When was the last time you went to plug something in only to find out that the outlet was not in the spot that you needed it to be in? Or, the last time that you went to switch on a light, but had to search for the light switch because it was hidden behind an open door?

These things happen all the time, especially in older homes where light switches and outlets were not a priority. While you could live with these little inconveniences, we are fairly certain that you don’t want to!

Thankfully, it is not too difficult to move either one of these things and the first thing that you need to do is switch off the circuit breaker to either the outlet or switch, to prevent electricity from flowing through.

The next step will be removing the wall plate by loosening the screws and then pulling the little device out of the electrical box. We urge you to be careful with this step, as you do not want to touch the wires.

It is important that you see the wires as they are, so that you know which position each one needs to be in later. We always recommend labeling them, taking a picture, and even writing it all down. You can never be too careful! Next up, is a trip to the store, unless you happen to have the proper wire type and size sitting around in storage! Do not try any substitutions with the wires or you can cause an electrical fire later on.

Once you know what you need and have purchased it, it is time to cut a hole into the spot that you want the new light switch or outlet. To do this, you will need to trace around the electrical box, but make sure that you are doing the tracing in a spot where there is a stud if you have a box that needs to be attached to one.

Since you are moving the location of the outlet or switch, you are going to need to run new wiring. This isn’t too difficult until you reach a stud in the wall or another blockage like a pipe. Take your time with this part, as the last thing that you want to do is break the wire halfway through and need to start again.

As soon as the new wire is at the new location, you will need to push about five inches of it into the electrical box and then put it in the wall. After that, it is time to make the wire connections and that is where those written instructions, labeling, and pictures from before will come in handy. You can then turn on the power to test the outlet or switch in its new position.

We understand that moving outlets and switches isn’t easy for everyone, so feel free to call a professional to have this job done quickly and safely.