🕵️♂️The Inspection Insider
Tips from a Certified Master Inspector to help you avoid surprises.
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The Bedroom Fire Waiting to Happen
The house was perfect. Cozy, spotless, and staged like a magazine spread. The buyers were already talking about furniture placement and where to put the Christmas tree.
We’d barely started the inspection when I caught it—a faint whiff of something burnt.
Not wood, not food… plastic.
I followed the smell into the basement bedroom. The curtains hung neatly beside the nightstand, where a white phone charger sat plugged into the wall. No phone attached—just the charger.
When I touched it, the plug and outlet cover were warm. The plastic had begun to discolor. And there, at the edge of the curtain, was a faint brown scorch mark.
One more hour, and this “dream home” could have been a pile of ash.
The Problem
Phone chargers, especially cheap or worn-out ones, can overheat when left plugged in for long periods. Add in a loose electrical outlet, and you have the perfect conditions for arcing—tiny sparks that can quickly ignite nearby materials.
In this case, the charger had been plugged in for months. The seller didn’t think twice about it.
They had no idea how close they’d come to losing everything.
How this Gets flagged
When I walk through a home, I keep an eye out for:
Discolored or melted outlet covers.
Warm outlets or plugs.
Overloaded extension cords.
Burnt or chemical smells.
How You Can Spot It Before the Offer
You don’t need to be an electrician to spot early warning signs. A few quick habits can make all the difference:
Look at the outlets – Any brown, yellow, or dark marks? That’s a red flag.
Lightly touch the outlet cover – Warm to the touch? Something’s wrong.
Check for heavy use in one spot – Too many cords from a single outlet could mean trouble.
Look for mismatched covers – A replaced cover plate in just one area could mean past damage.
Sniff the air – A faint burning or chemical smell is never “just nothing.”
The Fix of the Week
I unplugged the charger on the spot and flagged it in the report. An electrician later replaced the outlet and confirmed the charger was unsafe.
Why It Matters
For buyers, small hazards can shake their trust in a property.
For Realtors, catching issues like this early can prevent a lost deal, avoid a safety scare, and position you as a sharp, client-first professional.
For sellers this can avoid a huge tragedy.
Firefighters warn of surge protector, phone charger danger
🛠️ Pro Tip
Outlets, switches, and cords should never feel warm to the touch. If they do—or if you see discoloration or smell something unusual—it could mean overheating or faulty wiring. Have it inspected before it becomes a bigger problem.
🔎 Coming Next Week…
The $20,000 Problem You Can Spot From the Sidewalk
Ron Henderson, CMI
Certified Master Inspector
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Disclaimer: Some details in these stories have been modified to protect the privacy of individuals involved. While the events are based on real experiences, names, locations, and certain specifics may have been altered.
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