Thinking About Buying an Older Home

Buying an older home quite often feels romantic, but………….

Buying an older home can be quite the commitment,  especially if it hasn’t been renovated in 100 years.  If it has been renovated then “awesome” but do you know who it was renovated by?  Where they licensed, did they have a permit for the projects?  Depending on the state you live in permits might not be a big deal but for you the homeowner they should be a big deal!

1901 Queen Anne Victorian, Kalispell, MT
Anita Johnston

If wiring was updated then definitely check to see if the work was done by a licensed electrician and definitely see if there was a permit.  Why you might ask?  To get the electrical approved the work would have been inspected before the permit was approved.

What Else To Look For In a Home Inspection?

Electrical isn’t the only issue that can be worrisome with houses of all ages.  There’s numerous other items that can be on your list.

Home inspection with Anita Johnston

• Plumbing. Plumbing problems are a common issue with old homes because galvanized pipes either get clogged or corroded. …
• Mold can be serious depending on the type of mold and if there’s a water intrusion and not just poor ventilation
• Dry Rot. This can be simply due to the age of the wood
• Foundation Problems. … within the life of a home you should expect some movement.  But if there’s serious cracks in a foundation or large cracks in walls you should proceed with a high level of caution
• Electrical Wiring. Old wiring can be costly to remove and rewire a home.  This is not a DIY project!
• Asbestos.  A lot of houses have asbestos in the insulation, in the flooring tiles, etc.  Refer to the EPA website on removal.  Once again this is not a DIY project
• Lead Paint.  Depending on the age of your house you might have lead paint.  Lead in paint was illegal after 1978.  And most paint did not have lead in it.  The majority of paint that contained lead was the more expensive brands that weren’t commonly used.  If you are curious if your house has lead paint you can buy lead detectors at most hardware stores.  Or if you want a better reading you can hire companies that have the guns that read the paint composition.
• Roof.  The age and condition of a roof can definitely be an issue.
• https://youtu.be/7_suV2hDFSk