On Nov 1, 1:24*pm, Lee B wrote:
(I'm clueless about electricity... actually it sort of scares me, so
this is all Greek to me).

Question - I'm in the process of selling an older(1950's) home. The home
inspection was Friday, and I got the buyers' laundry list Saturday
afternoon. One of the things they are asking for is GFCI's to be
installed in the bathrooms. (This is in Baltimore County, if that makes
a difference). I know that I've heard that these are required if a
bathroom is renovated, but are they required in one that hasn't been?
The only thing I've done in the past 20+ years to the bathroom was to
paint, and have a new vanity installed. There is currently a two prong
outlet near the sink in the hall bath. I saw a couple of sites online
that says these can be GFI'd, but that they won't have an equipment
ground (whatever that is).

In the basement bathroom (truly in the basement, not like it's a powder
room), the only outlet at all is one that is built into an old medicine
cupboard.

I don't want to lose the sale, and am willing to do what's legally
requited, but am trying to find out if these are *required* or just
desirable. The home inspection report just says "recommend bathroom
electrical outlet be replaced with GFCI type outlet". There are a number
of other items in the laundry list that to me fall in the "it would be
nice" category (repair cracked tiles on bathroom wall), but don't affect
habitability of the house, and I'm trying to figure if it's easier to
just offer some additional money at settlement and let them have the
work done themselves. I guess I'll spend the day on the phone tomorrow
getting estimates.

As others have said, putting the GFCI's in the bathrooms would be a
great goodwill gesture. It might even go a long way to letting you
slide on the other "it would nice it they were done" items. A little
give and take.

As far as replacing the 2 prong outlet in the upstairs bathroom, as
long as there is room in the box (GFCI receptacles take up a bit more
room) it's an easy swap.

As far as the one built into the medicine cupboard, you might be able
to find a outlet upstream of that one where you could put the GFCI.
Either that or you could replace the breaker for that room with a GFCI
breaker. It's would be a bit more expensive, but not as expensive as
losing the sale. That might also work for the upstairs bathroom if the
box is too small.

Yeah, there might be nuisance trips depending on what else the breaker
controls, but they won't be a nuisance to *you* if you get my drift.