Inspection of an old house

For some, there is great appeal in owning an older home: the pride that comes from preserving a historic part of a neighborhood, being able to restore a decaying home to its former glory, the pleasure that comes from living in a home that was built with care and craftsmanship. But there can be significant hurdles to buying an older home, condition issues that can quickly turn pride of ownership into regret and major expenses. If you’re considering an older home, be sure to spend more time with your home inspector before closing to make sure your home ideas can actually be met.

Older homes can have a wide variety of problems, requiring a lot more thought than the usual, “can I easily fix or replace this?” Questions. Outdated or obsolete systems and materials are a major problem. Your inspector is there to make sure everything is working properly and will usually point out any outdated systems, but it’s up to you to dig into any questionable items. For example; Many homes built before 1960 used galvanized plumbing, which has a life expectancy of 30 to 50 years. The pipe may look good in the home and work quite well, but you have to keep in mind that it will eventually have to be replaced. In some areas, insurance companies will not cover homes with galvanized pipes built before 1940. Lead pipes can still be a problem, with additional health considerations if lead pipes carry water into the home.

Heating and cooling systems must also be considered: an original system may work now, but will eventually fail, so what type of system will work best for the home? Were the systems installed correctly to begin with, or were they rigged to fit a home that wasn’t built with such systems in mind? Electrical systems like knob and tube or aluminum wiring are often partially replaced in an older home, you’ll need to know how much is left and what it would take to complete the replacement. Again, in some areas, the amount of outdated wiring in a home can affect insurance rates or make the home uninsurable.

Some of your considerations may be aesthetic. A house that has had asbestos or linoleum shingles added to it can be delivered just fine, but it may not be what you want, especially if you want to restore the house to its original condition. Removal of asbestos materials can be expensive and requires special professionals to do the job. In some cases, it is easier and more cost-effective to cover the tiles or the floor, but it is not always possible. Ask your inspector if they can tell you what types of materials have been used to help determine removal and replacement costs. Slate or clay tile roofs may be historically accurate, but can you afford maintenance if the home you choose has damage? (Depending on the area where it was quarried, slate can last a long time with good maintenance, but it requires more than a visual inspection from the ground; make sure your inspector comes by. Clay tiles typically last 50-70 years.) .

Fireplaces and fireplaces are an area to take special consideration with an older home. Many homeowners don’t think about inspecting and cleaning their chimneys regularly, choosing to forego using the chimney or risk starting a house fire. You may dream of a roaring fire, but replacing the liner or completely rebuilding your chimney may be prohibitively expensive or require careful budgeting over time. If you want to convert a wood or charcoal fireplace to gas logs, the size of the fireplace opening and the location of the gas lines can come into play. Sometimes a well-intentioned homeowner will install new heating and cooling systems, connecting the vent to an old bare chimney and opening up the possibility of deadly CO2 leaks.

Owning an old house can be a joy and a source of pride. When considering whether or not to buy an “old” home, make sure to have the home thoroughly reviewed by a licensed, reliable inspector, taking into account any possible restoration or renovation you may have in mind. With careful planning and full knowledge of the potential pitfalls, you can budget your money and time to make your old home a good investment and a pleasure to live in.