Selling a house with aluminum wiring
Does your house have aluminum wiring?
Wires carry electricity throughout the home, so your wiring system is a crucial component of your property. While copper wires are the standard in modern homes, aluminum wiring is common in older homes and is especially common in houses built in and around the 1960s and 1970s. Because home-safety standards change over time, aluminum wires are no longer considered safe. If you’re preparing to sell, you may want to make sure there are no issues that could negatively impact your home sale.
What are the dangers of aluminum wiring?
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, homes wired with aluminum are 55 times more likely to have a wire connection reach fire-hazard conditions than homes that are not. This type of wiring is unsafe by modern standards due to its ability to expand and contract in response to changes in temperature. Wires are usually located in attics, crawlspaces, and wall cavities that lack insulation, where temperature changes are common. These discrepancies can lead to faulty wire connection with aluminum wiring, which is why its use is considered a fire hazard.
How do you determine if your house has aluminum wiring?
If you think your house may have aluminum wiring, you can check it out yourself. Be sure to turn off your main circuit breaker before checking for aluminum wires. Here’s how:
-
View the electrical panel: Open your electrical service panel. Examine the bare wires connected to the breakers and their metal strips for aluminum wires, which will be silver or gray in color.
-
Check outlets and light switches: Pull the cover plates off outlets and light switches, which will expose the terminal screws and wire nuts. Without touching anything, examine the screws and wires to see if they are aluminum.
-
Inspect the attic and crawlspace: Look at wiring bundles in your attic and crawlspace. Aluminum wiring bundles normally have white or black cable sleeves and will usually be labeled as “aluminum” along the sleeve or near both cable ends.
You may want to consider hiring an electrician to do an official inspection of your wiring system. An electrical inspection can cost between $100–$400, depending on the scope of the inspection and the accessibility of your home. Signs that you may want to get an inspection include flickering lights, hot spots, discoloration, and burning smells.
How does aluminum wiring affect your home sale?
If your electrical system uses aluminum, you will need to consider:
-
Code compliance: One of the biggest causes of concern with aluminum wiring is how it can affect your home’s code compliance. Housing codes establish basic safety standards for dwellings, and failure to comply has negative results. Many home insurance companies charge higher rates or deny coverage for homes that use aluminum wiring, and potential buyers may have trouble applying for loans.
-
Disclosure: If you do have aluminum wiring in your home, you should notify any interested buyers by providing disclosure. Disclosure laws are determined by the state.
How to sell a house with aluminum wiring
When you sell a house that has an aluminum circuit system, you have two options:
-
Repair before you sell: You may want to consider making home improvements before selling. If you replace your aluminum wiring with copper wires, keep in mind that you will want to do a complete replacement, as problems can arise out of mixing aluminum and copper wiring. Using copper and aluminum wiring together can cause corrosion and the formation of aluminum oxide and can increase the likelihood of a fire. On average, the cost to rewire a house is around $10,000, according to Bankrate. You may want to compare the cost of the rewiring with the potential difference in your home value before and after the repair.
-
Sell your house “as is”: A complete rewiring of your house may be out of the question. If you don’t have the time or money for such an undertaking, you have the option to sell your Atlanta house “as is.” You could still sell on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) with the help of a real estate agent if you offer a price reduction and are willing to offer seller concessions. However, the risk posed by the presence of aluminum wiring in your home might limit your potential buyers or their lenders. If that’s the case, you could sell your house to an off-market home buyer like We Buy Ugly Houses®. Working with a direct home buyer lets you streamline your sale and sell your house “as is.”
Sell your house “as is” in Atlanta.
When you sell to We Buy Ugly Houses, you don’t need to worry about aluminum wiring. As local property specialists, we buy houses in various conditions and situations. With our seller-focused, 3-step process, we can take you from consultation to closing quickly, sometimes in as little as 3 weeks—or later if you need more time.
Ready to sell your house “as is” with a home buyer that cares? Don’t let aluminum wiring scare you out of your sale. Reach out to We Buy Ugly Houses in Atlanta to get a free consultation toward a fast offer.
