If your business has grown to the point that you’re ready to buy a physical location, you can take pride in knowing that your efforts have directly led to this day. Before you sign your life away and spend a significant amount of money on a new building, though, it’s important to carefully inspect the condition of potential locations so that you don’t end up facing significant repair bills down the road. One component, in particular, that you need to carefully inspect is the wiring in buildings that you’re interested in. By knowing what to look for, you can make this process much easier.
Flickering Lights
Flipping the light switch in a potential business location can tell you a lot about the condition of that location. If you turn on the lights and they immediately begin to flicker, it’s probably best to consider another alternative, use a wire crimping tool. Flickering lights can indicate an electrical system that has seen better days and is no longer able to provide adequate power to the light fixtures in the facility.
Unusual Smells
If a building has been closed-up for a while, you may encounter some unusual smells when you first walk in. While this is fairly normal, unusual smells that come from the building’s electrical system are anything but normal. These smells could indicate that insulation on certain wires has been stripped away, leading to wires becoming too hot, meaning that you’ll need serious assistance from commercial electrical services to get the building up and running safely.
Old Outlets
When considering an older building for your business location, it’s a good idea to pay attention to the outlets in the facility. If you notice any outlets with non-polarized plugs, then you’re likely looking at some electrical work before you can get your business going. This is because non-polarized plugs haven’t been installed in facilities in several decades, meaning that the building’s electrical system may have not been updated in several decades, as well.
Sizzling Sound
If you turn on a light switch or plug in a device and hear a sizzling sound, you’ve got some work ahead of you. A sizzling sound indicates a poor connection and could mean that some sparks are being created. Before a fire occurs, it’s important to cut the power to these particular components until they can be properly repaired.
Even if the location you’re considering has some electrical needs, that doesn’t mean you have to take it out of the running. If you can find a good electrician to help with the repairs, you can dramatically transform a building in need into a space that takes your business to the next level. By understanding which problems to look for, you’ll be able to have more leverage when asking for concessions from the seller so that you get the best possible price.
