The huge number of bank owned and foreclosed homes in our area has caused a phenomenon never before seen in real estate - houses with utilities turned off. While utilities are required to be on for home inspections by the California Department of Real Estate, quite often the listing agent will say they are on but one or more is not. So what is the impact on the value of an inspection with one or more utilities off? To answer that question we must examine each utility in terms of what can be inspected with it off.
Water and power are the most important to have on. Water is needed to be able to check for leaks, water flow, water pressure, faucet operation in sinks, tubs and showers, and water spigots outside.
Power is needed for most of the appliances in a house and, of course, for the lights and fans, appliances and garage doors.
Natural gas is less important because fewer appliances use natural gas in their operation. The most important use of gas is heating water and air. Less important are ranges and ovens. Least important are the clothes drier and fireplace. Of note is the fact that of all the systems in the average house, the gas systems are the most reliable and are almost never broken. On top of that, it is easy to arrange for the Gas Company to turn on the gas while still in your inspection contingency time, and they check EVERY system in the house when they turn it on.
Most home inspectors will refuse to perform an inspection if water OR power is off, and if BOTH are off, the inspection must be postponed until they are turned on. So you must be SURE they are on or waste a trip to the home. The exception is if you take advantage of home inspectors who will bring portable utilities with them. Look for inspectors who carry utilities to every job.

For more information about this subject, contact Kurt Shafer, owner of Guaranteed Home Inspections. See his web site, www.ifimissitifixit.com or call him at (951) 296-3611.