Identifying Receptacle Issues With Stickers

I use stickers all the time and never had a complaint. The ones I use are only about 1/4" diameter. Don't over think it, stick them and place in report what the colors mean

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 10/25/2014 11:00 PM EDT

I don't leave any stickers, I just take a picture of every electrical defect. In particular with outlets, I take the photo from 8 to 10 feet away so that the context or location is obvious.

If there are multiple outlets with the same defect I take one photo and designate the issue is throughout the first floor or the home entirely.

I stopped taking comments on electrical defects about eight months ago. Now, the caption for the photo is the note for that defect. All the captions are pre-written and one or two short sentences. Additionally, the photos follow the path through the house which my inspection takes; from the outside, to the attic, to the 2nd floor, to the first floor, to the basement. It's fast, detailed and clear.

Sheehan, that's way too much work. You could fix it in less time!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 10/26/2014 08:51 PM EDT

It would take me 2 minutes to fix and that's not guaranteed as there could be a bigger issue beyond what's behind the outlet cover.

It takes me 10 seconds to put a sticker on and take a picture.

Clients are amazed at the attention to detail and it has eliminated calls from the listing agent saying "the electrician is at the house and can't find the outlets you are talking about. Can you call him?"

I've gotten that call twice; not since I've been using stickers.

Bottom line, it works for me even if it doesn't work for you.

Cool! I will consider the stickers.

Here is what we do in the report" x open ground, three-pronged grounding type receptacles were found. This is a safety hazard due to the risk of shock. An electrician should evaluate and make repairs as necessary.

Identified with blue dot(s) with "OG""

This is fast, simple, no need to take a picture because the dots identify the location. We have never had anyone complain about the dots being there.

The only issue I can think of with stickers is that a nefarious seller could remove a few stickers to save themselves money rather than get the repairs made. While I do doubt the odds of that happening, I distrust people just enough to have a photo as my documentation instead.

just as easy to identify "dead wall outlet in master bedroom" in the report. open grounds are common in older homes and unless the home was updated and you found one outlet which was not, why identify individual outlets? isn't it better to simply alert the buyer that the home, due to age and common practice, does not have gfci, afci or grounded circuits or that only the new addition was upgraded. we are not electricians and it is easy to be fooled with outlets which may appear to be grounded when in fact they are not. are you removing the wall plates on each outlet? are you tracing circuits? I recently inspected a home that was literally covered in red dots; interior and exterior. REA asked me to remove them as I inspected. red dots to identify a little moisture damage on T111 siding, missing caulk on window, torn screen, short downspout, dirty air grille, cabinet door....nobody knew who the inspector was or when the dots were placed. Marking a dangerous issue is one thing such as identifying a dangerous panel or a rotted floor ready to collapse but I don't see the need for all these little red,blue,green dots and I think you are exposing yourself unnecessarily by using them.

I only marked them if there is one or two that are not wired correctly.

Sometimes all the outlets on one or two walls will be wired incorrectly and in that case I will say "outlets (x4) in the basement northwest bedroom (north and west walls) were not wired correctly."

If all of the outlets are ungrounded or I have even had all outlets in a basement bedroom hot/neutral reverse I will say "all outlets in the basement east bedroom are wired hot/neutral reverse."

I can see both sides of using / not using the stickers. I haven't used any myself to date, but I'm leaning towards the idea.

I have gone the other direction and used a sticker on an electrical receptacle and wall switch to show what receptacles are connected to light switches. Buyers love it so they know where they can plug in lamps.

Jeremiah Anderson wrote:I have gone the other direction and used a sticker on an electrical receptacle and wall switch to show what receptacles are connected to light switches. Buyers love it so they know where they can plug in lamps.

Here in Utah the builders install switched receptacles upside down.

Do you put stickers on "fogged" windows (broken seals?) As w/ receptacles, I don't; rather I describe the window locations. I know one inspector who Xs the corner w/ a Sharpie.

Philo wrote:Do you put stickers on "fogged" windows (broken seals?) As w/ receptacles, I don't; rather I describe the window locations. I know one inspector who Xs the corner w/ a Sharpie.

Fogged windows are a nuisance and not a safety/fire hazard so no.

Here in Utah the builders install switched receptacles upside down

That's pretty cool Sheehan, I wish builders did that here.