Electrical inspection when selling or buying a home
Know what's behind the meter cupboard door, before you sign or before the buyer finds out.
NEN 10101 to 2 hours for an average homeReport with photosPrice up front
You're selling
An inspection isn't compulsory, but you do have a duty of disclosure: what you know, you must report. A report shows what's there and takes the argument about hidden defects off the table. It also gives the buyer confidence, and that leaves less room for haggling.
Something not in order? Then you know before the viewings and you can choose: repair it or disclose it honestly. Both are better than an argument after the handover.
You're buying
A structural survey is about the construction and barely looks in the meter cupboard. In older homes, that's exactly where the money is.
You want to know that before you make an offer, not after. With a report in hand you also have something concrete to talk about.
What I check
For an average home it takes me one to two hours.
- The consumer unit: type of protection, number of circuits, condition of the unit and whether the layout still suits how the house is used.
- Earthing and RCDs: is there a sound earth, and do the RCDs really trip? I test the latter, I don't just look at it.
- The wiring: type and condition, and whether there's still old wiring that no longer complies.
- The visible installation: sockets, switches, connections in the kitchen and bathroom, and the outdoor circuits.
- Measurements: earth resistance and insulation resistance, so the report contains figures rather than impressions.
What you get
A report with photos that sets out, point by point, what's in order, what needs attention and what really has to be repaired, with an indication of the cost. Not a list of ticks nobody can read, but in plain language, so you can show it to a buyer or seller.
If you want the points repaired, that's possible, but it doesn't have to be with me. The report is yours and you're not tied to anything.
Questions about the electrical inspection
Is an electrical inspection compulsory when selling a home?
No, in the Netherlands it isn't compulsory. But as the seller you do have a duty of disclosure: if you know of defects, you must report them. An inspection shows what's there and prevents arguments afterwards about hidden defects.
What exactly gets checked?
The consumer unit and the protection devices, the earthing and the RCDs, the quality of the wiring, the visible installation in the home and the outdoor circuits. I measure the earth resistance and the insulation resistance, and test whether the RCDs actually trip.
How long does it take and what do I get?
For an average home it takes me one to two hours. You get a report with photos that sets out, point by point, what's in order, what needs attention and what really has to be repaired, with an indication of the cost.
I'm buying a house, is this useful alongside a structural survey?
Yes. A structural survey is about the construction and at most takes a quick look at the meter cupboard. In older homes, that's exactly where the money is. You want to know that before you sign.
What does an electrical inspection cost?
That depends on the size of the home and the number of circuits. You get a price up front. If the home turns out bigger or different on site, I discuss it with you first. Request a price with the address included and I'll work it out for you.
Read up first
From my knowledge base, in plain language.
Electrical inspection when selling or buying a home
An inspection is not compulsory when selling, but the report prevents discussion and surprises after the keys are handed over.
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3 min readNear you too
For planned jobs and faults I travel all over the Netherlands, day and night for a fault. I get to you fastest in Limburg; elsewhere you can see right here how long the drive takes.
- Jobs and faults, 24/7: all of the Netherlands
- Fastest on site: Limburg
Provincial borders: CBS and PDOK, CC BY 4.0