When buying an older home, it might be a good idea to hire an electrician to do a full inspection. Have the outside service and basement panel inspected including the wiring leading to the upper floors. It’s not uncommon to find fabric wrapped wiring in older homes. Several problems can be associated with it, including fires, arcing, possibility of hitting wires when nailing something into a wall. The lack of a grounding wire with vintage wiring can cause serious problems when using modern technology and the possibility of blowing up a new computer or Plasma TV. Always use a surge protector on expensive equipment in any home.
Old wiring is pretty dodgy stuff and will usually need to be replaced to varying degrees to pass local city code. It’s a good idea to budget for a full wiring upgrade in that new old home you wish to acquire or plan to sell. Wiring is the top of the list to have in optimal working order. It should be considered a prudent investment in your real estate and will payoff when you decide to resell your home. Make sure to get several estimates to avoid being oversold on unneeded work. Always use a licensed professional and do a little research online to get some idea of what is involved. In regards to cost, plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Very helpful. Thanks