The ask was an EV charger. The house was not ready for one.
In Kennesaw, the homeowner had a HELOC that covered the electrical service upgrade. They wanted charging at home. They also needed the house brought up to what the inspections office would accept. Those are not the same job, even when they happen on the same visit.
Steven planned a full service upgrade, then inspected the grounding system, smoke detectors, and receptacles. The work that followed was the list required for approval: a new meter, weather head, and breaker panel, plus smoke detectors and grounding brought up to code.
Why the charger was not the first step
A Level 2 charger is a new continuous load. If the service, grounding, or detection devices are already short of current code, the inspector does not sign off on the charger circuit and ignore the rest. The upgrade was selected because it was the path that would pass, not because every EV install includes a panel change.
We say the same thing on our panel upgrades page: quote capacity work when the house needs it. No upsells still means listing required inspection items separately from the charger mount.
What to take from this job
Plan the electrical path before you assume the house can take an EV or another large appliance. A HELOC or a new car does not change what the panel and grounding already are.
If you are in Cobb County and thinking about overnight charging, start with photos of the panel, the parking spot, and any inspection notes. Call (470) 681-7660 or request an estimate.
Related reading: an EV charger quote starts with the electrical service and 200-amp work tied to real new loads.