Old Home: What to Know Before You Move In

Some older have charm or they maybe a renovators delight but one thing in common is that the electrical system will probably need some major work.

If you are house hunting, these points may help you in the price negotiations or your budget planning.

At Direct Point Electrical, we inspect and upgrade homes across Berwick, Narre Warren, Officer and Cranbourne.
We see the same issues come up time and again. Here’s what to watch for and how to handle it early, before problems grow.

1. No Safety Switches

If there’s one thing your new home should not go without, it’s a residual current device (RCD) often called a safety switch. These are the devices that cut the power instantly if a fault occurs, and they’ve been required for years on all new circuits.

Many older switchboards don’t have them at all, or only have one for the whole house. Without them, a simple fault can turn into a major hazard.

What to do:
Have the switchboard assessed. We’ll identify whether safety switches are present and functioning and whether a replacement board is the best fix.

2. Switchboards That Can’t Handle Modern Loads

Older homes were wired when there were fewer appliances, no air conditioning, and far fewer devices. Today, an newly installed induction cooktop demands more power than a whole house did back then.

Outdated boards with fuses or overloaded breakers are not just inefficient, they’re also prone to failure under pressure.

What to do:
We assess the load needs of your home based on your appliances and layout, and recommend upgrades that prevent tripping and overheating.

3. Power Points in All the Wrong Places

Many homes built before 1990s have very few power points, especially in kitchens, living areas and bedrooms. They weren’t designed for charging devices, running entertainment systems or having appliances on every bench.

In many cases, the outlets that are there may be cracked, loose or not properly grounded.

What to do:
We walk through the home with you to plan new power point locations, check the condition of existing outlets, and ensure they’re properly protected.

4. Lights That Flicker or Go Dim

Flickering lights aren’t just annoying, they’re often a symptom of poor connections, underpowered circuits, or wear in the wiring that isn’t visible from the outside.

If lights dim when another appliance switches on, it usually means the circuit isn’t properly balanced or wired to handle that load.

What to do:
We can test each circuit and recommend rewiring only where necessary,often we can isolate and fix the problem locally without a full rewire.

5. Confusing or Unlabeled Circuit Layouts

When you open the switchboard, do you know which switch does what? Or does flipping one breaker turn off half the house and the garage?

Older boards often lack clear labeling and separation between lighting, power, and fixed appliances. That can make fault finding and future upgrades a real headache.

What to do:
As part of any inspection, we’ll map and relabel your circuits so you know exactly what’s going where. If separation is needed, we’ll provide options.

6. Hidden Wiring That’s Seen Better Days

Older homes often have wiring that’s been patched over the years. That can mean a mix of old and new cables, loose junctions, or non-compliant joins hidden behind walls or ceilings.

These issues might not show up right away, but they create risk and make future work more complex.

What to do:
An electrical audit will reveal the condition of the cabling in key areas. We don’t guess, we test and inspect. If sections need to be replaced, we’ll prioritise the highest-risk zones.

7. No Prep for Modern Tech

Want to add smart lighting, security cameras, home networking or air conditioning? Many older homes aren’t wired for any of that. There’s no allowance for low-voltage cable runs, no spare switchboard space, and no flexibility.

What to do:
If you’re planning renovations, we’ll help design a system that supports smart upgrades—whether now or in stages over time.
🔗 Smart Home Installations
🔗 Air Conditioning Electrical Services

Don’t Let Electrical Issues Catch You Off Guard

You wouldn’t buy a home without checking the roof, right? Wiring deserves the same level of attention. The safest way to buy or move into an older home is to book a full electrical inspection from a licensed electrician.

We’ll walk the home with you, test the key systems, and provide a clear report on what’s working, what’s risky, and what’s worth upgrading now versus later.

FAQs

Do I need to rewire the whole home?
Not always. Many issues can be isolated and upgraded one zone at a time.

Is this covered in a building inspection?
Not in depth. Most building reports only check visible components. We test wiring, safety switches, and circuit performance.

Can I upgrade parts over time?
Yes. We can help you stage the work to suit your renovation or budget plans.

What if I’m still deciding whether to buy?
A pre-purchase inspection can give you peace of mind—or negotiating power.

Book an Electrical Audit Before You Commit

An older home can be the best kind of home,but only if the wiring behind the walls is up to the task. Before you start plugging in appliances or planning renovations, get the right advice.

Direct Point Electrical provides pre-purchase audits and upgrade plans across Melbourne’s outer east. Let’s make sure your new home is ready for modern life—safely and reliably.

Wiring Electrician