I’m going to be in the market for a new-to-me home in the next couple of months. I’m currently the owner of a 1900s farmhouse. The neighborhood I’m looking to move to is pretty much all homes built 1935-60. Some are obviously flipped, and others are very much lived in. I know to get inspections, and I know what the problem areas I found when I moved into this lovely old heap. I would love some insight on things I might not think to look for.
One big issue with older homes is insulation and utility bills. If it isn’t sealed up tight, it may need to be.
I will definitely be checking insulation!
When you are interested in a home, call the utility company for that area. Tell them the address you are interested in and ask if they can give you a couple of numbers on the utility bills, like what was the bill for electricity and gas in February 2024 and then in August 2024? I have found that utility companies usually have no problem sharing those numbers, especially if you say that you are a potential buyer. I usually call BEFORE I go to see a home, because if the utility company told me that their winter bill for electricity was $500/month, I didn’t even bother going to see the house.
Get a sewer scope for sure, mine had orangeburg and needed to be completely replaced. The sewer scope saved me ~$14,000. Houses built from 1940-1970 are more likely to have it.
Oooh, thank you. I ran into plumbing problems early on with my current home, but didn’t think about getting a scope.
Big ticket items: roof, tuckpointing, windows…check out the electrical to see what needs to be updated and plumbing. Older homes also have a lot you can’t see. So lack of insulation, settling (uneven/squeaky floors), plaster walls, various layers of paint, but if you’re lucky, you’ll find hardwood under the carpet. Pay close attention to the details.
Thank you! All good things I’m adding to my list.