Electric meter box needs to be installed

[Alex Ng]

I'm under contract for a fixer right now. I wanted to schedule an inspection but I wanted utilities available. Water is going to be turned on but electricity cannot because the meter box needed to be installed. My due diligence is over in 6 more days. Aren't permits required to install a meter box? I'm thinking of scheduling the inspection anyways and then deducting cost from the purchase price to cover the meter box. How much of a decrease should I ask for? I also heard the meter box is covered by the county?

[Kevin Sobilo]

@Alex Ng, I think the chances of you getting a meter box and meter installed in 6 days are very SMALL. Also, typically if there is no meter base there may not even be an electrical panel.

Also, you don't have permission to change the house! You are inspecting the house AS IT IS! If you are turning on utilities like water that needs to be specifically spelled out in the sales agreement including who pays to re-winterize the property etc.

When investors buy a property in the condition you describe they VERY OFTEN do not do inspections at all because half of the things you'd want to inspect are hard or impossible to check and also investors who buy these kinds of homes are usually experienced enough to judge the condition for themselves or with the help of a trusted contractor.