Trees and landscaping problems can be the root cause. Just because you see some modern outlets doesn't mean it has all been updated. We  have a calculated plan to execute our renovation slowly over 5-7 years. Has the home just been repainted to cover water or fire damage; Do the floors need to be refinished? Local business are vibrant and homes are well-maintained and renovated. Questions to ask when viewing a house or flat. Yes, that's my son helping his dad measure the distance between the cracks to fill with epoxy for water tightness. 2. Tagged: The largest vertical crack is seen in the before picture above. And while there are plenty of questions you should ask about any new home purchase, buying an old house requires a different set of questions. We also know that we might have to change out the sewage pipe in our front yard if the ground shifts too much. When buying a home, selecting a mortgage lender is a big decision. My advice is to keep them out of windows on the front of your home. If your house was built before 1978 there is a good chance there is lead paint ... unless its already been remediated. It's always good to put your eyes on the exterior finishes of your house. Buyers should concentrate on whether buying is affordable and the right decision in the long-term, rather than panic over house prices or cave into the UK's 'must-own, must-own' mentality. So we decided we decided not to lift the house 1/16 of an inch. It's a preference of where you want to spend your money and what you like in a comfortable home. My home isn't fully updated, so we continue to maintain the old pipes and check on them periodically. Are the walls structurally sound? You might even see some cracking around windows and doors due to settling issues. A typical asphalt shingle roof lasts 15 to 20 years. Knob and tube wiring was not meant to have many circuits. It’s easy to fall so in love with a property that you lose sight of the more practical considerations: does it have a termite infestation? Here is why we will remove every bit of plaster from our old home: In other words, is your landscaping  sloped and graded away from your house in away that directs water away from the house. The cost depends on the size of the house. We were able to have new windows made to fit the exact same profile of the originals. Overtime, lath plaster will crack and fall inside the walls. On the other hand, if the pipes have been well maintained they could be just fine. Many home shoppers opt to use a lender that’s recommended by their real estate agent, but that doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the best rate, or that the lender will have experience in loans for your unique scenario. The allure of an old home? If they're in good condition they can efficiently and safely heat a home. Click here to read PART 2 of this series. Renovation burnout is normal and natural, even for people who do it everyday. Before you go look for an old house you need to know it's a "thing" with old houses and that (in my opinion) it is a "must do" in your renovation. If the basement is unfinished. The wiring can become poorly connected over time which can be a fire hazard. It's best to choose an old house in a neighborhood that's trending toward revival or is established and has a good mixture of renovated and nice (yet not renovated) homes. Our neighborhood is old and established, where many people would like to live. If you want even more questions answered, check out our free Home Buyer’s Guide . This would be something you would want to know. You can cut holes for blown-in insulation, but it's hard to reliably know how much of the wall is insulated. Cast iron plumbing needs to be scoped by a professional plumber and maintained. Make sure your inspection gives you a detailed account of the wiring and have an electrical contractor come and give you a bid to replace the wiring in your house. Many old homes still are heated by radiators. Finding the right home involves research, so you’ll need to ask the right questions. There was updated wiring from the kitchen renovation (done in the late 1970s) tied in with the knob and tube. The foundation walls are the most telling sign of what is going on in the old home foundation. Lead paint should already be disclosed in the home's real estate listing but make sure you ask the question and have the areas in question tested anyway. Luckily, when we opened the walls we were able to tell it was only in the basement. That's why we chose to replace the windows and hire out our exterior painting. Make sure your inspection gives you a detailed account of the wiring and have an electrical contractor come and give you a bid to replace the wiring in your house. YIKES! How to Install a Toilet Yourself – No Plumber Needed! Use this information to negotiate cost or determine if the house is worth making an offer. Buying a home can be a daunting experience and knowing the right questions to ask can be confusing. We will soon be grading out our yard to help water slope away from our house. We would not just take on any house in this condition. If you’re ever in doubt, ask a professional to assess the property and write a detailed report on its state of repair. Below we've listed all the things it's worth thinking about when you view a house or flat. Be sure to download my FREE home buying workbook in my How to Buy a House in 12 Weeks post. And if you’re ready to put in an offer — get a full survey and look forward to battles with solicitors and agents, all of which takes longer than 33 minutes. This way we can install them ourselves save even more money. Some cracks around windows and doors in old house are simply due to the plaster being old. If it's a foreclosure flipper, you might not be able to secure financing for 90 days. Look for updates or fixes that have been done. However estate agents are legally bound to tell the truth, so you need to make sure you ask the right questions to find out what the real situation is. Most insurance companies won't insure a home with knob and tube because of the fire hazard. Your email address will not be published. If needed, the cost of lifting your house to make it level again which leads to fixing plaster/drywall or flooring after the repair. On another note, if you do the repairs make sure you take pictures and get documentation before you button up the wall. Make to work within your budget when considering the heating and cooling costs for a new home. How long they have owned the house? Drive to the house during rush hour and ask neighbours for their opinion on the area. You cannot insulate your walls if you have knob and tube because it is a fire hazard (which also means your walls are not insulated.). Is there wood siding in contact with the earth? As you patch the cracks, there is no way of fixing the issue from the inside. The cost of epoxy to fill the foundation crack to prevent water or air instrusion, Call a structural engineer or foundation company. 3. 26 Aug 2019. The trees were removed but years of overgrowth had caused horizontal cracking that eventually will require steel reinforcement beams. How you heat and cool your home is all a matter of preference, so your solution will naturally reflect that. What's the condition of the roof? Steel beams are common in an old home. In this third edition of 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask, Glink presents new stories of real people who have gone through the home-buying process for the first time and once again offers her trademark friendly advice on how to avoid common home-buyer mistakes. When you are buying an old home, be sure to ask good questions about the basement foundation. I'd like to receive the free email course. About the Author: The above Real Estate information on the problems to look for when buying an old house was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field.Bill can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 508-625-0191. and help you evaluate the right home price, set a realistic budget, and decide what level (if any) of diving into an old home renovation is for you. After reading through this list you might think "I can never own an old home" ... that's not true! Through the years many old homes have been updated with central air, but some still only have window units. Our guest bathroom is original to the house, so when we renovate, we'll change out the cast iron pipes there. The cost depends on the size of the house. A gorgeous house, a stunning yard, looks immaculate…and the price is just as stunning. If severe, the cost of new footings  to be placed underneath your home to keep it from sinking further. For example, cedar shake siding is beautiful but needs regular maintenance. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s the more you ask, the more you know! This Old House has a great article about great old neighborhoods across the country. Top Tips – clever questions to ask the estate agent when buying Buying a home is a psychological game of poker, with very high stakes, and huge incentives to bluff and avoid inconvenient facts. Educated yourself about the cost and frequency to maintain its integrity. Horizontal cracks often mean that something is pushing against your foundation walls to make them cave in. Our original windows and exterior paint, however, did have lead paint. We even put money aside for the possibility of it when we opened the walls. You also need to understand that hanging pictures and maintaining the walls are a little different than when working with drywall. The good news is we were proactive about this problem so our floors were not badly sloped. Once the new homeowner moves into the old house and tries to get home insurance the insurance company will ask you to abide by the new standards. Does it need painting? Call your insurance company to find out their policy. My suggestion is when you do a bathroom or kitchen remodel, you should definitely spend the extra money to replace it. Like I said above, the wiring of your home can be replaced without removing the walls but if you have original plaster (new wiring or not) you probably don't have (much/any) insulation in your walls. What changes or upgrades they have made since they owned the home? Is the roof sagging in areas? It's important to have your inspector check for cast iron piping and report on its condition. Questions That Reveal Your Dream House. They mean the home owner has addressed some issues. So I wanted to write a follow-up with even more questions you must ask before you buy a house! While this is something that a home inspector will certainly check, it’s definitely one of the main questions to ask when buying a house before you make an offer on the property. . Investigating the location is crucial before committing to buying a house. So, you’ve just found the pot of gold. You just need to know when you buy an old house that you'll have to give your windows more attention and loving care. So, please use this list as a starting point to become an educated buyer of an old home. There are plenty of people who have thoughtfully restored or updated their old homes with character alongside modern conveniences. If you have it, you'll need to maintain it. Investment of good window treatments to help insulate old drafty windows. If you are reading this post, you're probably not a real estate investor who's committed to restoring houses in old neighborhoods. After remediating the problem on the outside, you may need to install steel beams to keep your foundation wall secure. Doors, trim, windows ... these are the places where lead paint is likely. Best of all: all of these issues can be fixed. In the central Midwest, we have 108 degree days in the summer so these homes need some form of air conditioning. You also need to know you will fight the battle of your home being colder in the winter and hotter in the summer. Is the roof mossy? If you have this wiring, it is (at minimum) 80 years old so the possibility of poor connections is high. The good news is: none of these things are deal breakers, and most are commonly found in old homes. If the house is still standing and regularly occupied, it has probably been maintained or updated at some point in time. Also, check out the entire 30 questions you must ask before buying a house You might be gung ho about diving into fully restoring an old house, but first you need to see if others in neighborhood have also been motivated to do so. I hope this list helps you find the right old home for you! Even homes that are 10 years old often need a little help in this regard. The unused porcelain cylinders are not dangerous at all. Sometimes electricians don't remove all the porcelain cylinders when updating the wiring. With even more money that house, use this list helps you find the right old home ''... not! 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