After receiving electrical inspection results, your first step is to read the report carefully and separate required corrections from advisory recommendations. Items flagged as code violations or safety hazards need to be addressed — they’re not optional. Advisories are things inspectors note as worth improving but not mandatory. Prioritize by urgency: fire and shock hazards first, then code compliance items, then efficiency or convenience upgrades.

Understand What’s Required Versus Recommended

Inspection reports use specific language. Words like “must,” “required,” “violation,” or “immediate hazard” indicate items that must be corrected — often with a reinspection to confirm compliance. “Recommend,” “suggest,” or “consider” indicate advisory items. If anything in the report is unclear, call the inspection agency or your electrician and ask for clarification before assuming something is optional.

Prioritize by Safety Impact

  • Immediate hazards: Exposed wiring, overloaded panels, missing breakers, or evidence of arcing should be addressed before the home is occupied or before you continue using affected circuits.
  • Code violations: Missing GFCI protection in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outdoor locations; missing AFCI protection on bedroom circuits; ungrounded outlets in areas that require grounding.
  • Panel and wiring issues: Double-tapped breakers, undersized service, aluminum wiring with improper terminations, and DIY wiring that doesn’t meet code.
  • Advisory items: Schedule these after the required work is complete — they’re worth doing but don’t pose an immediate risk.

Get a Licensed Electrician Involved Early

Share your inspection report with a licensed electrician as soon as possible — ideally before you respond to the inspection agency or make any commitments about timelines. An electrician can translate the technical language, give you a realistic scope of work and cost estimate, and flag whether any items were misclassified. In Colorado, licensed electricians pull the required permits for panel and circuit work, which is what triggers the reinspection process and closes out the findings officially.

Don’t Attempt to Clear Violations Yourself

It’s tempting to handle simple-looking items yourself to save money, but unpermitted electrical work in Colorado can create problems when you sell the home and may void your homeowner’s insurance if a claim arises from that circuit. The cost of a licensed repair is almost always less than the cost of undoing DIY work that didn’t meet code. For anything involving your panel, service entrance, or new circuit runs, a licensed pro is required by law.

Plan and Budget for the Work

If the inspection turned up a long list of items, don’t panic — most electrical deficiencies in older Denver-area homes are correctable without a full rewire. A good electrician will help you sequence the work logically and may be able to bundle related items to reduce labor costs. For larger projects like a panel upgrade or whole-home rewire, ask about financing options to spread the cost. Done! provides free estimates so you know exactly what you’re looking at before committing.

Schedule the Reinspection

Once the required corrections are complete, your electrician will typically schedule or advise on the reinspection. Make sure all permit paperwork is in order and that the electrician has signed off on the work before the inspector returns. Keep copies of permits, receipts, and the final inspection approval — these documents are valuable when it comes time to sell the home or make an insurance claim.

Done!’s licensed electricians work with homeowners across the Denver metro to resolve inspection findings efficiently. Explore our panel and wiring services or our full range of electrical services to get started.