8 Things You Need to Know Before Buying a Historical Home

Everyone loves the look and feel of a historical or older home with character, but what they may fail to understand is the potential hidden expense you can’t see. There are some serious items you need to take into account when considering to purchase a historical home.

In this video, I outline in detail the big ticket items you need to get:

1. Inspected
2. Reviewed
3. Quotes

There are 8 major items to consider when purchasing a home to make sure it’s safe and ready for the family to move in.

1. Plumbing – you have to make sure this is up to code and is insurable

2. Electrical – depending on the age of this home, if not updated, this can be a fire hazard you need to watch for

3. Air Conditioning – older homes were not constructed with air conditioning.  There are times when even though owners have added AC units to the downstairs area of a home, they have left the upstairs of a home without AC at all. Instead of putting a new unit up there, it’s worth considering individual units for the rooms as an energy efficient option. 

4. Subflooring – does the home have it? If there is no subflooring, your home may be open to lots of dust and insects coming up through the flooring throughout the seasons. 

5. Cracks – look for cracks inside the house on the walls, curbs..etc. It may be settling but it can be a sign of something much worse and more expensive than you know

6. Foundation – get the foundation of the home checked. If there are cracks in the flooring of the house, this may be a foundational issue. If the home has a crawl space, make sure the joist and footers or beams are solid and have not been damaged by any wood destroying organisms that can gravely affect the home’s foundation and make it unleveled. 

7. Lead-based paint – This is a very common form of paint prior to 1978 and the danger comes in the toxicity, especially for children. This paint chips and in order to prevent any potential danger, it should be tested to make sure it has been removed from the home. 

8. Asbestos – this is a material used in homes that causes poisoning and other dangerous diseases if inhaled. It was commonly used in popcorn ceilings, insulation and ceiling tiles. While it is no longer in use, it was common in older homes, even older homes that were remodeled in the 1960’s or 1970’s. As a result, once an inspection is made, if the inspector has concerns about asbestos in the home, it’s best to hire a company certified in testing and removing asbestos. 

Consider this

While historical homes are lovely and charming, before considering moving into one, make sure you take the precautions necessary to make it safe prior to moving into the home.