Short answer
A home inspection is a general visual survey and may note electrical concerns. An electrical inspection is a closer look at the panel, circuits and fixed wiring by someone qualified for that work. Lenders, insurers and permit offices set their own requirements, and those requirements are local.
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A home inspection
A home inspection looks across the property: structure, roof, plumbing, heating and the visible electrical equipment. The inspector may report a double-tapped breaker, a missing cover or an outdated panel. That report tells you something needs attention. It is not a diagnosis of the circuit, and it is not a repair.
An electrical inspection
An electrical inspection is limited to the electrical installation. A qualified electrician looks at the panel, the protection, the visible wiring and the outlets and switches that are in scope. The written scope should say whether the visit is visual only, whether any testing is included, and which parts of the building are excluded.
It does not survey the roof, the drains or the structure. If you need both, book both. Do not expect either visit to include the other.
Who asks for one
A buyer, a lender, an insurer or a local building department may ask for an electrical inspection or for defects in a home-inspection report to be checked. Those requests differ by city, lender and policy. There is no single federal form that every home must have. Ask which document they want, and give that description to the electrician.
What to do with the result
A report that recommends further investigation is not itself a quote. Ask what is unsafe to use now, what can wait, and what the repair would involve. NFPA's home electrical guidance is to have electrical work done by a qualified electrician, and to have a home inspected by a qualified inspector or in line with local requirements when you buy or remodel.
Request the electrical visit on the electrical inspection page. Say whether a home inspector, insurer or permit office has already flagged something. This site passes the request on. It does not inspect the property.
Sources
Questions
Can the home inspector repair what they find?
A home inspection and the repair should stay separate. Use the report as the brief for a qualified electrician.
Does an electrical inspection include the appliances?
Only if the scope says so. A fixed-wiring inspection does not automatically test every appliance.
Need this done? Read the Electrical inspection guide, or start a request.
Electrical problem? Find an electrician near you.
From tripping circuit breakers and faulty outlets to urgent electrical repairs, finding the right professional starts with explaining the problem.