Older homes are certainly full of character and charm that you often don’t find in newer and modern build homes, and often because they were typically built on owned land, then they will have a lot more space inside and outside which can be a great plus - especially if you have or are planning on having a family and don’t want to move every few years when you need a bigger place.
However, as with everything, there are also some downsides to having an older home, and since there’s no right or wrong choice, but only what works for you, then in this post, we’re giving you a list of 9 things you should consider when buying an older home that can help you decide what the right option is for you.
Building materials may be unsafe:
Depending on when the home was built there may have been materials used that are not considered safe by today’s standards. Things like lead paint which is now known to be highly toxic was often used in older homes, so especially if you’re going to be living there with children then it’s required by law in many places to have this removed before you live there. There could also be issues with asbestos, which when disturbed can be released into the air and is incredibly dangerous and toxic to breathe in. Before buying or moving into your home, you should have a professional look the place over to check for things that could be toxic or dangerous within the building materials.
Pests:
Although any home can find itself falling victim to things like insects and pests, older homes are more vulnerable to them, so this is something you should definitely consider before buying an older home. The good news is that there are many solutions offered by companies like ABC Pest Control who can help you tackle any pests or insect infestations that you have and they can also help you take steps to avoid any further infestations in the future. Of course, you may also occasionally find a lost animal in your home. If a fox, bird, snake or any other form of wildlife has mistaken your home for theirs, it's best not to attempt removing them yourself. These animals will be frightened and may lash out, which can cause damage to your home or may even result in injury to you. Instead, contact colleyville wildlife removal services (or other services closer to you) to have the animal safely returned to their natural habitat.
Foundational and structural issues:
Older homes, depending on when they were built may suffer from foundational and structural issues that have developed over the years - this is especially common in houses that have been abandoned or not used for a long time and haven’t been maintained. It’s especially important to have an older house checked out structurally if you know it hasn’t been lived in for a long time. You can find many building companies who specialize in this and will be able to carry out a full safety check of the property before you move in and this could also save you a lot of money and hassle if you do it before moving in than if you wait until later and realize you have to have work carried out on the house and that it may not even be safe to live in whilst the work is being carried out.
Electrical issues:
Older houses are especially likely to have issues with their electrical systems since they were often installed a long time ago and may need updated or even completely re-installed, and whilst this can definitely be an expense if you need to get it done, it’s something that’s essential from a safety perspective since faulty electrical systems or wiring can be a real fire hazard and can also cause ongoing problems such as outages and even much higher energy costs as a result of outdated wiring and electrical systems.
Higher insurance costs:
Since older houses are more likely to face issues more frequently than newer ones would, then the chances of you claiming things on your home insurance would be higher and this will result in a higher premium for your insurance when they know that the property you’re moving into is an older one that will have more problems than a new one would. Of course, this is not to say that you will automatically be faced with a massive insurance premium just because you’re moving into an older home - when coming up with your premium, insurance will base the cost on different factors, however, it’s just a little more likely that you will have a higher cost for your insurance when moving into an older home than you would with a newer build.
Roof issues:
Just as with many other issues facing an older home, a roof may have been installed a long time ago and has probably seen its best years. Since a roof is something that’s pretty essential for your home, then you’ll probably need to look into getting it checked over before deciding to buy or move into the house since a faulty roof can really cause a lot of problems in the future which will also cost a lot of money to have fixed or replaced and this is also a hassle to deal with once you’ve already moved in.
Water issues:
Older homes are far more likely to have older water sources built into them, and not only are not very efficient or effective, but they can also be more vulnerable to things like contaminations and water-borne diseases, so this is something you’ll definitely want to get checked out before moving into your home as faulty or unsafe water is really not something you want to deal with - especially if you have children at home. Although it can be more of an upfront cost, it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry in this respect, and the ongoing costs of not getting it taken care of right away before moving in is going to be far more than you’d pay at the start, plus you won’t have the hassle and inconvenience that faulty or ineffective water systems can have.
It may not be so energy-efficient:
Older homes were built in a time when we didn’t know as much about energy efficiency and its effects on the environment, and although we’re more aware now and know how to save costs through energy and have more efficient systems in place when building newer homes, the older ones may or may not have been upgraded to the latest standards, so this is something that’s worth getting checked out before moving in and then taking steps to have more efficient and effective energy systems in place. Just because your home is older doesn’t mean it can’t be eco-friendly or energy efficient, and there are definitely many steps you can take to make your home more green and save yourself each month on the costs of running it by bringing it up to date in line with the latest energy efficiency standards.
Realtor issues:
This is often not something that people consider when buying an older home, but not all realtors are familiar with older homes and can’t offer the same advice as they would be able to if you’re buying a newer place. It’s actually a good idea to shop around and look for a realtor who is actually specialized or at least experienced in helping people buy older homes since they can have a lot of specialist knowledge or advice and can help you take the steps to fix or deal with the issues mentioned in this post that you may not otherwise have considered, and that a realtor who only deals with newer homes also may not have considered.
We certainly hope this post has helped you see that although older homes may be full of charm, that they also can come with their share of problems. This is not to put you off from buying an older home, but simply to prepare you for the issues you may face so that you can deal with them before they become problematic. As always keep it Southern Y'all
Electrical issues:
Older houses are especially likely to have issues with their electrical systems since they were often installed a long time ago and may need updated or even completely re-installed, and whilst this can definitely be an expense if you need to get it done, it’s something that’s essential from a safety perspective since faulty electrical systems or wiring can be a real fire hazard and can also cause ongoing problems such as outages and even much higher energy costs as a result of outdated wiring and electrical systems.
Higher insurance costs:
Since older houses are more likely to face issues more frequently than newer ones would, then the chances of you claiming things on your home insurance would be higher and this will result in a higher premium for your insurance when they know that the property you’re moving into is an older one that will have more problems than a new one would. Of course, this is not to say that you will automatically be faced with a massive insurance premium just because you’re moving into an older home - when coming up with your premium, insurance will base the cost on different factors, however, it’s just a little more likely that you will have a higher cost for your insurance when moving into an older home than you would with a newer build.
Roof issues:
Just as with many other issues facing an older home, a roof may have been installed a long time ago and has probably seen its best years. Since a roof is something that’s pretty essential for your home, then you’ll probably need to look into getting it checked over before deciding to buy or move into the house since a faulty roof can really cause a lot of problems in the future which will also cost a lot of money to have fixed or replaced and this is also a hassle to deal with once you’ve already moved in.
Water issues:
Older homes are far more likely to have older water sources built into them, and not only are not very efficient or effective, but they can also be more vulnerable to things like contaminations and water-borne diseases, so this is something you’ll definitely want to get checked out before moving into your home as faulty or unsafe water is really not something you want to deal with - especially if you have children at home. Although it can be more of an upfront cost, it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry in this respect, and the ongoing costs of not getting it taken care of right away before moving in is going to be far more than you’d pay at the start, plus you won’t have the hassle and inconvenience that faulty or ineffective water systems can have.
It may not be so energy-efficient:
Older homes were built in a time when we didn’t know as much about energy efficiency and its effects on the environment, and although we’re more aware now and know how to save costs through energy and have more efficient systems in place when building newer homes, the older ones may or may not have been upgraded to the latest standards, so this is something that’s worth getting checked out before moving in and then taking steps to have more efficient and effective energy systems in place. Just because your home is older doesn’t mean it can’t be eco-friendly or energy efficient, and there are definitely many steps you can take to make your home more green and save yourself each month on the costs of running it by bringing it up to date in line with the latest energy efficiency standards.
Realtor issues:
This is often not something that people consider when buying an older home, but not all realtors are familiar with older homes and can’t offer the same advice as they would be able to if you’re buying a newer place. It’s actually a good idea to shop around and look for a realtor who is actually specialized or at least experienced in helping people buy older homes since they can have a lot of specialist knowledge or advice and can help you take the steps to fix or deal with the issues mentioned in this post that you may not otherwise have considered, and that a realtor who only deals with newer homes also may not have considered.
We certainly hope this post has helped you see that although older homes may be full of charm, that they also can come with their share of problems. This is not to put you off from buying an older home, but simply to prepare you for the issues you may face so that you can deal with them before they become problematic. As always keep it Southern Y'all
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