon you will receive it.
When to call us
Call us on 0482 099 388 as soon as you have a property in mind. Earlier is better, so you can use the findings in negotiations. This service is for people buying or selling a home they plan to live in.
Related services
Suburbs we cover
Helpful guides
Master Electricians Australia State Excellence Awards
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Fast, detailed and reliable workers! Eased my mind about concerns and were kind to my children when they were being annoying!
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Excellent service! Professional, efficient, and neat work. Very happy with the installation. Highly recommended!
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Hoile Electrical arranged an electrician very quickly to review my smoke alarms. Ross was very friendly, efficient and helpful. Much appreciated and will definitely call them for electrical issues again.
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Gerad arrived on time.spent a lot of time explaining the process of improving our air conditioning,would recommend him for your air conditioning needs, Craig
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Hoile Electrical were recommended to us and we can see why. Very quick and efficient service by James and Nathan. Excellent communication all the way through. The whole experience was faultless.
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Very professional and good at what they do.
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Common questions
Is an electrical inspection part of a building inspection?
Not usually in detail. A building inspector may note obvious issues, but a licensed electrician checks the electrical system properly.
Can I use the report to negotiate on price?
It gives you facts to discuss with the seller or agent. How you use it is up to you.
Do I need to be at the inspection?
No, but you are welcome to be. We just need access to the home, the switchboard and the roof space.
What if the inspection finds problems?
We explain what each one means and what is urgent. We can quote on repairs if you want.
Should sellers get an inspection?
It can help. Knowing what needs fixing lets you deal with it before listing.
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