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Key for e3CHM3VG is: become as knowledgable as you can about what you are trying to accomplish rather than leave it all up to others.

With electrical issues, even with my knowledge, I really would get a license electrician to do the high voltage side of things. But I'd tend to suggest that anyone learn enough about wiring and codes even just to be able to know for yourself that the work has been done properly. This should be easy stuff to find at a local library or home improvement store or online. A couple good illustrated books on wiring in addition to a book dedicated to national wiring code should suffice. No you dont have to master things electrical, just know what is going on.

Consider a wire running through holes drilled in a wall. Many code books will dictate that you place a metal plate over where the wire passes through the wood. By doing so, you reduce the likelihood that you would drill a hole to hang a picture and electricute yourself. There might even be code about the exactly size or placement of holes in wood why? To the wood from being over drilled and therefore being weakened to the point that of creating structural hazards.

Another issue that I find important is ADA compliance, that's even for the sake of guests or visitors. Even though am not compelled by ADA regulations to make a place suitable for handcapped people or people in wheelchairs, I consider it to be a courtesy even for a home. Also, what if you were to get into an accident and be in a wheelchair for a time? What if someone you love where in a wheelchair a time? Might as well make the house or property amicable. Its really simple thiings: the degree of slope of walkways, driveways or ramps; also widths of doorways, hallways, height and strength of railings.

When it comes to plumbing, you can read about that stuff too. Getting the stacks compliant can be a big issue and harmonizing with good plumbling code can really be good for your health! Do you want feces odors and bacterial gases leaking into your house making you sick? Probably not. There is a lot of material on this topic on the net and in libraries. But the stacks are probably one of the biggest issues.

A lot of the code is easy to measure numerics: height of ceilings/beams (typically 7'... high enough that if someone where in a panic during a fire that they wouldn't knock themselves out by hitting their head on a beam--"common" sense and courtesy), width of doors. Other things might pertain to location of exits, emergency lighting location. Its a good idea and some cities require that you have one or two window exits (such as emergency step ladders to get out) in basements if you finish them and someone will be sleeping down in the basement.

If it weren't for the codes there are those who might not give a crap if floors caved, killing people within a week of a new house or building being purchased--as long as they got their money, they'd be happy and hope that insurance covered it. Maybe consider that perspective.

If your mind is on health and safety for yourself and your family and for others who might live there should you move, you shouldn't have much trouble exceeding standards based on code. Remember some 'codes' are put in place for people who care more about money than they do about things that mean more than money. Admittedly, maybe code issues might be silly. But many if not most of them really make sense and promote the safety and protection of your life, property or estate.